Frozen Tundra

Week 13 Prediction Floyd Central (9-2) at Bloomington South (7-4): The Highlanders look to win their first ever regional championship while the Panthers look to win their first since 2016 (and 11th overall). Bloomington South struggles to play to its full potential at times despite its amount of talent and legendary head coach. However, I don't think they have much to worry about in this one. Their big defensive line will make it hard for Floyd Central to move the ball while their offensive line will allow for Maveric Thiery to break some big runs for long touchdowns. The season ends for the HHC as Bloomington South wins by at least three touchdowns.

"The dude at Central." Is that what you call him now? lol

Sounds like they were the worst team in the sectional. Just proves what I've said all along. They might be the better team in Columbus in week 2 but they never improve. They either flat-line or get worse. By season's end, we're better than them. Bloomington South in 2016 and Terre Haute North in 2017 implied the same thing.

Good to know. Columbus North fans were giving us crap last week. At least we lost to you guys and not Franklin Central.

Was East a tougher opponent than Franklin Central? Seems like it based on the score but we all know that doesn't tell the whole story.

That's not what Randy told me.

I know a 6A school playing for a regional championship that lost to both teams during the regular season. Hint: It's the team your boys are playing next Friday.

For the first time since 2010, an HHC team has advanced further than Columbus East in the state tournament. Floyd Central was the lone team to do so in 2010. This year they are joined by Jeffersonville who has outlasted East for the first time since 2005. Congrats to both schools. It's nice to know there will still be activity in this thread for at least one more week. Week 12 Prediction Jeffersonville (4-6) at Floyd Central (8-2): Floyd Central is looking for its first sectional title since 2009. Jeffersonville is looking for its first sectional title since 2007. Just like last week, the Highlanders will be repeating a match-up from earlier in the year. They pulled away in the second half to beat the Red Devils 23-6 back in week 5. Jeff has definitely improved with the new coach and doesn't seem to be having the same issues that they are infamously known for. Could they pull the upset here? It's possible. However, the cold weather favors Floyd's effective ground game. Therefore, I think the Highlanders get the win.

Yeah I picked Andrean over Boone Grove in the bracket challenge. Some games I struggled with trying to decide a winner but this wasn't one of them. Therefore, not an upset in my mind.

The visitor side used to be the home side but they switched when bigger bleachers were put in. They moved the home fans over there so that we could finally avoid the sun being in our eyes in the early season games. Four decades of the sun in our eyes sucked.

Week 11 Predictions Center Grove (4-5) at Columbus East (7-2): It's been nine years since these two teams last played. The Olympians avenged a 2009 2nd round loss by defeating the Trojans in the 1st round in 2010. Center Grove is still one of the best football programs in the state but they're not as big and scary without their star RB Carson Steele. They're vulnerable but my gut tells me they'll have an easier time moving the ball than East will. Center Grove wins. Seymour (4-5) at Franklin (7-2): Another HHC vs Mid-State match-up. Those didn't end well for Jennings County and Madison last week. The Owls are coming off five straight losses but, even if they weren't, it wouldn't be enough to stop all of the superior attributes this Grizzly Cubs team has. Franklin gets the W. New Albany (4-5) at Jeffersonville (3-6): The Red Devils won the week 3 match-up 32-13 but the Bulldogs have rattled off three straight wins and don't seem to be the same team as they were earlier in the year. My gut is weighing in again and it's telling me the old Jeffersonville rears its ugly head at the worst time. Steve Cooley's experience as a head coach will have the boys prepared. New Albany wins. Bedford North Lawrence (3-6) at Floyd Central (7-2): Yet another repeat HHC match-up. The Stars have shown flashes of brilliance this year as well as flashes of awfulness, sometimes within the same game. BNL gets another crack at the Highlanders in Floyds Knobs except, this time, the weather will be dry. I think that actually favors the Highlanders with their speed and ability to pass the ball. Floyd Central gets the win.

Because, from a player's perspective, that's a long time to have to ponder on and wait for a big game like that. Also, and probably most important, it allows for less games to be played the first week of the tournament so that there's no/less threat of a referee shortage.

Real men play football in cold weather. I watched a night game in the snow at hallowed Lambeau Field one time. Nothing overrated about it. However, I underrated how cold it could get up there though. Even with four layers on, I still couldn't feel my fingers or toes until two hours after the game. Luckily, I still have all of them and they all still look and function properly. Can't wait to do it again.

My kind of weather

You're in a small minority of folks that care. If the schools or the coaches thought it was an issue then something would be done about it.

1. Why do small schools care that 6A gets a bye and they don't? They're not playing the bigger schools so it's not like they're playing teams with an advantage. They're playing the teams within their class. I know when East was in 4A none of us gave a crap about 6A only having 32 teams and having a bye thrown in. We all knew it's an all-in tournament and we had twice as many teams in 4A. We weren't playing any 6A schools in the tourney. Just play the game and control what you can control. 2. Even if 5A got evened out to 32 teams, what about the other classes? There are 63 teams each in 1A and 2A so one team in each class gets a bye. Should we cry about that and how it's unfair those teams get to rest while everyone else has to play? 4A has 61 teams so three teams get a bye. I haven't heard the other 58 teams complaining about it.

Two problems with this: 1. Bigger schools aren't playing smaller schools so who cares? 2. Unless 5A gets evened out to 32 teams, this won't work.

Columbus East definitely needed the bye. Our boys are a lot more banged up than in previous years. Regardless, I have no problem with the bye being that particular week. Sure beats 2013 and 2014 where the bye in 6A was the week between semi-state and state. If I was a player on one of those teams playing for a state title I would've hated having to think about that game for two weeks.

Gonna be a chilly game. The forecast is showing low 40s/upper 30s.

You responded six weeks later?! Lol. I'd completely forgotten about this interaction. I mentioned tradition and a winning reputation as being an advantage. This is where Snider falls and that's why (along with coaching) they're able to consistently win year after year. They pull in some of the best athletes because of open enrollment. (Yes, I was aware of open enrollment. We have that in Columbus too.) I must admit, it sounds like I may be a little out of the loop on the economic situation at Luers based on what you're telling me. Has Luers always been poor? They won eight state titles in a 14 year period from 1999 to 2012 so I'm curious to know what advantages led to that success. Makes me think things have changed there since then.

Greenwood beat Madison 61-0. Martinsville beat Jennings County 42-7.

Week 10 Predictions Only two games this week. I'll try to put up the pick 'em standings a little bit later. Greenwood (3-6) at Madison (1-8): The Woodmen take it. Not much more to say. No explanation needed. Jennings County (3-6) at Martinsville (3-6): In week 1, the Artesians slaughtered BNL 40-7 who went on to smash Jennings County in week 3 50-21. Normally I wouldn't use the transitive property to pick a winner but there's a big difference between the Mid State Conference and the Hoosier Hills Conference. These scores allow you to see that clearly. Martinsville wins.

Girls cross country team also advanced to semistate. It was by the skin of their teeth but they did it.

Heck yes. I'm not happy with my 2nd place finish last year. I'm in!

Most don't have an opinion. Some (like me) are excited for it and love the challenge. Haven't heard a single complaint from East fans about the success factor rule.