The Indianapolis Star predicts the 1A thru 6A playoffs for 2024

[Muda69]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/08/21/ihsaa-football-predictions-every-2024-indiana-high-school-champion-sectional-winners-kyle-neddenriep/73924889007/

Quote

Class 6A

Sectional champions

 

∎ NORTH: Crown Point, FW Carroll, Westfield, Hamilton Southeastern

∎ SOUTH: Ben Davis, Lawrence North, Warren Central, Center Grove.

In the north, I think it will be a semistate rematch with Crown Point meeting Westfield. This time, the Shamrocks get through to the state finals. In the south, give me defending champion Ben Davis over Lawrence North and Warren Central in a classic over Center Grove. Then the Giants in a tight one over Warren Central in the semistate.

▶ Championship game: Ben Davis over Westfield.

Class 5A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Merrillville, Valparaiso, Warsaw, Lafayette Jeff

∎ SOUTH: Decatur Central, East Central, Bloomington North, Castle

Give me Merrillville over Valpo and Warsaw over Lafayette Jeff in the north regional and Decatur Central over East Central and Bloomington North over Castle in the south. In the semistate games, Warsaw clips Merrillville and Decatur Central knocks off Bloomington North.

▶ Championship game: Decatur Central over Warsaw.

Class 4A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: New Prairie, Mishawaka, Leo, Lebanon

∎ SOUTH: New Palestine, Bishop Chatard, Martinsville, Evansville Reitz

In the regional round, I will take Mishawaka over New Prairie and Leo over Lebanon. In a loaded south, give me New Palestine over Chatard in a regional showdown and Evansville Reitz over Martinsville in the other regional. In the north semistate, Mishawaka over Leo. In the south, New Palestine over Evansville Reitz.

▶ Championship game: New Palestine over Mishawaka.

Class 3A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Knox, Tippecanoe Valley, West Lafayette, FW Bishop Luers

∎ SOUTH: Tri-West, Batesville, Indian Creek, Heritage Hills

Give me Knox over Tippecanoe Valley and West Lafayette over Luers for north regional titles. In the south, I will go with Batesville over Tri-West and Heritage Hills over Indian Creek in the regional championship games. In the north semistate, I have Knox over West Lafayette and Heritage Hills over Batesville.

▶ Championship game: Heritage Hills over Knox.

Class 2A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: Andrean, Lafayette Central Catholic, Adams Central, Alexandria

∎ SOUTH: Lutheran, Eastern Hancock, North Posey, Brownstown Central

I will take Lafayette Central Catholic and Adams Central to advance in the north regional games. Give me Lutheran over Eastern Hancock and North Posey over Brownstown Central in the south regional matchups. The semistate winners: Lafayette Central Catholic and Lutheran.

▶ Championship game: Lutheran over LCC.

Class A

Sectional champions

∎ NORTH: North Judson, No. 6 Carroll (Flora), Triton, Madison-Grant

∎ SOUTH: South Putnam, Sheridan, North Decatur and Providence

I will take North Judson and Triton to advance as north regional champions. In the south, I will take Sheridan and North Decatur.

▶ Championship game: Sheridan over North Judson.

I really don't understand the Indy Star's fascination with Lebanon.  They seem to pick them as an "up and comer" practically every year and every year they disappoint.  But this year they are the only Indy-area school in a generally moribund Sectional 20, so Mr. Neddenriep's Indy-area bias has to come into play.

 

[temptation]

Lawrence North over Cathedral…oooh, I like it.

[Frozen Tundra]

So he has the south semi-state winners going 6-0 against the north semi-state winners. 

[temptation]

Just now, Frozen Tundra said:

So he has the south semi-state winners going 6-0 against the north semi-state winners. 

@Rodney approves.  He said this weeks ago.

[BLACKGOLD2007]

44 minutes ago, Frozen Tundra said:

So he has the south semi-state winners going 6-0 against the north semi-state winners. 

Not surprised. How many times have there been clean sweeps across of the either side of the state?

[kdets89]

I suppose there's always a chance Sheridan could beat South Putnam in the 1A regional.  But that chance is near zero.

[First_Backer_Inside]

LCC and Lutheran rematch for the state title 5 years later...in 2A. Have your fun while you can 3A, in 2029 you're next.

[BTF]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

@Rodney approves.  He said this weeks ago.

Speaking of..................

And it won't happen, take it to the bank.

[FastpacedO]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

Lawrence North over Cathedral…oooh, I like it.

Not a stretch of a pick. It will be interesting to see what Cathedral brings to the field this year. Replacing a 3 year started the caliber of O'neil will be a tough so I am curious to see how they look this year. 

[foxbat]

1 minute ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

LCC and Lutheran rematch for the state title 5 years later...in 2A. Have your fun while you can 3A, in 2029 you're next.

Given this potential predicted match-up, it's likely that one or both of these teams may be visiting the Sectional of Death in a couple of years.  LCC's been to 2A regional the last three years and won it last year before dropping the semi to state champ Luers last season.  I'll be interested in seeing Lutheran perform in 2A, but pre-season, IFCA coaches have them ranked #1 with LCC right behind at #2.  I could see these two, possibly meeting two years in a row at LOS and splitting the pair ... sending them both up to the SOD.

[00NWP]

I realize the 4A North is not great this year...but....Mishawaka may be a bit of a stretch as the Northern representative.  I could see them losing 4-5 games during the season this year.

[BDGiant93]

Kyle also said in the article that he reserves the right to redo the predictions after Week 5. 

[Komets2727]

List credibility with me when he has it 6-0 for the South. Won’t happen

[Komets2727]

3 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

List credibility with me when he has it 6-0 for the South. Won’t happen

I will bet anyone that it won’t be 6-0 in favor of the South. Any takers?

[temptation]

8 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

I will bet anyone that it won’t be 6-0 in favor of the South. Any takers?

Can I wait until week five to commit?

[Komets2727]

1 hour ago, temptation said:

Can I wait until week five to commit?

Sure

[Rodney]

On 8/21/2024 at 7:21 PM, temptation said:

Can I wait until week five to commit?

no

bold unfounded claims in the preseason only 

[BendNotBreak]

On 8/21/2024 at 11:13 AM, foxbat said:

Given this potential predicted match-up, it's likely that one or both of these teams may be visiting the Sectional of Death in a couple of years.  LCC's been to 2A regional the last three years and won it last year before dropping the semi to state champ Luers last season.  I'll be interested in seeing Lutheran perform in 2A, but pre-season, IFCA coaches have them ranked #1 with LCC right behind at #2.  I could see these two, possibly meeting two years in a row at LOS and splitting the pair ... sending them both up to the SOD.

Aint u da bold one... will they give WL a game this yr? Andrean? A new kid on da block?  Split??  Lcc loses a Title game???  Ya cranking me up ... 😆