1A Sectional Mid Year Report

[Miner_Pride]

Ok.. well I had some time!   Poll games I did not want to duplicate the same games on the 2A thread so... go there to vote on these:

4-1 2A #8/#9 Linton-Stockton @ 4-1 #9/#11 North Daviess

4-1 2A #4/#4 Scecina @ 4-0 #1/#1 Lutheran

2-3 #13/-Lafayette Central Catholic @ 4-1 2A #6/#6  Rensselaer Central

Here is my thoughts on 1A Sectionals mid season:

Sectional 41

CULVER                                                3              2

NORTH JUDSON                               3              2

WEST CENTRAL                 3              2

LAKE STATION                   1              4

WINAMAC                          1              4

GARY ROOSEVELT            0              5

SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS)              0              5

SOUTH NEWTON              0              5

 

Not really sure here.  Top two SAG team are Culver (36.68) and N Judson (36.38).  13^th and 14^th in 1A Sag. Nobody ranked in any poll in this sectional. Winamac tops in SOS with 50.7.   These two met in week one and it was a 2 point win for the Bluejays 26-24.  The Cavaliers other loss came to 5-0 3A Knox 42-14.  They did hammer 3-2 West Central 44-0, and 2-3 Triton 44-14 last week.  North Judson also lost to Knox 35-7, but also to 3-2 2A North Newton 48-20.  They are coming off a 28-8 win over Winamac last week.  The Trojans of West Central opened up 3-0 over a combined 1-14 opponent, then were blasted back to back with Culver’s 44-0 , and N.Newton’s 55-8.   Winamac may be 1-4, but three losses were to undeaten 3A Knox (27-0), 4-1 2A Pioneer (50-0) and 4-1 2A LaVille (35-6).   This looks like a 2 team battle between Culver and North Judson

 

Sectional 42

TRADERS POINT CHRISTIAN         5              0

FRONTIER                                            4              1

CARROLL (FLORA)                            3              2

CLINTON PRAIRIE                             3              2

CLINTON CENTRAL                          2              3

LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 2              3

NORTH WHITE                                   1              3

TRI-COUNTY                                       1              4

 

LCC may be 2-3, but they consistently get votes in polls, currently at #13 in AP.  The Knights have the 8^th highest 1A SAG at 48.64, and by far play the toughest schedule at 59.77, in a sectional where 5 of the 8 teams have SOS of 260 or worse including a couple 300+.  LCC comes into this week’s highly touted matchup with 4-1 2A Rensselaer Central after a 24-14 win over 3-2 2A Tipton.  After opening with a 22-7 loss to 3-2 3A Tri-West, LCC lost to two 3A ranked programs both 4-1 on the year; 50-28 to Guerin Catholic, and 50-0 to West Lafayette. No other team in Sect 42 will be of that caliber, so you’d have to thin the Knights would be a shoe-in for this sectional crown.   Now I realize we have Traders Point Christian sitting 5-0, and Frontier at 4-1—with that lone loss coming to Traders Point last week convincingly 55-12.  The TPC Knights started up football in 2013 losing their first 17 games before finally getting to .500 in 2017 (5-4) and starting 7-0 last year in a 10-2 season losing in sectional champ game to South Putnam.   The Falcons haven’t traditional been a strong football program, but starting 4-1 matches their 4-1 start in 2017 (ended 5-5).  Frontier outscored their opponents 134-28 in their opening 4 wins over Anderson Prep, South Newton, Clinton Central and North White…but those teams are a combined 3-15.  Clinton Prairie is also 3-2 but against +.500 0-2 losing to 4-1 Attica 50-14, and 4-1 Sheridan 47-38.  Putting up 38 on the Blackhawks shows they can put points on the board against anyone.   Truth is, can anyone in this sectional compete head to head with LCC? 

 

Sectional 43

SOUTH ADAMS                 5              0

MONROE CENTRAL         3              2

TRI-CENTRAL                      2              3

SOUTHERN WELLS           1              4

TAYLOR                                1              4

UNION CITY                        1              4

WES-DEL                              1              4

MADISON-GRANT           0              5

 

Certainly a sectional with a team definitely the favorite in South Adams.  Ranked #3 in AP and #1 with the coaches, they also have a commanding 71.87 SAG, 1^st in 1A and 50^th in the State.  The other major factor being last week’s 34-15 dominant win over who would be considered the other favorite to win this sectional 3-2 Monroe Central.  The Starfires put a 41-0 hurting on 4-1 2A Bluffton, and an opening week 40-0 blanking of 3-2 2A Winchester. They have disposed of two 0-5 teams handily (3A’s Bluffton and Heritage), and certainly have the game of the year thus far in small school Indiana facing unbeaten rival Adams Central this week!  The Golden Bears ranked #6 in both AP and IFCA fell by 8 to those Flying Jets in week three 21-13.  They have wins over 3-2 2A Blackford 37-28, 1-4 1A Union City 36-7 and 1-4 1A Southern Wells 41-6.  They face 1-4 Wes-Del, and likely get back on track before an important meeting with 4-1 2A Eastern Hancock and closing out with 3-2 2A Shenandoah.   South Adams faces 2-3 2A Woodlan in week 8.  Tri Central had a great run with four straight 10+ winning seasons 2012 thru 2015 including a state title in 2013, but three straight sub losing seasons since then.  They are 2-3 thus far, both wins in the opening 2 weeks over 1-4 2A Frankton and winless Noblesville Home School.   They have lost to Sheridan, Clinton Prairie and last week 28-0 to 3- 2 2A Delphi.   This sectional would seem to be South Adams to lose…but I bet the Golden Bears crave a chance at redemption.

 

Sectional 44

 

ADAMS CENTRAL             5              0

SOUTHWOOD                    5              0

CHURUBUSCO                   4              1

FREMONT                           3              2

NORTH MIAMI                  3              2

TRITON                                 2              3

NORTHFIELD                      1              4

CASTON                               0              5

 

Three top 10 ranked teams encompass Sect 44, with heavy hitters Adams Central (#2/#3), Southwood (#5/#4) and Churubusco (#10/#9).   Southwood has the top SAG at 61.3, 2^nd in 1A, 85^th overall, but AC is close by at 54.99 #5 in 1A, 107 overall.  All eyes this week of course are on the Flying Jets game with South Adams in a battle of unbeaten.  While Adams Central has beaten 3-2 2A Eastside (21-14) and 3-2 Monroe Central (21-13) in 1 score victories, they have 3 blow outs over Bellmont, Jay County and Heritage as expected, as all three opponents are 0-5, a combined 0-15.  The result versus the Starfires will shine some light on things.  They also have 4-1 2A Bluffton and 2-3 2A Woodlan to close out the regular season.  Southwood has 2 sectional crowns out of the last 3 years, and it was Adams Central that took them out last year 38-0.  The Jets have won 10 of the last 14 meetings between these two since 2000.  Course we aren’t at the sectional yet.  The Knights have W’s over 3-2 3A Maconaquah 20-17, and 3-2 1A North Miami (45-7), as well as over 1-4 3A Oak Hill (34-7), 1-4 1A Northfield (20-6) and last week over 2-3 2A Wabash 41-0.   They play above their class the rest of the way out starting with 1-4 2A Manchester this week, and have a final week game with 4-1 3A Tippecanoe Valley.  Churusbusco’s lone loss came in week 4 to 3-2 2A Eastside 42-14.   None of the Eagle’s wins have come over a +.500 team.  They include 26-0 over winless 2A Whitko, 52-28 over 1-4 3A Lakeland, and last week’s 44-19 win over 1-4 2A Prairie Heights.  They did have a nice 40-22 win over 2-3 3A Garrett on the road in week 3.  Looks like their biggest test in this second half of 2019 will be 5-0 3A West Noble in week 8, altho within sectional 44 a meeting between 3-2 Fremont happens this Friday.  Fremont’s Eagles have played a couple Michigan schools splitting them 1 and 1, and they lost to 3-2 2A Fairfield 21-6.  North Miami won 2 then lost 2 before beating winless 2A Whitko last week 53-22.  They beat both Manchester and Taylor (both 1-4 teams) but lose big to unbeated Southwood, and only 21-7 to 4-1 3A Tippy Valley.   It seems this sectional has several good squads with no real safe bet particularly between AC, Southwood and ‘Busco.  Maybe the most competitive in 1A.

 

Sectional 45

 

PARKE HERITAGE             5              0

ATTICA                                 4              1

NORTH VERMILLION       4              1

SOUTH PUTNAM              3              2

COVINGTON                      1              4

RIVERTON PARKE             1              4

CLOVERDALE                      0              5

FOUNTAIN CENTRAL      0              5

 

This is another competitive group, but most of it is between themselves, as this is pretty much the WRC conference!  Park Heritage has jumped out to a 5-0 start after their initial 8-3 2018 campaign.  Yes it’s a new consolidation, but a rich football tradition particularly with the Rockville Rox.  They sit #4 in AP and #5 in IFCA, and already have a big win over Attica 26-6 in week 4 under their belt.  North Vermillion is coming off an appearance at the state final (Losing to Pioneer), but won that title in 2014 (over Pioneer).  Like last year the Falcons started 3-0 but feel to 4-1 2A Linton-Stockton 38-20 in week 4.  They hope to replicate 2018, and that started with a 35-0 win over 1-4 Riverton Parke. They also have a 42-28 win over 3-2 2A South Vermillion to their credit.  They will face off with the 4-1 Red Ramblers Friday in a terrific gauge on Sect 45.  Then it will be the Wolves and Falcons in week 5 in what could be a showcase of things to come.  Granted, Attica has a chance to answer their detractors after their loss to Parke Heritage earlier.  They have wins over 3-2 Clinton Prairie 40-14 and 3-2 2A Seeger 36-20, and come in owners of a 50-0 win over winless Fountain Central (there’s another odd saying).   Parke Heritage has some work as well with 3-2 2A South Vermillion Friday, but have put up big points offensively this year averaging 47.8 per game with only Attica holding the Wolves under 50.  They also beat 3-2 2A Seeger, 52-7, but Eastern Greene, Covington and North Central are a combined 2-13.  However, they did shut down Attica, who averages 46.5 ppg in their 4 wins.   South Putnam won their sectional last year coming into them with a 3-6 record. They have now moved into the more competitive Sect 45, and sit 3-2 as perhaps a dark horse.  Their two losses have come to unbeaten teams- 2A North Putnam (42-21) and 3A Edgewood (42-28). However two wins have come against 0-5 teams- 1A Cloverdale and 3A Owen Valley.  They did hand 3-2 3A Greencastle at 22-16 setback two weeks ago.  They meet 4-1 3A West Vigo, 2-3 3A Sullivan, 3-2 4a Northview, and then 4-1 2A Heritage Christian these next 4 weeks!   Given the Wolves handiwork with Attica, you’d have to say the meeting with North Vermillion would be a good feel for where things will stand. But, playing a team twice in a season isn’t always the best thing and sets the stage for adjustments to be made, not to mention injuries in any small school situation can change things in a blink of the eye.  PH seems to have everything going for them right now, but the Falcons can put points up as well.  The real interesting thought is South Putnam.  They clearly play a schedule that would test either NV, PH or Attica.  The Eagles could come into sectional again with a losing record, but may still sneak up on folks.

 

Sectional 46

 

INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN           4              0

INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY                4              0

SHERIDAN                                           4              1

COVENANT CHRISTIAN                  2              3

INDIANA DEAF                                  1              1

PARK TUDOR                                     1              4

ANDERSON PREP ACADEMY        0              4

EDINBURGH                                       0              5

 

This one sure looks like a 2 team race to meet each other in the sectionals to determine the winner...and you’d hope it would set up to be the finale.  Talk about a team that has been knocking on the door without getting over that hump. Well that’s clearly the Lutheran Saints.  Being a Linton guy, I know all about getting to Semi’s and not getting to State (well I did thankfully get over that).  Lutheran has been in four semi-state losses in the last 5 years.  North Vermillion has put them out twice.  A lot has always been made of the Saints regular season schedule strength compared to schools like NV, Linton, Eastern Greene etc but when it comes time to play, the nay-sayers get comeuppance.  I’m sure this rings high on the annoyance list for the #1 ranked Saints. They have the 4^th ranked SAG in 1A at 57.77, 97^th in state, and of course the best SOS of this sectional group.  Historically Lutheran has skated through this sectional, as honestly at this point four of the eight have negative SAG rankings, and two other are sub 20.  Sheridan moves in from Sect 44 and adds some weight to this sectional immediately.  Even so, the Saints have proven their metal by beating 3-2 4A Beech Grove in week one 27-22, then a 35-14 blast of 3-2 2A Ritter, a 28-14 win over ranked 3-2 2A Triton Central before the referee non show up cancelled a sure win over Shortridge.  They outmanned 1-4 2A Cascade last week 46-28.  All eyes will be on their yearly squabble with 4-1 top 5 ranked 2A Scecina.  The Blackhawks have quite the luster to their 1A history in football but you gotta go back to 2012 to see Sheridan hoist a sectional champ trophy.  Their lone loss came in a monster 42-41 affair going 4-1 2A Western Boone.  They have reeled in 4 straight wins, not necessarily over any powerhouses, but all teams above or close to .500.  49-29 over 2-3 Clinton Central, 50-19 over 2-3 Tri-Central, 36-35 in tight one with 3-2 2A Delphi, and last week’s 47-38 win over 3-2 1A Clinton Prairie.  Perhaps an area of concern is giving up 32.4 ppg? It doesn’t look like the Hawks will be challenged until week 8’s meeting with current unbeated 2A Eastern (Greentown).  Will they be battle ready for a head to head with Lutheran come sectionals.  I will give shout out to Tindley at 4-0 including a 24-19 win over Covenant Christian last week. 

 

Sectional 47

 

NORTH DECATUR                             4              1

KNIGHTSTOWN                                3              2

MILAN                                                  3              2

OLDENBURG ACADEMY                3              1

TRI                                                          3              2

HAGERSTOWN                                  2              3

SOUTH DECATUR                             2              3

CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN          1              4

 

47 doesn’t have the bright lights and attention grabbing details of most other 1A sectionals.  North Decatur has been on the fringe for several years hanging around .500.  They went 8-4 in 2015 reaching the sectional finale losing to W.Washington in 1A, but you have to go all the way to 1998 to find ND’s last sectional title (losing to Sheridan in the regional).  Their one loss came in week 3 in a close 20-15 fall to 3-2 2A Lapel.  They got a big 21-0 win over co-47 Milan last week as the Indians are almost always a player in this sectional.  The Chargers also took out 3-1 Oldenburg 39-7 as well as 2-3 South Decatur 39-7  to put themselves at the top of the heap in sect 47.  They face the Rams of Paoli (3-2 2A) this week and what should be a showcase game for them.  Knightstown has 3 wins, but none against +.500 teams.  They opened with a 21-0 win over 2-3 Hagerstown, but have lost handily to 3-2 2A Winchester (50-8) and 4-1 2A Eastern Hancock (46-27). They have wins over 1-4 2A Union County (52-7) and 1-4 1a Union City 27-12.  The Panthers could have a solid record going into post season, especially if they get past unbeaten 2A Northeastern in week 8.  They knocked on the door last year at 9-2, but haven’t taken home the sectional prize since 2009.  As mentioned Milan is usually in the thick of the conversation, and opened up with three 3A teams, winning the first two 40-20 over 1-4 Rushville, and 35-14 over 2-3 Batesville.  They fell to 4-1 Lawrenceburg 42-14, but won against Co-47 South Decatur 42-6. Their 21-0 loss to N.Decatur will serve I’m sure as motivation to get back for a rematch.  Tri is another 3-2 entry who did just knock off 2-3 2A Centerville 34-21, and played unbeaten Northeastern tough in a 20-7 loss. But a 1 point 21-20 win over 1-4 Wes-Del coupled with a 2 point 23-21 loss to 1-4 Union City don’t bode well in sectional championship talk.  Lastly, Oldenburg Academy sits 3-1 and is the only ranked team of the bunch (#14 AP).  The Twisters came into existence in 2013 and have never made a serious sectional threat.  They do have the only win against 4-1 1A Switzerland County (20-14), but were handed a 39-7 loss against Sect 47’s North Decatur.   I don’t think there is a clear cut pick here yet, but the Chargers have the initial nod.  Their 38.22 SAG is best in this group, and 12^th in 1A.  Milan at 34.05 would be next in SAG, 19^th in 1A.  None of the group have particular SOS in their favor, altho ND again has the best number at 171.  This is another sectional where the draw plays a big part in how it pans out.

 

Sectional 48

 

WEST WASHINGTON                      5              0

NORTH DAVIESS                               4              1

PERRY CENTRAL                               2              3

ROCK CREEK ACADEMY                 2              3

SPRINGS VALLEY                              2              3

NORTH CENTRAL (FARMERSBURG)          1              4

TECUMSEH                                         1              4

EASTERN GREENE                            0              5

 

My old stomping grounds with Linton to many a year, this group still feels like home to me.  Perry Central ruled this sectional for many a year, and is finally back from 2A.  They are ranked at #15 in AP and #12 in IFCA, but the top team here are the Senators ranked #8 and #7.  Another surprise is the return of North Daviess to the polls with a #9/#11 ranking, their first time in many a year.  This sectional truly would seem to be West Washington’s to lose.  They last won a sectional in 2015, losing to Linton in regional 35-13.  They had won it before in 2012, again losing to Linton 28-0 in regional.  They have reached the sectional finale in 2 of the last 3 years including last year’s loss to North Central 14-0, and 2016’s loss to Eastern Greene 34-32.  Last week was truly their first test, and they beat 3-2 2A Paoli in a 34-30 shootout.  The knock on the Senators coming into that game with SOS, but they did beat up 2-3 2A Mitchell 50-6 and 2-3 co-48 Springs Valley 46-0.    They face defending sectional champs North Central this week, but the Thunderbirds are rebuilding at 1-4.  A meeting with the Commodores will be more telling, as will a season closing 3-2 3A Salem matchup.  North Daviess has not been 4-1 since the 8-3 2013 season.   The Cougars had reached sectional finals in 4 of 5 years (2008-2012) never winning any of them.  2^nd year coach Trent Fine has them believing in cougar land as they rolled off 4 wins to start the year, and had allowed just 10 points in that span.  The knock again was SOS, as those wins over Tecumseh, North Central, Eastern Greene and Washington were against a 2-18 opponent W/L.  The big spotlight was on last week, and despite their first loss, the 7-6 defeat at the hands of 4-1 3A West Vigo served notice that the Cougars were game.  In fact, they had went for the win on a 2 point conversion, and had missed a FG at the very end.  This with their starting QB injured in the 2^nd half on the contest.   They have another spotlight on them this week in Elnora facing long time rival 4-1 2A Linton-Stockton.  They have lost 10 in a row to the Miners. The Cougars will also face 4-1 2A North Knox in week 8.   Perry Central suffered through back to back losing seasons in 2016 and 2017, but have a lot of hardware in football successes that include a state runner-up in 2001, and a handful of semi-state appearances.  However, it’s been since 2010 that the Commodores have won a sectional title.  They dropped games to 4- 1 2A Tell City 12-6, 3-2 2A Forest Park 30-20, and 3-2 2A Paoli 28-6. They had wins over a combined 2-8 of 2A Crawford County 50-6 and 1A Tecumseh 40-0.  As I stated above, West Washington seems to be the cream of this crop, and the annual meeting between the Senators and Commodores in week 7 will let us know where PC is at.  North Daviess is certainly making strides but not quite at WW’s level.