5A North Semi-State - #3 Merrillville (11-1) @ #10 Warsaw (9-3)

[BTF]

6 hours ago, adambetz said:

Call me crazy if you want, but I think Warsaw is going to do this to Decatur Central too.

Not crazy at all, not even a little bit. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

Warsaw LET'S FREAKING GOOOO! 

 

Congrats you guys! I thought you were the favorite in 5A this season, after some bumps in the road....look where you are, playing for that 5A title. Get the job done!

[Huge Football Fan]

Warsaw has the opportunity to do something that may have never been done before? Beat #1 then #2 then #3 now #4 is next. Has to be one of the greatest runs ever 

[CoachMack219]

On 11/23/2024 at 8:42 AM, Huge Football Fan said:

Warsaw has the opportunity to do something that may have never been done before? Beat #1 then #2 then #3 now #4 is next. Has to be one of the greatest runs ever 

I saw someone give mention to this last week as well. Has to be one of the most impressive tournament runs ever thus far. Capping it off by knocking off #'s 1. 2. 3, and 4 would be unreal. Speaking of impressive, that beatdown they handed to the Pirates was IMPRESSIVE. 

[BTF]

8 hours ago, CoachMack219 said:

Speaking of impressive, that beatdown they handed to the Pirates was IMPRESSIVE. 

Was Merrillville leading at halftime?

[CoachMack219]

14 hours ago, BTF said:

Was Merrillville leading at halftime?

Yup. That 18-0 2nd half didn't help and it was clear Merrillville's defense was going to have a tough time consistently getting off the field in the 1st half. 

[NLCTigerFan07]

15 hours ago, BTF said:

Was Merrillville leading at halftime?

Yes, scoring went:

1Q - 1:56 Warsaw TD (XP blocked), Tigers up 6-0
1Q - 1:05 Merrillville TD, Pirates up 7-6
2Q - 6:54 Warsaw TD, Tigers up 13-6 (following a INT at midfield)
2Q - 2:11 Merrillville TD, Pirates up 14-13 (TD came on a 35 yard pass on 4th & 3)
3Q - 6:26 Warsaw FG, Tigers up 16-14 (Merrillville stuffed Warsaw on consecutive plays from inside the 3 yard line)
3Q - 5:23 Warsaw TD, Tigers up 23-14 (INT return for a TD)
4Q - 3:02 Warsaw TD (2pt conversion), Tigers up 31-14

[CoachMack219]

18 minutes ago, NLCTigerFan07 said:

Yes, scoring went:

1Q - 1:56 Warsaw TD (XP blocked), Tigers up 6-0
1Q - 1:05 Merrillville TD, Pirates up 7-6
2Q - 6:54 Warsaw TD, Tigers up 13-6 (following a INT at midfield)
2Q - 2:11 Merrillville TD, Pirates up 14-13 (TD came on a 35 yard pass on 4th & 3)
3Q - 6:26 Warsaw FG, Tigers up 16-14 (Merrillville stuffed Warsaw on consecutive plays from inside the 3 yard line)
3Q - 5:23 Warsaw TD, Tigers up 23-14 (INT return for a TD)
4Q - 3:02 Warsaw TD (2pt conversion), Tigers up 31-14

You have time of possession numbers for me, by chance? 

[BTF]

1 hour ago, CoachMack219 said:

Yup. That 18-0 2nd half didn't help and it was clear Merrillville's defense was going to have a tough time consistently getting off the field in the 1st half. 

Just doesn't seem like a beatdown to me. Pick 6's can really make a score look deceiving. 

[Komets2727]

2 minutes ago, BTF said:

Just doesn't seem like a beatdown to me. Pick 6's can really make a score look deceiving. 

I spent quite a bit of time watching this game, Warsaw had the ball almost the entire 2nd half, kind of like Luers did against Garrett. It was complete domination by Warsaw in the 2nd half

[CoachMack219]

Just now, BTF said:

Just doesn't seem like a beatdown to me. Pick 6's can really make a score look deceiving. 

For sure. Didn't feel to me from watching that Merrillville spent a whole lot of time on the field on offense. That's why I asked NLC if he had Time of Possession numbers. A beat down can also happen as a result of pick 6's. Folks just often think of beatdown as "offense scores a lot of points and defense shuts them down." I guess I'm more so defining the beatdown here as "a Defensive dominance (which it for sure was when you break it down) by Warsaw mixed with good enough offense to win by 17."

 

The Warsaw defense gave up a score on 4th and 3 when they lost a WR down the seam on the QB scramble and allowed a 75 yard touchdown run on a play where poor tackling plagued them. They gave up a big play late that amounted to no points but other than those 3 plays, the Tiger defense was BALLIN'! 

[BTF]

9 minutes ago, CoachMack219 said:

For sure. Didn't feel to me from watching that Merrillville spent a whole lot of time on the field on offense. That's why I asked NLC if he had Time of Possession numbers. A beat down can also happen as a result of pick 6's. Folks just often think of beatdown as "offense scores a lot of points and defense shuts them down." I guess I'm more so defining the beatdown here as "a Defensive dominance (which it for sure was when you break it down) by Warsaw mixed with good enough offense to win by 17."

 

The Warsaw defense gave up a score on 4th and 3 when they lost a WR down the seam on the QB scramble and allowed a 75 yard touchdown run on a play where poor tackling plagued them. They gave up a big play late that amounted to no points but other than those 3 plays, the Tiger defense was BALLIN'! 

I get what you're saying. Good defenses make big plays...........turnovers and touchdowns. I'll use Luers as an example what I wouldn't consider a beatdown by the other team. They drive down to their opponents 5 yard line and throw a pick 6. Hard for me to consider that a beatdown by the Garrett defense after allowing the offense to move all the way down the field. I'll chalk that up as a good play, it just doesn't fit the beatdown category for me. Regardless, good teams also take over the second half of football games, and that's what Warsaw did. Sounds like a dominating second half performance. 

[NLCTigerFan07]

45 minutes ago, CoachMack219 said:

You have time of possession numbers for me, by chance? 

Time of Possession
29:20 - Warsaw (15:00 1st Half / 14:20 2nd Half)
18:40 - Merrillville (9:00 1st Half / 9:40 2nd Half)

Warsaw had 8 drives that resulted in 3 TDs, 1 FG, 2 punts, 1 turnover on downs, 1 final kneel down to end the game.
Merrillville had 7 drives that resulted in 2 TDs, 4 turnovers (3 INTs, 1 fumble), 1 turnover on downs

Warsaw
56 total plays - 332 total yards
54 rushes - 314 yards, 3 TDs
1/2 passing - 18 yards
21 First Downs
0 Penalties
29:20 TOP

Merrillville
49 total plays - 346 total yards
33 rushes - 231 yards, 1 TD
6/16 passing - 115 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
15 First Downs
3 Penalties for 15 yards
18:40 TOP

[CoachMack219]

2 hours ago, BTF said:

I get what you're saying. Good defenses make big plays...........turnovers and touchdowns. I'll use Luers as an example what I wouldn't consider a beatdown by the other team. They drive down to their opponents 5 yard line and throw a pick 6. Hard for me to consider that a beatdown by the Garrett defense after allowing the offense to move all the way down the field. I'll chalk that up as a good play, it just doesn't fit the beatdown category for me. Regardless, good teams also take over the second half of football games, and that's what Warsaw did. Sounds like a dominating second half performance. 

We can settle on a 2nd half beatdown then. Lol which does actually feel fair to say given the time of possession and statistical numbers presented by NLC and watching the game. Statistically speaking, Merrillville got 50 of their passing yards on 1 play in the 4th quarter and they got 75 of their rushing yards on 1 play in the 2nd quarter. Most of their yardage came in the first half given how their drives ended in each half. If I recall correctly, both Merrillville scoring drives were "long drives." For sure think its fair to say the Tigers dominated the 2nd half of that ball game especially on the defensive end. 

[BTF]

2 minutes ago, CoachMack219 said:

We can settle on a 2nd half beatdown then. Lol which does actually feel fair to say given the time of possession and statistical numbers presented by NLC and watching the game. Statistically speaking, Merrillville got 50 of their passing yards on 1 play in the 4th quarter and they got 75 of their rushing yards on 1 play in the 2nd quarter. Most of their yardage came in the first half given how their drives ended in each half. If I recall correctly, both Merrillville scoring drives were "long drives." For sure think its fair to say the Tigers dominated the 2nd half of that ball game especially on the defensive end. 

Merrillville running out of gas in the second half is becoming a trend. 

[FastpacedO]

22 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

I spent quite a bit of time watching this game, Warsaw had the ball almost the entire 2nd half, kind of like Luers did against Garrett. It was complete domination by Warsaw in the 2nd half

Yes and Warsaw offense can eat clock on you. It definitely does not help the opposing team when they have the ball on offense and they turn it over to a team that eats clock. Merrillville had 4 turnovers that turned into 22 points for Warsaw. SO I would say Warsaw not only dominated on offense eating clock but they forced some turnovers defensively.