Surprise Teams in 2025

[Sparty]

What are going to be the surprise teams this upcoming season?  Surprise here is defined as surprisingly good (better than expected) or surprisingly bad (worse than expected).  
 

Whatever class or region you’d like to mention.  Feel free to back up your thoughts with facts/data or “just a hunch”.

I will start with Lafayette Jeff winning the state title in 5A.  Just a hunch.  

LJ looks to be really good, but are they state title winning good?   I say they will surprise many and win the 5A state title this Thanksgiving weekend.  

[Bears62]

2 hours ago, Sparty said:

What are going to be the surprise teams this upcoming season?  Surprise here is defined as surprisingly good (better than expected) or surprisingly bad (worse than expected).  
 

Whatever class or region you’d like to mention.  Feel free to back up your thoughts with facts/data or “just a hunch”.

I will start with Lafayette Jeff winning the state title in 5A.  Just a hunch.  

LJ looks to be really good, but are they state title winning good?   I say they will surprise many and win the 5A state title this Thanksgiving weekend.  

Jeff will be solid. Returning both leading rushers, 2 of the top 3 receivers, as well as a lot of returning starters of defense. Couple seniors going D1 and some younger guys who will also likely be offered eventually. QB is the big question mark for them and if they get solid play there, they are very capable of representing the north at state although a date with most likely Merrillville in semi-state would be quite the challenge too. Jeff had a couple close games with them when they used to be in the same sectional, but could never beat them.

 

Would certainly not pick them to beat whoever comes out of the south (Cathedral, New Pal or East Central), but a finals appearance would be huge for their program. Week 1 game at Chatard should tell a lot

 

Tough to pick a real sleeper for 6a with everyone knowing how good any of the top 12-15 teams could be. I don't consider them actual "sleepers", but Warren and Ben Davis almost always have the talent to compete for a title.

 

For 5a, Merrillville and Jeff in my opinion look to have the best shot at taking down whoever the represents the south in the title game, especially if Merrillville's QB is as good as people say. No clue how good Concord, Warsaw or Valpo will be this year. Bloomington South could be good, but again just would be quite the task to take out whoever they would face in semi-state

[ptr]

59 minutes ago, Bears62 said:

Jeff will be solid. Returning both leading rushers, 2 of the top 3 receivers, as well as a lot of returning starters of defense. Couple seniors going D1 and some younger guys who will also likely be offered eventually. QB is the big question mark for them and if they get solid play there, they are very capable of representing the north at state although a date with most likely Merrillville in semi-state would be quite the challenge too. Jeff had a couple close games with them when they used to be in the same sectional, but could never beat them.

 

Would certainly not pick them to beat whoever comes out of the south (Cathedral, New Pal or East Central), but a finals appearance would be huge for their program. Week 1 game at Chatard should tell a lot

 

Tough to pick a real sleeper for 6a with everyone knowing how good any of the top 12-15 teams could be. I don't consider them actual "sleepers", but Warren and Ben Davis almost always have the talent to compete for a title.

 

For 5a, Merrillville and Jeff in my opinion look to have the best shot at taking down whoever the represents the south in the title game, especially if Merrillville's QB is as good as people say. No clue how good Concord, Warsaw or Valpo will be this year. Bloomington South could be good, but again just would be quite the task to take out whoever they would face in semi-state

I'm going to do a Conference Indiana preview (last hoorah) once practices start on Monday. Bloomington South should be a stronger team, at least on paper, than their last two semi-state teams against Decatur Central. They have nine starters back on defense, and what appears to be a strong offense with some move-ins added to that. They have one of the better backfields on offense in the state with 6'6 Jr QB Duncan Combs and Sr RB Braylen Townsend, but they have a couple of question marks along the o-line. I have some added information on South that I will include in my preseason CI post. You just keep your fingers crossed on potential key injuries.

[temptation]

Pike…gonna beat Crown Point…handily.

[Bears62]

4 hours ago, temptation said:

Pike…gonna beat Crown Point…handily.

I like it, but bold... I'll take Crown Point straight up, but Pike has a big opportunity on their hands, they're certainly no slouch either

[RegionFBFan]

Although CP lost a lot of key players, I don’t see Pike winning this game.

Pike needs to get ready for a physical, ball control offense especially if it’s true Gibbs has moved to RB. CP will grind the clock and limit Pike’s possessions.

[23andCounting]

I'm just thinking Crown Point's coaching staff is just too good to allow Pike to beat them "handily."

[Rodney]

Cathedral could beat Lafayette Jeff with 8 guys

[23andCounting]

29 minutes ago, Rodney said:

Cathedral could beat Lafayette Jeff with 8 guys

I'll give you 10, I'll take Jeff.

[Rodney]

I'll give Jeff 2 touchdowns and they still lose to cathedrals 8

[23andCounting]

10 minutes ago, Rodney said:

I'll give Jeff 2 touchdowns and they still lose to cathedrals 8

Okay, let's bet portfolios. 

[Rodney]

I'll bet 10 budweisers and a long island pitcher of your choosing from kilroys, payable on state championship day

1 minute ago, 23andCounting said:

Okay, let's bet portfolios. 

 

[23andCounting]

5 minutes ago, Rodney said:

I'll bet 10 budweisers and a long island pitcher of your choosing from kilroys, payable on state championship day

 

Nowadays I'd be passed out dead if I drank that much. 

[Rodney]

12 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Nowadays I'd be passed out dead if I drank that much. 

That's a light tuesday night

[Flyingangel]

9 hours ago, RegionFBFan said:

Although CP lost a lot of key players, I don’t see Pike winning this game.

Pike needs to get ready for a physical, ball control offense especially if it’s true Gibbs has moved to RB. CP will grind the clock and limit Pike’s possessions.

Gibbs was moved to RB. But has of earlier this week crown point got a transfer RB from Boone grove so Gibbs might be moving back to TE

[Flyingangel]

On 8/2/2025 at 5:20 PM, Bears62 said:

Jeff will be solid. Returning both leading rushers, 2 of the top 3 receivers, as well as a lot of returning starters of defense. Couple seniors going D1 and some younger guys who will also likely be offered eventually. QB is the big question mark for them and if they get solid play there, they are very capable of representing the north at state although a date with most likely Merrillville in semi-state would be quite the challenge too. Jeff had a couple close games with them when they used to be in the same sectional, but could never beat them.

 

Would certainly not pick them to beat whoever comes out of the south (Cathedral, New Pal or East Central), but a finals appearance would be huge for their program. Week 1 game at Chatard should tell a lot

 

Tough to pick a real sleeper for 6a with everyone knowing how good any of the top 12-15 teams could be. I don't consider them actual "sleepers", but Warren and Ben Davis almost always have the talent to compete for a title.

 

For 5a, Merrillville and Jeff in my opinion look to have the best shot at taking down whoever the represents the south in the title game, especially if Merrillville's QB is as good as people say. No clue how good Concord, Warsaw or Valpo will be this year. Bloomington South could be good, but again just would be quite the task to take out whoever they would face in semi-state

Hate to break it to everyone but that QB from Merrillville that everyone wants to start. Looks like he will be the backup. Or at least rotate from bench. 
 

team (not coaches) are very adamant that they want the senior starting because he hasn’t had a opportunity. 👀 don’t shoot the messenger. Just want I was told 

On 8/2/2025 at 2:55 PM, Sparty said:

What are going to be the surprise teams this upcoming season?  Surprise here is defined as surprisingly good (better than expected) or surprisingly bad (worse than expected).  
 

Whatever class or region you’d like to mention.  Feel free to back up your thoughts with facts/data or “just a hunch”.

I will start with Lafayette Jeff winning the state title in 5A.  Just a hunch.  

LJ looks to be really good, but are they state title winning good?   I say they will surprise many and win the 5A state title this Thanksgiving weekend.  

Jeff doesn’t make it to semistate. I’ll be surprised if they make it out of there sectionals. 

[Bears62]

18 minutes ago, Flyingangel said:

Hate to break it to everyone but that QB from Merrillville that everyone wants to start. Looks like he will be the backup. Or at least rotate from bench. 
 

team (not coaches) are very adamant that they want the senior starting because he hasn’t had a opportunity. 👀 don’t shoot the messenger. Just want I was told 

Jeff doesn’t make it to semistate. I’ll be surprised if they make it out of there sectionals. 

You have to be confused about something because their sectional is very weak on a 5a scale, very little chance they get taken out before regionals

[temptation]

11 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

I'm just thinking Crown Point's coaching staff is just too good to allow Pike to beat them "handily."

Pike by 2 possessions.

[Flyingangel]

4 hours ago, Bears62 said:

You have to be confused about something because their sectional is very weak on a 5a scale, very little chance they get taken out before regionals

Kokomo gonna shock the state 😂

[5GetsYou1]

12 hours ago, temptation said:

Pike by 2 possessions.

I've seen a few posts about Pike's potential this year, but I'm out of the loop on them. What has people optimistic? 

[temptation]

4 minutes ago, 5GetsYou1 said:

I've seen a few posts about Pike's potential this year, but I'm out of the loop on them. What has people optimistic? 

Not really "optimistic" per se as I don't see them going anywhere in the postseason but they look to slowly be improving year by year as the head coach enters his 4th season.

I just think that some folks underestimate the bottom tier teams in the two big conferences due to their win/loss record not standing out.  If the Crown Point game were in October, I may feel differently as if the game were in the Region.  But its not.  I think Pike puts folks on notice in week 2.

[RegionFBFan]

Could happen but don’t see it though.

CP is reloading at skill positions mainly QB. RB will be an improvement from Ellison who was good but small. Gibbs is a beast 6’4 235 at RB, great athlete. CP secondary is always suspect imo. It shouldn’t be though with over 200 kids out for FB one would think you could find 4 db’s. 
So I don’t see Pike stopping CP ground attack and passing to TE’s. I could see Pike with their athleticism pass on CP.

CP wears them down with long drives and limits possessions.

CP by 14

[Flyingangel]

1 hour ago, RegionFBFan said:

Could happen but don’t see it though.

CP is reloading at skill positions mainly QB. RB will be an improvement from Ellison who was good but small. Gibbs is a beast 6’4 235 at RB, great athlete. CP secondary is always suspect imo. It shouldn’t be though with over 200 kids out for FB one would think you could find 4 db’s. 
So I don’t see Pike stopping CP ground attack and passing to TE’s. I could see Pike with their athleticism pass on CP.

CP wears them down with long drives and limits possessions.

CP by 14

Gibbs is no longer at RB. He has been moved back to TE as they got transfers from another region school recently 

[Sparty]

I’d be surprised if the Gibbs kid is the primary RB all year.  

25 minutes ago, Flyingangel said:

Gibbs is no longer at RB. He has been moved back to TE as they got transfers from another region school recently 

From?

[RegionFBFan]

BG transfer… that’s a reach

They will move him all over on offense this year.