Week # 4 in the NIC

[ASJCPUMA]

NORTHERN INDIANA
ALL TIMES EASTERN
	CONFERENCE			ALL GAMES
	W-L	Pts	OP	W-L	Pts	OP	Streak
Penn	1-0	49	6	3-  0	98	41	Won 3
St. Joseph	1-0	43	13	3-  0	105	19	Won 3
Elkhart	1-0	34	13	2-  1	80	55	Won 2
Marian	1-0	21	0	2-  1	49	49	Won 2
Riley	0-1	6	49	2-  1	74	55	Lost 1
Adams	0-1	0	21	1-  2	41	82	Lost 2
Washington	0-1	13	34	1-  2	65	72	Lost 2
New Prairi Friday, Sep. 12 Marian at St. Joseph ©, 7 pm  It's the Holy War Penn at Washington ©, 7 pm Adams at New Prairie ©, 7:30 pm Riley at Elkhart ©, 7 pm e	0-1	13	43	0-  3	41	126	Lost 4

 

 

 

[npcougar15]

Cougars just aren't good. 

Holy War is keeping this from being the least interesting week in NIC history

[BLACKGOLD2007]

14 hours ago, npcougar15 said:

Cougars just aren't good. 

Holy War is keeping this from being the least interesting week in NIC history

What cant get excited for the Penn v Washington game? hahaha

[BLACKGOLD2007]

Marian at St. Joseph ©, 7 pm  It's the Holy War - St. Joe is likely the third best team in the conference this year.

Penn at Washington ©, 7 pm - Penn by 40+ by half

Adams at New Prairie ©, 7:30 pm - Even though NP is down, they are better than Adams.

Riley at Elkhart ©, 7 pm - If Elkhart does not score 40 on Riley, they have a problem.

[adambetz]

Call me crazy, but I think Marian beats St Joe

[SBFootballFan6]

Looking back on last week I see Washington held Elkhart to 6 first half points and passed for 370 with one kid getting 243. Is Washington that much improved or is this more telling where Elkhart is this year?

Will be interesting to see if Washington can sling that ball against Penn this week. Can Riley make it a similar game against Elkhart?

[BLACKGOLD2007]

45 minutes ago, SBFootballFan6 said:

Looking back on last week I see Washington held Elkhart to 6 first half points and passed for 370 with one kid getting 243. Is Washington that much improved or is this more telling where Elkhart is this year?

Will be interesting to see if Washington can sling that ball against Penn this week. Can Riley make it a similar game against Elkhart?

I think Penn, might struggle with the pass game at first. But, the D will adapt and start to get pressure on the QB. Penn will score on them. I expect it to be a 40+ point night for Penn again.

[PDB26]

On 9/9/2025 at 1:17 PM, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

What cant get excited for the Penn v Washington game? hahaha

Good news, I've heard there's a three year extension on Penn's NIC contract.

[ASJCPUMA]

what happens after the third year

 

[ASJCPUMA]

Looks like Penn is the real deal in the NIC this year - how far after that TBD

Is Elkhart as good as people think?  Will they get better on Offense once the transfer can play.

Was surprised how young New Prairie is.  You do not notice those things until they take a step or two back.  Also heard a couple of kids transferred to Laporte.  I did notice that they are not as big as they have been, maybe the youth.  The Robinson kid is an athlete.  Transition years can be tough.

SJ and Marian battle for what could be the third best team.  Expect this to be the usual emotional game to start and see where it lands.

WHS has the good receiver and a kid who can throw it.  See if it holds up or was Elkhart playing down to the competition.  WHS has no frosh team, so their roster is their complete program.

Adams and Riley I never try to peg.  See how the season plays out

[BLACKGOLD2007]

11 hours ago, ASJCPUMA said:

what happens after the third year

 

They re-up for another 3 years. Penn wont bail. 

[PDB26]

9 hours ago, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

They re-up for another 3 years. Penn wont bail. 

Yeah, I think Penn is staying put and hoping someone––anyone––joins the NIC.

[adambetz]

30 minutes ago, PDB26 said:

Yeah, I think Penn is staying put and hoping someone––anyone––joins the NIC.

Who is on the shopping list? Does any school even make sense? As the football league continues to pull apart, its a good thing the basketball league has been exciting and competitive on both the boys and girls sides.

[PDB26]

10 hours ago, adambetz said:

Who is on the shopping list? Does any school even make sense? As the football league continues to pull apart, its a good thing the basketball league has been exciting and competitive on both the boys and girls sides.

I don't mean there is a list or anything like that. I mean, they're basically stuck hoping someone, anyone wants to join the NIC and change the status quo. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

4 hours ago, PDB26 said:

I don't mean there is a list or anything like that. I mean, they're basically stuck hoping someone, anyone wants to join the NIC and change the status quo. 

The two options that may make sense are LaPorte and Michigan City. But, I don't see them leaving the DAC. Plymouth is too far south and Mishawaka is never ever ever getting back together with the NIC. 

[BLACKGOLD2007]

What is going on over in Elkhart, allowing Riley to score 22 on them? Plus struggling with Washington the week before until late in the game...Penn dropped 49 before half on Washington and held Riley to 6 points. 

On 9/9/2025 at 1:19 PM, BLACKGOLD2007 said:

 St. Joe is likely the third best team in the conference this year. 

I think St. Joe might be the second best team as of right now in the conference. 

[SBFootballFan6]

What is going on out at New Prairie? This drop off is wild. Could they finish last in conference?

[ASJCPUMA]

Last week when we played New Prairie I spoke with someone who said the talent on the lower end was down coming in.  I asked if that was why the coach left?  He just smiled and said he got paid more money.  I know a couple of kids transferred to Laporte when an assistant coach who wanted the head coach did not get the job.  

As for St. Joe, the defense has impressed me.  Marian had one drive all night.  granted Marian lost their skilled people but they said the strength of their teams was the lines, which I was like if that is the strength then this team is team is down some.  The Huskies have to stay focused, stay healthy and play within their game.  They had over 100 yards in penalties Friday and that has to stop.  If they focus on this week and Adams and take care of business a big match up in Elkhart the following week.

Is Elkhart playing down to the level of their competition?  Just seems like they are.

 

[SBFootballFan6]

I get programs have ups and downs, but come on they went from going to four straight semi states, state 3 years ago to losing to a city school and starting 0-4. And if Elkhart is playing down or even if they aren’t that good hard to see NP getting a win this week either.

At this point who do we even see them beating? And they are losing these games with one of the best playmakers in conference on the team. Until this week they didn’t even look like they were competing. 

[alvinmack56esu]

7 hours ago, SBFootballFan6 said:

What is going on out at New Prairie? This drop off is wild. Could they finish last in conference?

 

5 hours ago, ASJCPUMA said:

Last week when we played New Prairie I spoke with someone who said the talent on the lower end was down coming in.  I asked if that was why the coach left?  He just smiled and said he got paid more money.  I know a couple of kids transferred to Laporte when an assistant coach who wanted the head coach did not get the job.  

As for St. Joe, the defense has impressed me.  Marian had one drive all night.  granted Marian lost their skilled people but they said the strength of their teams was the lines, which I was like if that is the strength then this team is team is down some.  The Huskies have to stay focused, stay healthy and play within their game.  They had over 100 yards in penalties Friday and that has to stop.  If they focus on this week and Adams and take care of business a big match up in Elkhart the following week.

Is Elkhart playing down to the level of their competition?  Just seems like they are.

 

Saw them for the first time this week. Their defense has always been fun to watch, but they are definitely lacking compared to anything I've ever seen from them.  So many big plays where guys were running free.  Looking at rosters, only 1 defensive player returned from last years team (#5) and he was playing a new position. 

Offensively, a few single digit numbers were in jerseys only, I'm guessing some skill guys that might be injured???  Pretty sure their one deep threat was a soccer player until this year, I remember the name from the loud speakers over at School Field.  Robinson is a stud, but it looks like teams are pretty aware of that and are game planning to take that away with the lack of other threats. Found it strange that Robinson didn't throw the ball, a few trick plays with backs or receivers throwing it.  

Lots of 10's and 11's playing for them, that hasn't been their norm.  Usually a Senior led group.   

Looking at LaPorte's recent scores, outside of the NP game, the offense seems to be having similar results to previous seasons over there. 

[Rocket]

2 hours ago, alvinmack56esu said:

 

Saw them for the first time this week. Their defense has always been fun to watch, but they are definitely lacking compared to anything I've ever seen from them.  So many big plays where guys were running free.  Looking at rosters, only 1 defensive player returned from last years team (#5) and he was playing a new position. 

Offensively, a few single digit numbers were in jerseys only, I'm guessing some skill guys that might be injured???  Pretty sure their one deep threat was a soccer player until this year, I remember the name from the loud speakers over at School Field.  Robinson is a stud, but it looks like teams are pretty aware of that and are game planning to take that away with the lack of other threats. Found it strange that Robinson didn't throw the ball, a few trick plays with backs or receivers throwing it.  

Lots of 10's and 11's playing for them, that hasn't been their norm.  Usually a Senior led group.   

Looking at LaPorte's recent scores, outside of the NP game, the offense seems to be having similar results to previous seasons over there. 

NP has been decimated with injuries this season along with being an extremely young team. I think the only game so far they should’ve won was against Adams, but multiple injuries in that game hurt pretty bad. There’s a reason you didn’t see Robinson passing last game but it’s not my place to reveal why. As far as kids transferring to LaPorte, I’m not aware of any or are my 2 boys that are on the team. It’s going to continue to be a rough year for the cougars and hopefully the youngsters get much needed reps to prepare themselves for next year and beyond 

[npcougar15]

NP is way down this year. A lot of factors. McKim leaving for Lowell is NOT the reason for the drop-off, NP would be 0-4 with him on the sidelines as well.  

NP lost 10 seniors on the defensive side of the ball; it's tough to come back from that even if Lombardi was leading your squad.

the injury bug has been relentless. For a team that was already going to struggle being young, inexperienced and really just not the most athletic they almost have no chance with all the starters standing on the sideline. 

NP is starting a ton of underclassmen

Unfortunately with a good St. Joe team you essentially have 4 losses before the ball is ever snapped (St. Joe, Penn, Northwood, Elkhart), not beating either LaPorte or Adams is going to put NP in some uncharted waters the last few decades. Marian will probably handle the Cougs with ease. That leaves Washington and Riley as the only possible wins in the regular season (and that's no guarantee), there are some a couple weak teams in sections 17 so there might be a win there.