Pound for Pound Poll

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Rodney said:

Adams central omitted, I'm well aware they are good, however I do not follow them, and thus have no idea how good/where to put them, however they would be on the list somewhere

I think Adams Central could make a case for best program in the state. 

[23andCounting]

2 hours ago, foxbat said:

Would agree mostly, although I would say that Jeff has almost always had the POTENTIAL to go further, but typically hasn't.  In watching them at the Jeff-Harrison game, they have a bigger line than they've had in the past and they have a couple of really good players in Vanostran, on offense, and Aytch, on defense.  They also have a shorter scat back ... he's actually a running back, but moves like a scat back ... I think it might be Adkins or maybe Fernandez.  Man that kid can fly when they get him on the outside.

I think part of what's getting the attention is that they are now down in 5A vs. 6A.  For me, seeing them every year, the main thing I see that's different about them is the line size.  I mean, if we go back to the Maximums Grimes years, there was lots of talent on those teams that should have gone far, but realistically Jeff, like just about most of the bottom 16 in 6A was destined to bow out early.  Again, I think a really big part of why there's the perception of something different is decently attributable to their odds in 5A vs. their odds in 6A when they were there.  Again, they have talent this year and the line size seems bigger, but having followed Jeff for a quarter century, I think the teams of the last decade, since Moore turned things around and Shanley has kept them turned around, have all had the potential.  Perhaps this year's team may have a little different feel to them, again, I think it's the line that's the factor, but I'm not sure I think it's a big enough item to take them into a pound-for-pound top 5 ranking.  

 

For me it has nothing to do with 6A/5A. It has everything to do with how they played Chatard. From what I heard that game could have gone either way? This Jeff team just seems different to me than years past.

[Indiana Fan]

2 hours ago, temptation said:

I’ve been told citing free and reduced rate makes you an outcast…

Whiteland.  Give it a few more years.

Whiteland maybe…what is your reasoning?

[Muda69]

5 hours ago, PDB26 said:

I thought Frankfort struggles because everyone wants to play soccer.

Yes.  The socio in socioeconomic. And on the economic sides of things you have many families where the student has to work a part time job to help put food on their table and a house over their head.  A luxury pastime like tackle football just isn't in the cards anymore.

 

 

 

Edited September 28, 2025 by Muda69

[Sparty]

This season is part of the metric for this discussion.  Lake Station.  Sitting at 5-1.  

[temptation]

3 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

Southport scored their first touchdown of the season in their 6th game.  It's not a small school, or a disadvantaged one, they just don't have many football players, or so it seems.

Southport is in 6A purgatory.

1.  A small 6a public school in Marion County…

2. Large Burmese population (think of what Muda states about Frankfort)…

3.  Zero tradition…

4.  A sectional with zero chance of advancement…

5.  A coaching revolving door…

1 hour ago, Indiana Fan said:

Whiteland maybe…what is your reasoning?

Growth and expansion, affluence and homes popping up everywhere.

1 hour ago, Muda69 said:

Yes.  The socio in socioeconomic. And on the economic sides of things you have many families where the student has to work a part time job to help put food on their table and a house over their head.  A luxury pastime like tackle football just isn't in the cards anymore.

 

 

 

Some folks will never get it.

[Titan32]

[Robert]

19 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

1.  Well, it's actually about having the same resources. Socioeconomic factors can really make things complicated. So let's just roll with enrollment size for now. 

2. They could certainly make a case. 

3. I think if you're looking at Jeff in 2025, they might be above GS or HH. Past decade? No. I can see your point regarding DC. 

4. Again, another program that could certainly make a case. Right now I have CG ranked somewhere between 11-15. 

It's either pound for pound, or it's not.

15 hours ago, Muda69 said:

Yes.  The socio in socioeconomic. And on the economic sides of things you have many families where the student has to work a part time job to help put food on their table and a house over their head.  A luxury pastime like tackle football just isn't in the cards anymore.

 

 

 

Is that $ reported on the free/reduced lunch applicatioN?

[Donnie Baker]

29 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

I’ll be driving by there Friday 

[Titan32]

21 minutes ago, Donnie Baker said:

I’ll be driving by there Friday 

Let's get hammered.

[Donnie Baker]

6 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

Let's get hammered.

I’m out of Zimas and have 600 miles to go from there 

[23andCounting]

48 minutes ago, Robert said:

It's either pound for pound, or it's not.

Some of you are struggling. I'll make this less complicated. Let's just figure enrollment and eliminate socioeconomic factors. 

[RegionFBFan]

Andrean makes this list for sure. Enrollment 455

[PDB26]

16 hours ago, Muda69 said:

Yes.  The socio in socioeconomic. And on the economic sides of things you have many families where the student has to work a part time job to help put food on their table and a house over their head.  A luxury pastime like tackle football just isn't in the cards anymore.

 

 

 

A shame, for sure. 

[Titan32]

P/Ps should be out of contention...they will always punch above their weight class due to the nature of the student population.  

[foxbat]

15 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

P/Ps should be out of contention...they will always punch above their weight class due to the nature of the student population.  

You mean like Faith Christian and Noll?

[23andCounting]

30 minutes ago, foxbat said:

You mean like Faith Christian and Noll?

Do they even attempt at making football a priority?

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, RegionFBFan said:

Andrean makes this list for sure. Enrollment 455

I'm 50/50 when it comes to p/p's as it relates to this topic, but throwing socio economics out the windown, then Andrean has to be considered. Definitely one of the states better programs. The problem we have when trying to create a Top 10, is that there are probably 30 schools who think they should be in the discussion. 

[temptation]

1 minute ago, 23andCounting said:

I'm 50/50 when it comes to p/p's as it relates to this topic, but throwing socio economics out the windown, then Andrean has to be considered. Definitely one of the states better programs. The problem we have when trying to create a Top 10, is that there are probably 30 schools who think they should be in the discussion. 

Can’t relate.

[Titan32]

53 minutes ago, foxbat said:

You mean like Faith Christian and Noll?

I knew someone would point that out...I almost qualifed my response but didn't think it woudl be necessary.  So here it is...any P/P that put any focus on football.  Halfway decent coach who will end up being a legend, enough tradition that they can call someone elses field their own, fans that only show up if they are a state contender, etc.

Edited September 29, 2025 by Titan32

[First_Backer_Inside]

1 hour ago, RegionFBFan said:

Andrean makes this list for sure. Enrollment 455

And yet they can't seem to SF themselves to 3A. So how much can they really punch above their class?

[23andCounting]

2 minutes ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

And yet they can't seem to SF themselves to 3A. So how much can they really punch above their class?

Maybe that's a good measuring stick. Which teams bumped up a class. That would be good for a "best program" poll, but this poll is for 2025 only. 

[First_Backer_Inside]

1 minute ago, 23andCounting said:

Maybe that's a good measuring stick. Which teams bumped up a class. That would be good for a "best program" poll, but this poll is for 2025 only. 

Fair, but still not giving Andrean credit. Look at the 4a and 5a teams they play. Outside of the Hobart win being impressive, what win do they have that makes them a "pound for pound" great team?

[Muda69]

1 hour ago, PDB26 said:

A shame, for sure. 

Just life in many Indiana communities. 

 

[foxbat]

50 minutes ago, 23andCounting said:

Do they even attempt at making football a priority?

I would say yes for Faith as they had a really good/cheap deal using Jeff's stadium, which is very nice especially for a 1A school for 8-on-8, yet they decided to finance and build their own field/stadium and move to 11-man ball.  That move to 11-man was after taking an 80-2 beating at the hands of Indiana Deaf in the previous season of 8-on-8.

Incidentally, I just listed two that didn't match the statement being tossed out that were on the extremes, but there are plenty others that I'm pretty sure make football a priority, or at least play it competitively, 

32 minutes ago, Titan32 said:

I knew someone would point that out...I almost qualifed my response but didn't think it woudl be necessary.  So here it is...any P/P that put any focus on football.  Halfway decent coach who will end up being a legend, enough tradition that they can call someone elses field their own, fans that only show up if they are a state contender, etc.

Of course it's necessary.  If it's always a necessity to exclude p/p with general talking terms that don't apply to all, then it's probably a good idea to be qualified.  See below for examples of p/p teams that wouldn't be in a discussion of pound-for-pound; especially if you just labelled the teams Team A and Team B and didn't know whether there was tuition or not.

39 minutes ago, First_Backer_Inside said:

And yet they can't seem to SF themselves to 3A. So how much can they really punch above their class?

Scecina's a 2A school by enrollment too, although they were SF'd for a season or two.  They too have not put together enough points in the twelve years that they've been in 2A despite having 2A enrollment.  Heritage Christian is another.  Won a title in 2008 in 2A, have 2A enrollment, and haven't cobbled together enough points to be pushed up in the last decade and a half.  Ritter's another one that doesn't fit pound-for-pound for the last decade either.  Couldn't do it in 3A with enrollment and even when moving back down to 2A by enrollment.  Culver Academy in 3A and 4A by enrollment is another.  With that said, I'm not sure any of these teams would be in a pound-for-pound discussion for the last decade; however, they are to be excluded before the consideration even starts.

47 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

Just life in many Indiana communities. 

 

Very true.  Oh dear God, I'm agreeing with Muda!