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DTs Dandy Dozen - Final Observations before the tournament


Guest DT

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Its been a crazy Covid - driven season.  The virus has impacted some programs more than others.

Kudos to all for putting forth your best effort to work around the circumstatnces and play a nedarly full season.  Some states are just getting started.  Crazy.

1. Most Surprising Performance - Elkhart Lions.  Good things were expected of the new consolidated Elkhart High School this season, but did anyone really expect the Lions to run rthe table and sweep to a NIC conference title in year one post consolidation?  And EHS has won some nice games, with wins over Mishawaka, Columbus East, Penn and St Joe.  Really a disapouintment that we didint get to see the matchup with Marian, but it is what it is.  Elkhart has been frantically looking for opponents to fill scheduling gaps, but has found no takers.  The Lions will be on the sidelines this week, and then will look to closeout an undefeated regular season next week at always tough New Prairie.

2. Most Disappointing Performance - Warren Central   The Warriors are in the midst of their worst season in 30 years with a 2-5 record and look like they might have thrown in the towel with lopsided losses to Lawrence North and Carmel the past two weeks.   Warren's talent is down considerably when compared to some of the great teams of the past, and looking out ahead at future recruiting projections, therer is not a lot coming in the pipeline.  With rising MIC programs at North Central, Lawrence North and Pike, WC is in danger of losing its grip at or near the top of The MIC.  

3. Game of the Year - Whiteland over Mooresville 41-35 in OT - The MId State is one of the most solid and balanced conferences in the state.  Mooresville has gotten all the pub of late, but Whiteland always hangs around, unnoticed.  Darrin Fisher does a great job with the Warrior program, and has his team in line for a 3 way share of the conference championship with Decature Central and Mooresville, as all are 5-1 in league play and heavily favored to win this weekend.

4. Best Conference Race - SIAC  The additions of Jasper and Vincennes have made the SIAC a very interesting and compelling conference race this season.  Evansville Central has the title clinched with an 8-0 record, but every week there have been big games with huge conference implications.  The SIAC is a great example for those who like 10 team conferences with a full 9 game round robin schedule.  Every week is huge.  Especially in a pandemic shortened season.  BTW - it looks like the SIAC lost only one game to COVID all season.  

5. Best Coaching Job - Josh Shattuck / Elkhart    Imagine the challege of working through the consolidation, meshing two big school rosters, putting together a staff, and tearing through your first season unbeaten.  Hands down, Shattuck and his staff have done a phenominal job.  The real tests are just ahead as Elkhart will have a chance to show the state if they are ready to play big time 6A football in the tournament.

6. Most Dominating Team - Mount Vernon Fortville  The Marauders have been rising over the past few seasons under Mike Kirschner, but the way they have taken over and manhandled the HHC is surprising to many.  8-0 MV has outscored its opponents 341-100, and grabbed conference leadership away from long time nemesis New Pal.  Demographic and socio economic trends are moving in a positive direction for this program, so 2020 might be the beginning of a long run at the top of the HHC for Kirschner's program.

7. Most Dynamic Player - Donaven McCulley / Lawrence North   McCulley and his outstanding crew of wide receivers have led a football revival at LN.  The Wildcats are 5-3 and heading for their first winning season in a decade, and nearly pulled off a mammoth upset this past week, taking a 13-0 halftime lead over top ranked Center Grove before losing 28-13 after a furious second half Trojan comeback.  McCulley has pro type skills, great feet, a big arm, and can be a game changer for the Cats in the playoffs.  All Indiana University football fans and alumni, including myself, are looking forward to his arrival on campus to lead the Hoosier football program

8. Best Defensive Stud - Caden Curry of Center Grove   What more can be said about Curry?  He is a 4 Star recruit with offers from every major college in the country.  He will likely elevate to 5 star status and become the most highly recruited player in Indiana High School  Football state history.  Curry does not have huge sacks or TFA numbers this year, as teams generally either double team him or run the other way.  The 6-5 , 260lb junior has a huge future, and will likely be a first round NFL draft choice after his JR year.  Would love to see him stay in Big Ten country.  Would look great in Maize and Blue.

9. Best Schedule - Cathedral  For pure entertainment, how can you beat the 2020 Cathedfral football schedule?  Three games against the best of the GCL.  MIC battles with Carmel and Center Grove.  A trip up north to Penn  And PP rivals Chatard and Brebeuf.  Only one question.  When does Roncalli get back on the schedule?  Has the Cathedral AD reached out to IMG?  

10. Dumbest Move of the Season - Hammond City Public Schools   Jumped the gun and cancelled the season , now trying to play catch up in week 9.  Hammond High, Clark, Morton and Gavit will all play a round robin 3 game schedule this year, then the playoffs.  At least they salvaged something out of it.

11. Best Rescheduled Game - 2A Pioneer's 20-16 win over 6A Chesterton.  CHS was the overwhelming favoriite, but the Panthers parlayed home field advantage into the upset victory.

12. Worst Rescheduled Game - Chatard over Merrillville 45-28    The Pirates dream of an unbeaten regular season went down the tube after the trip down to Indy.  Merrillville looked lethargic and uninspired and damaged their statewide rep with the performance.  Chatard just added to their legend with the convincing win.  

 

 

 

 

 

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1.   Not I 

Coach Shattuck energy was the perfect choice to take over the consolidated Elkhart teams, he was up there 1 year prior to the consolidation, has a very good young DC who was with him at Seymour and actually, Coach Shattuck was DC French's coach in HS in Michigan, so those two know each other very well and have taken the talent in that area and molded it thus far into a very competitve 6a team with some high end D1 kids to utilize 

For giggles;   SiAC vs MIC    h2h, why Siac over MIC ?  GO. 

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27 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

1.   Not I 

Coach Shattuck energy was the perfect choice to take over the consolidated Elkhart teams, he was up there 1 year prior to the consolidation, has a very good young DC who was with him at Seymour and actually, Coach Shattuck was DC French's coach in HS in Michigan, so those two know each other very well and have taken the talent in that area and molded it thus far into a very competitve 6a team with some high end D1 kids to utilize 

For giggles;   SiAC vs MIC    h2h, why Siac over MIC ?  GO. 

Every week in the SIAC, there were 2 or 3 big time matchups between schools who had a shot at the league title.

Your lucky to get 1 marquee matchup per week in The MIC.  And the HCC was very quiet this year as well.

For my money, the two best races were SIAC and Mid State.   I also like the SAC which had 5 teams legitimately in the mix.

 

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3 hours ago, DT said:

Dumbest Move of the Season - Hammond City Public Schools   Jumped the gun and cancelled the season , now trying to play catch up in week 9.  Hammond High, Clark, Morton and Gavit will all play a round robin 3 game schedule this year, then the playoffs.  At least they salvaged something out of it.

Yeah man this sucks the last installment of whiting clark never happen. If you need your whiting clark fix I uploaded the tv broadcast from 1999 to YouTube, look for #40 he was beast.

 

3 hours ago, DT said:

Best Coaching Job - Josh Shattuck / Elkhart    Imagine the challege of working through the consolidation, meshing two big school rosters, putting together a staff, and tearing through your first season unbeaten.  Hands down, Shattuck and his staff have done a phenominal job.  The real tests are just ahead as Elkhart will have a chance to show the state if they are ready to play big time 6A football in the tournament.

Adam Hudak Wheeler he is health professional and head coach, has actually won games at Lake station. I think he’d be a great fit at crown point if it ever opened up. Current HC at wheeler.

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6 minutes ago, Whiting89 said:

Yeah man this sucks the last installment of whiting clark never happen. If you need your whiting clark fix I uploaded the tv broadcast from 1999 to YouTube, look for #40 he was beast.

 

Adam Hudak Wheeler he is health professional and head coach, has actually won games at Lake station. I think he’d be a great fit at crown point if it ever opened up. Current HC at wheeler.

Are you suggesting CP could use a coaching change?

 

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10 minutes ago, DT said:

Are you suggesting CP could use a coaching change?

 

Based on the resources they have I thought they would be much more successful, seems like they are good at every sport except football. 
main issue with them is it seems like their offense is always horrible, you’d figure you’d be able to find a good qb at such a big school and generate some offense which generates excitement. 

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1 minute ago, Whiting89 said:

Based on the resources they have I thought they would be much more successful, seems like they are good at every sport except football. 
main issue with them is it seems like their offense is always horrible, you’d figure you’d be able to find a good qb at such a big school and generate some offense which generates excitement. 

I agree completely.  

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4 hours ago, DT said:

 

8. Best Defensive Stud - Caden Curry of Center Grove   What more can be said about Curry?  He is a 4 Star recruit with offers from every major college in the country.  He will likely elevate to 5 star status and become the most highly recruited player in Indiana High School  Football state history.  Curry does not have huge sacks or TFA numbers this year, as teams generally either double team him or run the other way.  The 6-5 , 260lb junior has a huge future, and will likely be a first round NFL draft choice after his JR year.  Would love to see him stay in Big Ten country.  Would look great in Maize and Blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somebody should tell Brian Kelley about him.

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11 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Notre Dame has the luxury of siting back and waiting..... then when they feel the time is right to flip the script they come swooping in. 

See Dru Tranquil and Jack Kiser 

They did the same thing with Nick Martin who was headed to Kentucky.

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18 minutes ago, Lysander said:

They did the same thing with Nick Martin who was headed to Kentucky.

How could an Indiana boy possibly resist the lure and granduer of the Golden Dome?

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19 hours ago, DT said:
19 hours ago, DT said:

 

8. Best Defensive Stud - Caden Curry of Center Grove   What more can be said about Curry?  He is a 4 Star recruit with offers from every major college in the country.  He will likely elevate to 5 star status and become the most highly recruited player in Indiana High School  Football state history.  Curry does not have huge sacks or TFA numbers this year, as teams generally either double team him or run the other way.  The 6-5 , 260lb junior has a huge future, and will likely be a first round NFL draft choice after his JR year.  Would love to see him stay in Big Ten country.  Would look great in Maize and Blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ummmmmmm........ https://247sports.com/Player/Jaylon-Smith-11043/high-school-2390/

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21 hours ago, DT said:

Its been a crazy Covid - driven season.  The virus has impacted some programs more than others.

Kudos to all for putting forth your best effort to work around the circumstatnces and play a nedarly full season.  Some states are just getting started.  Crazy.

1. Most Surprising Performance - Elkhart Lions.  Good things were expected of the new consolidated Elkhart High School this season, but did anyone really expect the Lions to run rthe table and sweep to a NIC conference title in year one post consolidation?  And EHS has won some nice games, with wins over Mishawaka, Columbus East, Penn and St Joe.  Really a disapouintment that we didint get to see the matchup with Marian, but it is what it is.  Elkhart has been frantically looking for opponents to fill scheduling gaps, but has found no takers.  The Lions will be on the sidelines this week, and then will look to closeout an undefeated regular season next week at always tough New Prairie.

2. Most Disappointing Performance - Warren Central   The Warriors are in the midst of their worst season in 30 years with a 2-5 record and look like they might have thrown in the towel with lopsided losses to Lawrence North and Carmel the past two weeks.   Warren's talent is down considerably when compared to some of the great teams of the past, and looking out ahead at future recruiting projections, therer is not a lot coming in the pipeline.  With rising MIC programs at North Central, Lawrence North and Pike, WC is in danger of losing its grip at or near the top of The MIC.  

3. Game of the Year - Whiteland over Mooresville 41-35 in OT - The MId State is one of the most solid and balanced conferences in the state.  Mooresville has gotten all the pub of late, but Whiteland always hangs around, unnoticed.  Darrin Fisher does a great job with the Warrior program, and has his team in line for a 3 way share of the conference championship with Decature Central and Mooresville, as all are 5-1 in league play and heavily favored to win this weekend.

4. Best Conference Race - SIAC  The additions of Jasper and Vincennes have made the SIAC a very interesting and compelling conference race this season.  Evansville Central has the title clinched with an 8-0 record, but every week there have been big games with huge conference implications.  The SIAC is a great example for those who like 10 team conferences with a full 9 game round robin schedule.  Every week is huge.  Especially in a pandemic shortened season.  BTW - it looks like the SIAC lost only one game to COVID all season.  

5. Best Coaching Job - Josh Shattuck / Elkhart    Imagine the challege of working through the consolidation, meshing two big school rosters, putting together a staff, and tearing through your first season unbeaten.  Hands down, Shattuck and his staff have done a phenominal job.  The real tests are just ahead as Elkhart will have a chance to show the state if they are ready to play big time 6A football in the tournament.

6. Most Dominating Team - Mount Vernon Fortville  The Marauders have been rising over the past few seasons under Mike Kirschner, but the way they have taken over and manhandled the HHC is surprising to many.  8-0 MV has outscored its opponents 341-100, and grabbed conference leadership away from long time nemesis New Pal.  Demographic and socio economic trends are moving in a positive direction for this program, so 2020 might be the beginning of a long run at the top of the HHC for Kirschner's program.

7. Most Dynamic Player - Donaven McCulley / Lawrence North   McCulley and his outstanding crew of wide receivers have led a football revival at LN.  The Wildcats are 5-3 and heading for their first winning season in a decade, and nearly pulled off a mammoth upset this past week, taking a 13-0 halftime lead over top ranked Center Grove before losing 28-13 after a furious second half Trojan comeback.  McCulley has pro type skills, great feet, a big arm, and can be a game changer for the Cats in the playoffs.  All Indiana University football fans and alumni, including myself, are looking forward to his arrival on campus to lead the Hoosier football program

8. Best Defensive Stud - Caden Curry of Center Grove   What more can be said about Curry?  He is a 4 Star recruit with offers from every major college in the country.  He will likely elevate to 5 star status and become the most highly recruited player in Indiana High School  Football state history.  Curry does not have huge sacks or TFA numbers this year, as teams generally either double team him or run the other way.  The 6-5 , 260lb junior has a huge future, and will likely be a first round NFL draft choice after his JR year.  Would love to see him stay in Big Ten country.  Would look great in Maize and Blue.

9. Best Schedule - Cathedral  For pure entertainment, how can you beat the 2020 Cathedfral football schedule?  Three games against the best of the GCL.  MIC battles with Carmel and Center Grove.  A trip up north to Penn  And PP rivals Chatard and Brebeuf.  Only one question.  When does Roncalli get back on the schedule?  Has the Cathedral AD reached out to IMG?  

10. Dumbest Move of the Season - Hammond City Public Schools   Jumped the gun and cancelled the season , now trying to play catch up in week 9.  Hammond High, Clark, Morton and Gavit will all play a round robin 3 game schedule this year, then the playoffs.  At least they salvaged something out of it.

11. Best Rescheduled Game - 2A Pioneer's 20-16 win over 6A Chesterton.  CHS was the overwhelming favoriite, but the Panthers parlayed home field advantage into the upset victory.

12. Worst Rescheduled Game - Chatard over Merrillville 45-28    The Pirates dream of an unbeaten regular season went down the tube after the trip down to Indy.  Merrillville looked lethargic and uninspired and damaged their statewide rep with the performance.  Chatard just added to their legend with the convincing win.  

 

 

 

 

 

3.) I'm biased, but Westfield's 43-42  OT win at Brownsburg was one of the best high school games that I've seen. It was like two heavyweights pounding on each other. 

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1 minute ago, WestfieldRocks said:

3.) I'm biased, but Westfield's 43-42  OT win at Brownsburg was one of the best high school games that I've seen. It was like two heavyweights pounding on each other. 

Do you feel like Westfield is positioning to surpass both Avon and BBurg over the next few seasons and become the outright top program in the HCC?

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I believe that those 3 teams Avon/Bburt/Westfield are so well coached and have so many very good football players that they can be 1A,B,C each and every year.    

Westfield has a tremendous JR running back in Houser to go along with other really good players.   

Avon and Bburg seem to have more highly recruited players, than Westfield.   

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2 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

I believe that those 3 teams Avon/Bburt/Westfield are so well coached and have so many very good football players that they can be 1A,B,C each and every year.    

Westfield has a tremendous JR running back in Houser to go along with other really good players.   

Avon and Bburg seem to have more highly recruited players, than Westfield.   

I agree wholeheartedly.  And I think the fanbase at Fishers and HSE will demand a better football program.  It's started at HSE and Fishers has a recent state title. Zionsville is also a program that could see a slow rise to prominence. 

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On Warren Central, I've heard you better get your licks in on them now.  Because their sophomore class is lights out good.  Have dominated at every level. 

10 hours ago, Staxawax said:

I agree wholeheartedly.  And I think the fanbase at Fishers and HSE will demand a better football program.  It's started at HSE and Fishers has a recent state title. Zionsville is also a program that could see a slow rise to prominence. 

Zionsville will go nowhere if they are in 6A though.  Which is where they will be in the next cycle.

Whiteland could also soon be a 6A program, which will really be an issue for them for the next 2 years. 

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2 hours ago, PhilLee said:

On Warren Central, I've heard you better get your licks in on them now.  Because their sophomore class is lights out good.  Have dominated at every level. 

Zionsville will go nowhere if they are in 6A though.  Which is where they will be in the next cycle.

Whiteland could also soon be a 6A program, which will really be an issue for them for the next 2 years. 

Reading comprehension is a good thing.  Read my sentence again.  I said "a slow rise to prominence". Meaning 4-6 years.  Don't forget they were 6A last year and knocked off Brownsburg.

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On 10/12/2020 at 12:58 PM, DT said:

Its been a crazy Covid - driven season.  The virus has impacted some programs more than others.

Kudos to all for putting forth your best effort to work around the circumstatnces and play a nedarly full season.  Some states are just getting started.  Crazy.

1. Most Surprising Performance - Elkhart Lions.  Good things were expected of the new consolidated Elkhart High School this season, but did anyone really expect the Lions to run rthe table and sweep to a NIC conference title in year one post consolidation?  And EHS has won some nice games, with wins over Mishawaka, Columbus East, Penn and St Joe.  Really a disapouintment that we didint get to see the matchup with Marian, but it is what it is.  Elkhart has been frantically looking for opponents to fill scheduling gaps, but has found no takers.  The Lions will be on the sidelines this week, and then will look to closeout an undefeated regular season next week at always tough New Prairie.

2. Most Disappointing Performance - Warren Central   The Warriors are in the midst of their worst season in 30 years with a 2-5 record and look like they might have thrown in the towel with lopsided losses to Lawrence North and Carmel the past two weeks.   Warren's talent is down considerably when compared to some of the great teams of the past, and looking out ahead at future recruiting projections, therer is not a lot coming in the pipeline.  With rising MIC programs at North Central, Lawrence North and Pike, WC is in danger of losing its grip at or near the top of The MIC.  

3. Game of the Year - Whiteland over Mooresville 41-35 in OT - The MId State is one of the most solid and balanced conferences in the state.  Mooresville has gotten all the pub of late, but Whiteland always hangs around, unnoticed.  Darrin Fisher does a great job with the Warrior program, and has his team in line for a 3 way share of the conference championship with Decature Central and Mooresville, as all are 5-1 in league play and heavily favored to win this weekend.

4. Best Conference Race - SIAC  The additions of Jasper and Vincennes have made the SIAC a very interesting and compelling conference race this season.  Evansville Central has the title clinched with an 8-0 record, but every week there have been big games with huge conference implications.  The SIAC is a great example for those who like 10 team conferences with a full 9 game round robin schedule.  Every week is huge.  Especially in a pandemic shortened season.  BTW - it looks like the SIAC lost only one game to COVID all season.  

5. Best Coaching Job - Josh Shattuck / Elkhart    Imagine the challege of working through the consolidation, meshing two big school rosters, putting together a staff, and tearing through your first season unbeaten.  Hands down, Shattuck and his staff have done a phenominal job.  The real tests are just ahead as Elkhart will have a chance to show the state if they are ready to play big time 6A football in the tournament.

6. Most Dominating Team - Mount Vernon Fortville  The Marauders have been rising over the past few seasons under Mike Kirschner, but the way they have taken over and manhandled the HHC is surprising to many.  8-0 MV has outscored its opponents 341-100, and grabbed conference leadership away from long time nemesis New Pal.  Demographic and socio economic trends are moving in a positive direction for this program, so 2020 might be the beginning of a long run at the top of the HHC for Kirschner's program.

7. Most Dynamic Player - Donaven McCulley / Lawrence North   McCulley and his outstanding crew of wide receivers have led a football revival at LN.  The Wildcats are 5-3 and heading for their first winning season in a decade, and nearly pulled off a mammoth upset this past week, taking a 13-0 halftime lead over top ranked Center Grove before losing 28-13 after a furious second half Trojan comeback.  McCulley has pro type skills, great feet, a big arm, and can be a game changer for the Cats in the playoffs.  All Indiana University football fans and alumni, including myself, are looking forward to his arrival on campus to lead the Hoosier football program

8. Best Defensive Stud - Caden Curry of Center Grove   What more can be said about Curry?  He is a 4 Star recruit with offers from every major college in the country.  He will likely elevate to 5 star status and become the most highly recruited player in Indiana High School  Football state history.  Curry does not have huge sacks or TFA numbers this year, as teams generally either double team him or run the other way.  The 6-5 , 260lb junior has a huge future, and will likely be a first round NFL draft choice after his JR year.  Would love to see him stay in Big Ten country.  Would look great in Maize and Blue.

9. Best Schedule - Cathedral  For pure entertainment, how can you beat the 2020 Cathedfral football schedule?  Three games against the best of the GCL.  MIC battles with Carmel and Center Grove.  A trip up north to Penn  And PP rivals Chatard and Brebeuf.  Only one question.  When does Roncalli get back on the schedule?  Has the Cathedral AD reached out to IMG?  

10. Dumbest Move of the Season - Hammond City Public Schools   Jumped the gun and cancelled the season , now trying to play catch up in week 9.  Hammond High, Clark, Morton and Gavit will all play a round robin 3 game schedule this year, then the playoffs.  At least they salvaged something out of it.

11. Best Rescheduled Game - 2A Pioneer's 20-16 win over 6A Chesterton.  CHS was the overwhelming favoriite, but the Panthers parlayed home field advantage into the upset victory.

12. Worst Rescheduled Game - Chatard over Merrillville 45-28    The Pirates dream of an unbeaten regular season went down the tube after the trip down to Indy.  Merrillville looked lethargic and uninspired and damaged their statewide rep with the performance.  Chatard just added to their legend with the convincing win.  

 

 

 

 

 

I thought you were leaving..

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On 10/13/2020 at 10:40 AM, DT said:

Do you feel like Westfield is positioning to surpass both Avon and BBurg over the next few seasons and become the outright top program in the HCC?

I don't know about surpassing both Avon and BBurg, but Jake Gilbert has really built a program during his time as head coach of Westfield. Besides the 8-1 varsity record, both the JV and Freshman teams are undefeated, playing the same schedule as the varsity. Several of the top varsity players are underclassmen, primarily their QB Maximus Webster, defensive player Popeye Williams, and Micha Houser, who is not only a quality running back, but also plays on defense and special teams. Against Brownsburg, he had an almost unheard of 25 tackles. besides almost 100 rushing yards and 2 TDs.

I was shocked how easily Westfield disposed of Fishers at their place last week. Then again, I never expected them to put up 43 at Brownsburg and 59 against Avon. This area is growing so fast, but so are Avon, Brownsburg and Fishers. Most are families with kids, so there has been an influx in talent. Surveys show that the school system and Grand Park are big reasons families are moving here.  It also helps to have one of the best high school stadiums.  I'm not sure why Fishers is so down this season. HSE is having a good year at 6-2.  

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