2022 5a outlook

[BTF]

6 hours ago, Boilernation said:

A starter from Bishop Dwenger transferred to North for presumably football related reasons. Never thought I would hear that. 

Might be a first. 

[crimsonace1]

On 8/2/2022 at 8:22 AM, Dave007 said:

I think DC is the team to beat, not just in the south but state this year.  

 

What is interesting - maybe someone can confirm - but with DC's enrollment aren't they close to borderline 6A now?  I googled their enrollment and it shows 1,845 and if I recall 6A threshold is around 1,900?  If that is the case this could be their last year in 5A regardless.  

The 6A/5A cutoff is 2,080 for this cycle but keeps moving up as schools get larger. 

DC is experiencing some growth but they're still the 15th-largest school in 5A (so squarely in the middle). A few others - Whiteland, Plainfield, especially - will likely get to 6A first and that requires some of the 6As to get a bit smaller, too. 

[crimsonace1]

On 8/2/2022 at 2:23 PM, temptation said:

I think so.  They are an automatic 8+ win outfit annually that has had the unfortunate circumstance of running into the Cathedral juggernaut the last three seasons (and 6 of the last nine seasons) and either New Pal or Zionsville in other years.  

They actually gave that 2018 New Pal team one hell of a game but simply ran out of gas in the second half.

I by no means think that they are a consensus favorite and maybe this is unfair to Merrillville but the Hawks are more proven on a state wide level than anyone left in 5A.

NP was up 28-6 at halftime in that game, punctuated by one of the greatest runs I've ever seen by Charlie Spegal. New Pal largely grinded out the second half and ran out the clock. But, outside of the first-round game in the rain against Zionsville, it was the only game NP played that tournament that was decided by two scores. They were a juggernaut that year. 

That said, DC has had some *really* good teams but has had the misfortune to run into some generational teams. NP in 2018, Cathedral in 2019 (which in turn was wiped out by NP in the regional), and then maybe one of Cathedral's best-ever groups the last two seasons. They're a solid, well-run program with a lot of athletes and Div. I talent that annually has a chance to make a deep run. 

[crimsonace1]

On 8/2/2022 at 1:20 PM, BTF said:

I'm not too familiar with Decatur Central. But it's good to know that they are considered "Indy area." I was just thinking the other day how lonely 5A seems to be with no Indy teams represented. It just seems normal that the road to Lucus goes through Zionsville with the right to play Cathedral. Personally? I wish that were still the case.

They're in Marion County. That's as "Indy area" as it gets. They're as much Indy-area as Snider is Fort Wayne-area. 

[crimsonace1]

On 8/3/2022 at 10:54 AM, temptation said:

Maybe its just one I am creating.  After an era of domination, New Pal came back to earth and is now playing in its class on a consistent basis.  

Wondering if Ralph's magic was due more so to a solid group coming through or if he can repeat that success.

Sorry for my lack of clarity.

2012: New Pal was 3-7
2013 (Ralph's first year): New Pal was 13-1, won a regional and went on a six-year regular-season winning streak. 
2014: New Pal went 15-0 and obliterated the state scoring & yardage records. 
2015: New Pal went 13-1 and was 5A runner-up to Snider in the craziest State Finals game ever played.  

They're *very* well-coached. Kyle Ralph sees the game incredibly well, teaches it well and has a system that's implemented all the way through the junior high. The football culture here is incredible - we have 30-40 kids a class playing in our elementary league all the way down to kindergarten.

In their early era (the 2013-14-15 teams), they didn't have any Div. I recruits. Lots of talent, but they fit together very well and had a solid QB in Zach Neligh. The 2015 team basically played 14 guys, including some guys who had solid careers at St. Francis, Marian & UIndy. 

The later run - the 2018-19 titles - had some Div. I talent, and there's more high-level recruits walking the halls now than ever. So it's been built and now talent is cycling through, but part of that is the culture that was first born nearly a decade ago. 

[BTF]

15 hours ago, crimsonace1 said:

They're in Marion County. That's as "Indy area" as it gets. They're as much Indy-area as Snider is Fort Wayne-area. 

Good to know. Good to have that Indy representation. 

[Mebuck]

On 8/4/2022 at 7:22 AM, Robert said:

Did the football gods/karma take care of Dwenger?

Not exactly sure what you mean, Dwenger is always next man up. 

 

On 8/5/2022 at 8:35 AM, Boilernation said:

A starter from Bishop Dwenger transferred to North for presumably football related reasons. Never thought I would hear that. 

Who knows why, I was just answering a question. 

[Robert]

15 hours ago, Mebuck said:

Not exactly sure what you mean, Dwenger is always next man up. 

 

Who knows why, I was just answering a question. 

I thought they got a QB from Cincinnati Moeller.   Any truth that NS has trouble with the transfers from the IHSAA?  I guess I can look on the IHSAA website. 

[Boilernation]

On 8/5/2022 at 5:47 PM, crimsonace1 said:

They're *very* well-coached. Kyle Ralph sees the game incredibly well, teaches it well and has a system that's implemented all the way through the junior high. The football culture here is incredible - we have 30-40 kids a class playing in our elementary league all the way down to kindergarten.

In their early era (the 2013-14-15 teams), they didn't have any Div. I recruits. Lots of talent, but they fit together very well and had a solid QB in Zach Neligh. The 2015 team basically played 14 guys, including some guys who had solid careers at St. Francis, Marian & UIndy. 

The later run - the 2018-19 titles - had some Div. I talent, and there's more high-level recruits walking the halls now than ever. So it's been built and now talent is cycling through, but part of that is the culture that was first born nearly a decade ago. 

Here's what I'm taking out of this post: 

• Kyle Ralph developed a culture that works
• Kyle Ralph has complete buy in from the community of New Pal to follow his culture
• Football is potentially the #1 sport boys want to play at the youth level in New Pal
• The elite level talent at New Pal is beginning to increase

Sounds pretty scary for 4A and potentially 5A football in Indiana.

My understanding is Kyle Ralph played OL at Cincinnati St. Xavier and in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels. And his wife is from New Pal? 

I completely understand the desire to live in your wife's hometown. But, I would think at some point this guy is going to get a HS or College (Assistant) offer that's too good to turn down. 

 

[BTF]

4 hours ago, Boilernation said:

Here's what I'm taking out of this post: 

• Kyle Ralph developed a culture that works
• Kyle Ralph has complete buy in from the community of New Pal to follow his culture
• Football is potentially the #1 sport boys want to play at the youth level in New Pal
• The elite level talent at New Pal is beginning to increase

Sounds pretty scary for 4A and potentially 5A football in Indiana.

My understanding is Kyle Ralph played OL at Cincinnati St. Xavier and in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels. And his wife is from New Pal? 

I completely understand the desire to live in your wife's hometown. But, I would think at some point this guy is going to get a HS or College (Assistant) offer that's too good to turn down. 

 

Would love to see New Pal back in 5A. The more competition the merrier. I'm a little disappointed Zionsville isn't still there. 

[foxbat]

49 minutes ago, BTF said:

Would love to see New Pal back in 5A. The more competition the merrier. I'm a little disappointed Zionsville isn't still there. 

???

Zionsville is the 25th largest school in the state.

[Mebuck]

On 8/7/2022 at 2:55 PM, Robert said:

I thought they got a QB from Cincinnati Moeller.   Any truth that NS has trouble with the transfers from the IHSAA?  I guess I can look on the IHSAA website. 

Dwenger had a transfer from Cincinnati last year. He graduated. He was terrible. Doubt NS has any issues with ISHAA. Fort Wayne has open enrollment. 

[BTF]

1 hour ago, foxbat said:

???

Zionsville is the 25th largest school in the state.

I understand that. I just like having Indy representation in the north. It doesn't seem right to make it to Lucus without going through a team from the northern Indy burbs. 

[Robert]

14 hours ago, Mebuck said:

Dwenger had a transfer from Cincinnati last year. He graduated. He was terrible. Doubt NS has any issues with ISHAA. Fort Wayne has open enrollment. 

Thank you!  The gossip is obviously stale!  🙂

[BTF]

19 hours ago, Mebuck said:

Dwenger had a transfer from Cincinnati last year. He graduated. He was terrible. Doubt NS has any issues with ISHAA. Fort Wayne has open enrollment. 

I hope the poor guy isn't reading this. 

[Mebuck]

7 hours ago, BTF said:

I hope the poor guy isn't reading this. 

Doubt it. Most people don't even know about this.