As we conclude the final week of the regular season, everyone is preparing for the second season that is famously known as the IHSAA State Tournament for football. The NECC’s Big School Division was decided in Week 7 when West Noble defeated Lakeland in a thrilling 35-34 OT game. Now, can these five teams put on a strong enough 3-week run in sectionals to go on a deep run to Lucas Oil Stadium?
Eastside Blazers (6-2, 4-0 Small) (1st Small Div., 3rd NECC)
The last 3-4 weeks have seen some of the best football being played by the Blazers. In their 43-7 win over Central Noble, the Blazers showcased a team with a more balanced offense of throwing the ball while being able to rely on their power-run scheme offense that is led by quarterback Wyatt Davis and running back Linkin Carter.
Defensively, they are holding teams to 5.6 points per game since Week 4, which is encouraging for a young defense that had something to prove early on. The question I have coming into Week 9 is, will they be tested enough to be ready for what is to come with sectionals? Especially with a high liklihood of facing Bishop Luers in the second round.
A home game against Angola will test their postseason preparations, and let me just say this will not be an easy win.
Central Noble Cougars (3-5, 3-1 Small) (2nd Small School Div., 7th NECC)
I feel it is appropriate to share this photo after their win over Churubusco in Week 7 because this should have been the cover photo if I was able to show the Week 7 poll. Credit to Central Noble’s photographer Diane Lewis for the Baseline Trophy celebration and team photo.
While it has been an up-and-down regular season, I can ultimately say that they have shown improvements and the team is starting to understand what they expect out of Coach Baber and his staff. The last couple games you saw a Cougars team that flies to the ball, plays hard, and has the lethal spread attack to diversify the offense across the board. Yes, Brody Morgan (CN’s all-time passing leader) and the receiver duo of Drew Pliett and Tysen Deck is a strong combination. But there are other kids that can do big things. Devin Hiestand is overlooked as a running back, but I have seen major growth compared to hus junior season.
Brayden Kirchner is having a career senior season at linebacker and tight end, and the underclassmen that will be apart of this team for the next 2-3 years, especially with Conner Fish, this is a group that is hungry and wants to win. I just hope the CN community has enough patience to allow this team to grow. CN has a tough senior night home game against a Garrett team that is going to pound the rock and play physical football.
Churubusco Eagles (2-6, 2-2 Small) (3rd Small Div. 8th NECC)
It’s been a rough recent stretch of football for Busco. Week 7 was a good effort for the Turtle Town boys, but mistakes, bad snaps, and turnovers costed them big time in the Battle of Baseline game in Albion. Then trying to follow that up with an excellent West Noble team was an even harder task.
West Noble won 48-0, but if you’re a Busco fan, all you can say is the kids are playing hard and they are trying. It is a case of a team that is very young and learning on the fly. My only short-term concern coming out of this season is, I am not sure what next year looks like either because of the team’s depth issues. The Lawrence brothers have a lot to show in the future, and they are interesting kids. Angelo Ianucilli is going to be an even more important player to this team next season, and this is a team that when they play close to mistake-free football, they are well-coached with strong team character.
Huge measuring stick game as they travel to take on Fairfield and the Wishbone offense.
Fremont Eagles (2-6, 1-3 Small) (4th Small Div., 9th NECC)
Considering all of the injuries they have dealt with, this win last week against Prairie Heights was a huge sigh of relief. Camyne Moreno had his best game yet on the football field rushing for over 200 yards including a 81-yard kickoff return on the first play of the game in a 30-20 win.
I know for Trevor Thomas’ program, that is a win that they always feel is important to get, especially when it’s your county rivals that are in the same division. Now, they’ll have an opportunity to enter sectionals on a winning streak when they host a winless Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian that has been outscored on average by a score of 45-12. Plus, t’s their first year of 11-man football.
Prairie Heights Panthers (0-8, 0-4 Small) (5th Small Div., 10th NECC)
‘We the Heights’ is in serious danger of posting their first winless season in seven years, but it has not been for a lack of trying. In the 30-20 loss to Fremont, Mac Armstrong was 15-26 for 183 yards and 2 TD’s despite the 3 INT’s. Matt Roberts set a career high in rushing with 125 yards and a TD and caught 5 passes for 70 yards.
The kids play hard, and that is expected with the Panthers, but I think we all knew from the beginning that this team currently does not have the skill talent to compete with the stronger teams that this area provides. I don’t think we quite expected a potential winless season by any means, but we knew this was going to be a learning year for this program. Still a lot of pieces coming back for next season, but some questions remain in terms of the talent aspect of the team.
