Last week concluded Divisional play in the NECC, but now the exciting time of the year is here. This week is last week of the regular season, and that means everyone is gearing up for the postseason. In Justice League terms, it would be comparable to getting the team prepared for a huge war against the Injustice League. Disclaimer: Only diehard fans will understand the latter part.
Week 9 will see very interesting non-divisional matchups with tremendous headlines. The battle of division champions: Eastside @ Angola. The Bird Trophy Game: Fairfield @ Churubusco. Lakeland traveling to Bluffton, and Garrett hosting Central Noble.
Big School Division
1. Angola Hornets 6-2, 4-0 (Big) (Clinched Outright Division Title)
Located in Angola, IN (Steuben County)
4A Sectional 19
Current Ranking: 1st Big School Division; 2nd NECC
Previous Ranking: 1st Big School Division; 2nd NECC
Previous Outing: W 33-22 @ Garrett
Next Game: 10/14 vs Eastside
- Head-to-Head Series: 27-17 Angola
- First Meeting: 10/15/1965 Angola won 26-6 at Angola
- Last Meeting: 10/15/2021 Eastside won 49-14 at Eastside
- Eastside has won the last 3 meetings
- First Time both teams faced off against each other as outright division champions
While Garrett gave Angola quite a football game last week, Angola was able to pull away with the close win and secure an outright divisional title for the first time in four years. Once again, the running game proved to be the difference as Angola outran Garrett 200-156.
Tyler Call led the way with 82 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, which gives him 893 yards on the ground and 13 TDs on the season. While it was another strong game from Jack Archbold, it is worth noting Bradley Bartrom’s impressive showing with 9 total tackles with 7 of them being solo. Plus, it was a strong showing from Hawk Hasselman with four extra points and a 25-yard field goal.
Now, with the divisions all wrapped up, it is time to prep for postseason football, where the Hornets host a longtime rival in Eastside. This will be an excellent test to see how two of the NECC’s top rushing offenses go against two of the best defenses in the area. For Angola, this will be a good measuring stick game for next week’s sectional action in 4A 19.
2. West Noble Chargers 6-2, 3-1 (Big)
Located in Ligonier, IN (Noble County)
3A Sectional 26
Current Ranking: 2nd Big School Division; 4th NECC
Previous Ranking: 2nd Big School Division; 3rd NECC
Previous Outing: L 35-19 Churubusco
Next Game: 10/14 @ Prairie Heights
- Head-to-Head Series: 39-18 West Noble
- First Meeting: 9/08/1967 West Noble won 13-6 at PH
- Last Meeting: 10/15/2021 West Noble won 26-12 at West Noble
- West Noble has won the last 8 meetings vs PH
The Chargers ran into a buzzsaw known as the Busco Wing-T and Riley Buroff. They allowed a season-worst 409 rushing yards and the Chargers’ committed two costly fumbles that didn’t help anything for the Chargers.
On a positive note, Drew Yates did have a strong game on offense throwing for 117 yards on .733% completion and running for 40 yards with two total touchdowns. Seth Pruitt still pounded the ball well running for 170 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown.
However, when it came to the battle in the trenches Busco dominated that side of the football, and that’s where the Wing-T had a hay day in Ligonier. Unfortunately, there is some bad news surfacing as freshman Xavier Yates appears to be done for the season as he suffered a broken collarbone. That’s tough news to hear as he had a great freshman season for West Noble.
But the show must go on for the los caballos grandes, and I still have confidence in this team heading into a tough 3A sectional 26 next week. They should beat Prairie Heights, but the key here is to bounce back on defense and get enough healthy bodies for Mishawaka Marian.
3. Fairfield Falcons 5-3, 1-3 (Big)
Located in Goshen, IN (Elkhart County)
3A Sectional 26
Current Ranking: 3rd Big School Division; 5th NECC
Previous Ranking: 5th Big School Division; 8th NECC
Previous Outing: W 28-21 Lakeland
Next Game: 10/14 @ Busco
- Head-to-Head Series: 21-14 Busco
- First Meeting: 10/23/1987 Busco won 28-19 at Busco (1A Sectional 34)
- Last Meeting: 10/15/2021 Busco won 26-0 at Fairfield
- Fairfield has lost 3 of their last 4 trips to Busco
There was criticism taken at the heels of this Fairfield program after what looked like a team that didn’t show enough resilience in weeks five through seven. Week 8 showcased a healthier football team and a much-needed response against a tough Lakeland Lakers team.
The score suggests it wasn’t pretty, but Fairfield was able to run for 216 yards and posted a season-high in passing yards with 117. Carter Kitson converted on all three passes and twice connected to Alex Hofer for 120 yards and a TD pass. Kitson also ran 19 times for 93 yards and three touchdowns which made him a key factor in Fairfield’s season-changing win.
It might sound like I’m overexaggerating here, but with them having to face Busco this week and John Glenn in sectionals, Fairfield HAD to win that game for me to take them seriously enough as somewhat of a sectional contender.
Now, we go into the Bird Trophy game where Fairfield’s Wishbone Triple Option will have to find a way to move the chains against a red-hot Busco defense, and their Wing-T that is averaging over 275 rushing yards a game (2nd most in the NECC).
Fairfield’s keys to success must come from taking care of the football, extending drives, and pressuring Buroff like crazy (good luck with the latter part).
4. Lakeland Lakers 3-5, 1-3 (Big)
Located in LaGrange, IN (LaGrange County)
3A Sectional 26
Current Ranking: 4th Big School Division; 6th NECC
Previous Ranking: 3rd Big School Division; 5th NECC
Previous Outing: L 28-21 @ Fairfield
Next Game: 10/14 @ Bluffton
- Head-to-Head Series: 3-1 Bluffton
- First Meeting: 10/12/2018 Lakeland won 56-27 at Bluffton
- Last Meeting: 10/15/2021 Bluffton won 33-29 at Lakeland
- 2 of their last 3 meetings have been decided by 5 points or fewer (both won by Bluffton)
- Bluffton has 6 straight seasons with 4 or more wins, which is a PROGRAM RECORD
Lakeland’s offense has hit a dry spell these days, but they are still competing in games, and now the defense is starting to step up. In four of their last five games, Lakeland’s defense has held opponents below 30 points, and their last two losses came by single digits.
It’s not from a lack of trying as freshman Brayden Holbrook is still a BADDDD DUDE. Holbrook threw for 253 yards and two TDs and ran for another 28 yards on two carries for another TD. The connection with Owen Troyer is still lethal, and they’re starting to get freshman Levi Cook more targets.
However, teams are starting to figure out how to contain running back Kham Malaivanh. Malaivanh has failed to record 100 yards rushing and score a TD in each of the last two games, which hasn’t happened at the same time ALL SEASON. The worst rushing performance he had prior to Week 7 was the season opener against South Bend St. Joe, where he ran for 76 yards and a score.
This week’s game against Bluffton will be another tough test as the Fighting Kunkel’s are young and energetic. They play fast, and they’re going to utilize that youth and speed to contain Lakeland’s big studs.
It’s like I said earlier, Lakeland wants to establish the run early to get the most out of Brayden Holbrook and that lethal spread offense. If Lakeland wants to head into next week’s sectional game at Knox with confidence, then Kham has to be due for a big game.
5. Garrett Railroaders 1-7, 1-3 (Big)
Located in Garrett, IN (DeKalb County)
3A Sectional 27
Current Ranking: 5th Big School Division; 7th NECC
Previous Ranking: 4th Big School Division; 6th NECC
Previous Outing: L 33-22 Angola
Next Game: 10/14 vs Central Noble
- Head-to-Head Series: 25-13 Garrett
- First Meeting: 10/09/1981 Garrett won 33-0 at Garrett
- Last Meeting: 10/15/2021 Central Noble won 8-0 at CN in Albion’s version of the Mud Bowl
- Since 2004, Garrett has beaten Central Noble in 9 of their last 12 meetings.
- 3 of the last 4 meetings have been decided by 7 or 8 points.
While Garrett drops back to the bottom of the Big School power rankings, this Garrett team is completely different from the 0-6 team we saw a few weeks back. They’re playing with confidence and are slowly displaying signs of old-school, smack-mouth Coach DePew football. And that type of football is lunch pale Garrett football.
Despite not coming away with an upset on Angola, you have to like the direction of Garrett heading into sectionals. I do wish junior Luke Holcomb the best in his long road to recovery as he suffered a brutal injury against Angola. Football’s a competitive game, but you never want to see anyone injured, and I know Luke’s a very determined young man regardless of sport.
As far as Garrett is concerned, this is a great opportunity to give the seniors a great senior night to remember against a banged-up Central Noble team that is still dealing with the aftermath from Busco and Eastside. I like the way that the offensive line is moving, and Robert Koskie is having some kind of a run over the last month. Koskie is averaging 6 yards a carry and 129.3 rushing yards per game in the last four games.
