The guys on Around the Fort saluted the 1992 Snider Panthers on the 30th anniversary of their Class 5A state crown. That Snider squad ran the table, starting off with a 12-0 win over two-time defending state-champion Bishop Dwenger on Opening Night, all the way through its 24-21 victory over another BD (the Ben Davis Giants) in the title tilt. Is this the best team all-time in Northeast Indiana history? Those Panthers certainly belong in the conversation. What about the ’83 Saints? Or BD’s back-to-backers in ’90 and ’91? Certainly Bishop Luers has had some tremendous teams, including the Jaylon Smith-led four-peat from 2009-’12. Is winning a state title the requisite requirement? There were some great teams that forged tremendous seasons before the IHSAA state tournament began in 1973. The 1940 North Side Redskins finished unscathed under coach Bob Nulf, allowing just 18 points all season long. South Side’s ’65 squad finished 9-0 with coach Bob Gernand at the helm. Murray Mendenhall’s ’39 Central Tigers went 9-0; all this time, I thought Murray was a hoops guy. Central Catholic, under the direction of Fordy Anderson, finished the 1950 campaign with a 10-0 mark. Auburn High won 24 straight games from 1945-’48 with legendary coach Cecil Young showing the way. And who can forget the 1915 Kendallville Comets? That team went 6-0 with four skunks before football was discontinued in K-ville from 1929-’52. Let the conversations begin.
THE SWAMI SCALE
- CARROLL (9-0): Exactly where we started the season – with the Chargers atop Mount Swami.
- SNIDER (8-1): The Panthers remain in the two-hole after resting last week ahead of BD tonight.
- NORTH SIDE (7-2): The Legends stay put at No. 3, knowing they’ve got a big one next Friday.
- COLUMBIA CITY (9-1): The Eagles survived a scare at Wayne; tonight, they host 4-6 DeKalb.
- NORWELL (9-1): After a sluggish start, the Knights awoke and hammered Heritage 44-zip.
- BISHOP DWENGER (6-3): The Saints are hoping for another Age of Ultron moment tonight.
- ADAMS CENTRAL (10-0): A-Central will be a big fave tonight against ACAC-rival South Adams.
- EASTSIDE (8-2): The Beastsiders have another cupcake tonight before next week’s showdown.
- CHURUBUSCO (8-2): Busco has won six straight games, but the Eagles have a tall task vs. BL.
- SOUTH ADAMS (8-2): The Starfires snag the final spot on the Swami Scale, but for how long?
CLASS 6A (SECTIONAL 2)
CARROLL (9-0) at PENN (7-2): The Chargers’ defense will be too much for the Kingsmen to handle.
SWAMI SAYS: Carroll by 13
CLASS 6A (SECTIONAL 3)
FISHERS (6-3) at NORTHROP (1-8): The visiting Tigers put this one on ice early in the third quarter.
SWAMI SAYS: Fishers by 40
HOMESTEAD (5-4) at HAMILTON SE (9-0): The top-ranked Royals salt this game away after intermission.
SWAMI SAYS: Hamilton SE by 38
CLASS 5A (SECTIONAL 12)
ANDERSON (3-6) at NORTH SIDE (7-2): If this was being played in the Wigwam, I’d be taking the Indians.
SWAMI SAYS: North Side by 48
SNIDER (8-1) at BISHOP DWENGER (6-3): The Panthers pounded the Saints 28-zip just three weeks ago.
SWAMI SAYS: Snider by 15
CLASS 4A (SECTIONAL 19)
LEO (7-3) at EAST NOBLE (5-5): The Lions will need a late score to steal a victory in Kendallville tonight.
SWAMI SAYS: Leo by 4
DEKALB (4-6) at COLUMBIA CITY (9-1): I’m seeing another 400-yard rushing night for the high-flying Eagles.
SWAMI SAYS: Columbia City by 35
CLASS 4A (SECTIONAL 20)
MISSISSINEWA (7-3) at HUNTINGTON NORTH (3-7): This one might be over before 9:00 with all the rushing.
SWAMI SAYS: Mississinewa by 27
CLASS 3A (SECTIONAL 26)
WEST NOBLE (8-2) at KNOX (7-3): Russ Radtke’s Redskins will be raging for a royal arse-ravaging over WN.
SWAMI SAYS: Knox by 17
CLASS 3A (SECTIONAL 27)
NORWELL (9-1) at CONCORDIA (4-6): NE8 vs. SAC here, though the Knights have to be huge favorites tonight.
SWAMI SAYS: Norwell by 22
GARRETT (3-7) at YORKTOWN (7-3): The Tigers have too much speed for the resurgent Railroaders in Y-town.
SWAMI SAYS: Yorktown by 28
CLASS 2A (SECTIONAL 35)
BISHOP LUERS (5-5) at CHURUBUSCO (8-2): If Busco can win first down, the Eagles just might surprise.
SWAMI SAYS: Luers by 10
EASTSIDE (8-2) at MANCHESTER (2-8): The Blazers ignite for a six-TD halftime bulge, then exhale after the break.
SWAMI SAYS: Eastside by 43
CLASS 2A (SECTIONAL 36)
BLUFFTON (6-4) at TIPTON (5-5): The Blue Devils have more blokes than Bluffton; barely by a booty bevy tonight.
SWAMI SAYS: Tipton by 7
CLASS 1A (SECTIONAL 44)
SOUTH ADAMS (8-2) at ADAMS CENTRAL (10-0): AC suffered a key injury loss last week, so this will be a good test.
SWAMI SAYS: Adams Central by 28
