Okay, I know that Thanksgiving is right around the corner and no other holiday promotes pie-eating quite like Turkey Day. There’s pecan pie, pumpkin pie, Russian pie. Me, I’m more of an apple pie kind of a guy. Delish! But last week, I was served some humble pie as I missed a few winners in what was a very difficult regional slate of games. Locally, however, I accurately predicted Carmel over Homestead, Bishop Dwenger over Harrison (by the exact 14-point margin), East Noble over Mississinewa (by 16; Swami said 17) and Indy Chatard over Concordia (by 28; Swami said by 30). The only local game I misfired on was Adams Central over South Adams. Which, for the record, every local scribe and scrub alike also misfired on that one. Congrats to those Flying Jets for proving everyone wrong!
THE SWAMI SCALE
- HOMESTEAD (11-1): Sparty retains the top spot for at least one more week.
- BISHOP DWENGER (11-1): As I stated at the beginning of the year, this BD team has tons of talent.
- EAST NOBLE (13-0): The Knights enter semistate action for just the third time in their history.
- CARROLL (7-4): Carroll stays put in the four-hole.
- SNIDER (7-3): Snider stays put in the five-hole.
- LEO (10-2): Leo stays put … you know the drill.
- ADAMS CENTRAL (12-1): Flying Jets registered the biggest upset of the year last week.
- CONCORDIA (7-6): Rough third quarter doomed the Cadets vs. the Trojans.
- SOUTH ADAMS (12-1): Heartbreaking finish to an otherwise spectacular season for the Starfires.
- EASTSIDE (10-3): Eastbrook too much for the upstart Blazers; they’ll be good again in 2020.
FEATURED MATCHUPS
Class 5A – Bishop Dwenger at Valparaiso: The Saints, top to bottom, have more talent than the Vikings and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them win by two or three scores. That said, with everyone in town picking BD, I’m going the other way for karma’s sake (some reverse psychology to help my boys in Navy and Gold). I’m envisioning a home-town call that goes Valpo’s way late; a fat zebra strikes again! The Upset Special. I hope I’m wrong because I really, really want to see BD vs. New Pal next week. Let’s go Saints! Swami says: Valpo by 3
Class 4A – Hobart at East Noble: On paper, this one appears to be evenly matched. Hobart has quietly rattled off 11 straight dubs after starting the season 0-2. The Brickies’ “D” has allowed one touchdown or fewer in 6 of their last 7 games, including four shutouts. But this EN team is on a mission and the Knights are looking for their third trip to the state finals (and first since the 2003 campaign). My crystal balls have been right on East Noble all season long, so there’s no reason to jump off the train now. Give me the Knights in a tight one. Swami says: East Noble by 2
Class 1A – Adams Central at Lafayette CC: Another coin-flip game, AC vs. LCC is going to come down to the boys in the trenches. According to my sources, the Knights have a slight edge here, especially along their O-line. If AC can win on first down, the Jets will be primed to win on the road. In the end, though, I’m going with the home squad. Come on, Jets, prove this portly predictor wrong. Swami says LCC by 6
THE UNDERCARD
6A – Merrillville at Carmel: Greyhounds too big, too deep for Nutt Pirates. Swami says: Carmel by 17
6A – Ben Davis at Center Grove: Host Trojans peaking at the right time. Swami says: Center Grove by 13
5A – Bloomington South at New Palestine: BS can’t slay these Dragons. Swami says: New Pal by 31
4A – Mount Vernon at Evansville Memorial: Tigers hoping for a return trip to state. Swami says: EM by 9
3A – Indy Chatard at Mishawaka Marian: Chatard the better Catlick power. Swami says: Chatard by 19
3A – Heritage Hills at Danville: Patriots’ D giving up just 6.2 ppg. Swami says: Heritage Hills by 14
2A – Andrean at Eastbrook: Panthers’ offense has been on fire recently. Swami says: Eastbrook by 6
2A – Western Boone at Triton Central: Defending 2A state champs win on road. Swami says: WB by 11
1A – West Washington at Indy Lutheran: Saints smack Senators. Swami says: Indy Lutheran by 20
