After another week of out-of-conference play in the SAC, we have a much better gauge of where teams fall in the power poll. There’s a new king in both the big division and the small division, but how long can they last at the #1 spots?
Big Division
1. Snider (2-0)
Previous Ranking: #2
Week 2: 45-28 W at 4A East Noble
Week 3: at 3A Concordia
Snider’s jump to #1 is less about this week’s performance–although it was a dominant one–and more about how their game against Warren Central stacks up against Carroll’s. Snider looked stronger, looked faster, and looked more prepared for Warren Central than Carroll did. Snider is #1 in Class 5A, and the team to beat in the SAC.
2. Carroll (1-1)
Previous Ranking: #1
Week 2: 18-14 W vs 6A #15 Warren Central
Week 3: at 4A South Side
Carroll limped their way to a tight victory against the Warriors on Friday, and it was quite the scare. Jimmy Sullivan struggled to get the passing game going, throwing for 174 yards off of 41 throws with a completion percentage of 39%. Braden Steely played a huge factor on defense with 10 tackles and a crucial forced fumble. Carroll will get a should-be tune-up game this week against South Side, but the pressure is on this season to repeat as SAC champions.
3. (TIE) Bishop Dwenger and Homestead (both 0-2)
Previous Rankings: #3 (BD) and #4 (HHS)
Week 2: (BD) 57-0 L at Cincinnati Moeller, (HHS) 42-0 L at 6A Noblesville
Week 3: (BD) vs 5A #13 North Side, (HHS) at 4A #17 Wayne
Both were shut out in embarrassing fashion and both only have seven points on the season so far. This has been a rough start for two teams trying to find their identity in a conference they dominated in the years leading up to last season. Homestead could be able to take care of business against Wayne, but this is a tougher Generals team than previously thought. Bishop Dwenger’s chances of victory against North Side are in question though, as this Legends team is a proven winner. We’ll see which team can show their worth this week.
5. Northrop (0-2)
Previous Ranking: #5
Week 2: 35-7 L vs 4A #17 Wayne
Week 3: vs 2A #9 Bishop Luers
This is a young Northrop team that will take a bit to get going. After facing two straight 4A schools, maybe a bout with 2A Bishop Luers will go smoother.
Small Division
1. Wayne (2-0)
Previous Ranking: #3
Week 2: 35-7 W at 6A Northrop
Week 3: vs 6A #16 Homestead
Man, this Wayne team looks good so far. Against Northrop, both the rushing and the passing game lit up the field. Senior QB Marcus Cooper threw for 201 yards completing 76% of his passes, while running back Kimar Nelson scampered for 177 yards off 17 carries, tacking on two touchdowns. Wayne hasn’t beaten Homestead since 1992, but this feels like the year the Generals can get the job done, in front of their home crowd no less.
2. North Side (0-2)
Previous Ranking: #1
Week 2: 35-13 L at 6A #12 Lawrence North
Week 3: at 4A Bishop Dwenger
This has been a tough start to the season for North Side, but it’s been a tough schedule as well. A trip down to Lawrence North was a long one for the Legends, and they were able to muster up some points facing a 6A squad without star Tae Johnson. North Side looks to open up SAC play with a powerful win against Bishop Dwenger, but it won’t come easy against a Saints team also desperate to get the goose egg off their record.
3. Bishop Luers (0-2)
Previous Ranking: #2
Week 2: 36-7 L vs 4A #19 New Haven
Week 3: at 6A Northrop
Luers biggest issue thus far has been their schedule. They face opponents in week 1 and week 2 with more firepower, speed, and strength. Although they face a big school once more in Northrop, this is a young Bruins squad that matches up to the size and speed of Luers. The winner of this week’s game will come down to who wants it more.
4. Concordia (0-2)
Previous Ranking: #4
Week 2: 38-24 L vs 2A Eastbrook
Week 3: vs 5A #1 Snider
Concordia hasn’t looked horrible in their first two games, but the defense is severely lacking. Gage Engle, a senior back for Eastbrook, ran for a stunning 225 yards and four touchdowns against the Cadets. This week, Snider presents an even more challenging backfield to defend, and it’s hard to see Concordia finding a way to stop the Panthers.
5. South Side (0-2)
Previous Ranking: #5
Week 2: 41-3 L vs 4A South Bend St. Joseph
Week 3: vs 6A #10 Carroll
A rough start is only going to get rougher for the Archers this week as they face a Carroll squad essentially using this game to tune up the flaws we’ve seen in the Chargers offensively. AKA Carroll might run up the score against a heavy underdog South Side squad.
