With four teams ranked in the latest AP Polls, the NE8 is among the best conferences in Northern Indiana. With a big ranked showdown between 4A #14 New Haven and #13 Leo this week, the NE8 is looking to be the talk of the 260 come Friday night.
1. Columbia City (3-0)
Previous Ranking: #1
Week 3: 49-0 W at 3A Bellmont
Week 4: at 4A Huntington North
I get it, Columbia City hasn’t played much tough competition yet. But they’ve won their first three games by an average of just under 40 points. They really don’t face a tough test until Week 6 against New Haven. so like it or not the Eagles should remain at the top of the conference for a bit–if not the whole season.
2. Leo (2-1)
Previous Ranking: #2
Week 3: 33-0 W at 3A Norwell
Week 4: vs 4A #14 New Haven
Leo has looked really good so far this season. One of the fastest and most skilled teams in the area, Leo can make a statement this week against New Haven–a team very familiar with speed and skill. Big week for the Lions!
3. New Haven (3-0)
Previous Ranking: #3
Week 3: 48-28 vs 4A DeKalb
Week 4: at 4A #13 Leo
New Haven played a Bulldog-patented game against the Barons. Donovan Williams threw 26 passes and completed 22 of them for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Of those 22 competitions, nine went to Mylan Graham who took them for 123 yards and a touchdown. New Haven is legit, but they’ll have to solidify that statement with a big game against Leo this week.
4. East Noble (2-1)
Previous Ranking: #4
Week 3: 51-0 W vs 4A Huntington North
Week 4: at 4A DeKalb
A solid bounce-back win here by East Noble, and their first shutout win since 2020 (31-0 vs Plymouth). East Noble held the Vikings offense to just four first downs and 39 total snaps. The offense for the Knights stood out as well, with Zander Brazel throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Watch out for the Knights this year.
5. DeKalb (2-1)
Previous Ranking: #6
Week 3: 48-28 at 4A #14 New Haven
Week 4: vs 4A #15 East Noble
This was a tough one to watch for DeKalb, as the offense just got going too late. A 21-point third quarter couldn’t do much to slow down a New Haven team that had doubled that by halftime. There’s still potential with this team, but they need to stand out on Friday against an East Noble team they should hang around with for four quarters.
6. Norwell (0-3)
Previous Ranking: #5
Week 3: 33-0 L vs 4A #13 Leo
Week 4: vs 3A Bellmont
Norwell should have the goose egg gone from their record by the end of the week, but this has been a very rough start for Norwell thus far. A team that had seven shutout wins last season just got shut out at home against a team they defeated 27-0 last fall. Things need to change quickly in Ossian to revive the winning culture they just spent three seasons in (three seasons where the Knights went 31-6).
7. Huntington North (0-3)
Previous Ranking: #7
Week 3: 51-0 L at 4A #15 East Noble
Week 4: vs 4A #8 Columbia City
With 33 points through three games, this is the lowest-scoring start for Huntington North since 2017. Mike Eshbach has plenty of time before sectionals to get his team acquainted, but at the same time, NE8 play is here right now.
8. Bellmont (0-3)
Previous Ranking: #8
Week 3: 49-0 L vs 4A #8 Columbia City
Week 4: at 3A Norwell
At this point, the hope is just for Bellmont to get some points this year. Shutout three straight times and haven’t won a game since October 8th, 2021. For the sake of the seniors, someone get this team some points.
