FOOTBALL: Class 4A Sectional #17 Preview

THE FAVORITE Morton – While Lowell may have the easier road to the championship game (see below), the Governors and their high powered offense must be considered the favorites in Sectional #17. Not only do they already have a win over the Red Devils on the season, but the re-match will likely be in Hessville. THE DARK HORSES

{module Upper Right Banner Box} Lowell – The path for the Red Devils to the championship game isn’t exactly rocky as the teams standing in their way have combined for five wins. Revenge is probably already on the minds of the Lowell squad, as they’ll look to make up for a one point overtime loss to Morton. Highland – A winning season has eluded Highland since the 2001 campaign, and all it what take to get that elusive mark is a win over a team they’ve previously beaten 41-6 in Clark. Do the Trojans have a great shot at making a run to a title as well? Probably not as a date with Morton looms in the semi-finals, but they are the third best team in this grouping, so you can’t count them out just yet.

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD 

Griffith – Can the Panthers build off their first win of the season and pull off an upset over Lowell, who beat them 48-26 this season? Probably not, but at least 1-9 looks a heck of a lot better than 0-10. 

West Side – Last year, the Cougars were three points away from a sectional title. This year, they have only one win heading into the post-season. However, their first round opponent EC Central isn’t the same juggernaut they were last year.

EC Central – The defending sectional champs, EC was hit hard by graduation. With West Side in the first round, they’ll be the favorite to get to the semi-final, but don’t expect any more than that.

Gavit – Coaches probably hate when they have the same opponent in back to back weeks. Especially when that opponent just beat you 54-7 as Morton did to the Gladiators.

Clark – A win over Hammond High would’ve given the Pioneers five wins in a row and probably would have elevated them to darkhorse status. We’ll see not only how they respond to their first loss in over a month, but to a team in Highland that outscored them 34-0 in the second half of their regular season meeting.