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FOOTBALL: Home Improvement Top 10 Week 4 9/10/24

As week four approaches, our top ten list now consists of multiple teams representing the DAC, NCC, and the GSSC!

10. PORTAGE INDIANS (2-1)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #6

WEEK 3: lost 23-21 to #9 Lake Central

NEXT WEEK: #3 Merrillville (2-1)

WHAT HAPPENED?: Another close loss to their fellow Indians.

After last week’s close loss to Lake Central, it marked the fourth consecutive game between the two schools that resulted in a single-digit Lake Central victory. This year’s rendition featured Portage getting out in front early, but some mistakes down the road would ultimately lead to their demise.

As history has shown, given Portage’s schedule, things have tended to nosedive since that close loss to their 6A classmate in the third week of the year. Portage’s next two games – Merrillville and Crown Point, are certainly the cream of the crop in the Duneland. But hey, someone has to play them, that is just the way the cookie crumbles for Portage.

It will be a tough test for the Indians against Merrillville but with a tough two-game stretch on the horizon, we can at least expect Portage to give it their all as they have done so far in 2024. Looking more into this week, Portage only lost at Merrillville last year by 10 points, the same Pirate team that played in a semi-state game. Portage has shown that they could hold their own against the Pirates, and we can only expect the same come Friday. 

 

9. LAKE CENTRAL INDIANS (2-1)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: Outside looking in

WEEK 3: won 23-21 at #10 Portage

THIS WEEK: at #1 Crown Point (3-0)

WHY DID LC MOVE UP?: Three impressive performances to start the year.

Going into week two, the Tribe’s matchup with Grand Rapids Central Catholic, who is a state powerhouse in Michigan, was shaping up to be a real test for the Indians. But after a game in which LC was certainly competitive for all four quarters, it certainly was a surprise on our behalf.

Moving over to week three against Portage, a ranked team on our list. It was a game that many knew would be a slugfest decided on who makes more plays. In this case, it was the Indians of Lake Central, who just got the edge over a talented Portage team.

Sophomore RB Jacob Turley was the star in this one, logging 22 carries for 139 yards and two scores. LC QB Cam Reddick put together a solid performance on his end, finishing 7/12 for 126 passing yards (plus 34 more on the ground) and one score. That touchdown was to Indians senior WR Trevor Kubacki, who has quickly become the go-to guy through the air. He finished with four catches for 85 yards and that score.

Lake Central may have its hands full this week against Crown Point, but this is a team that while going through its first year under new head coach Pete Koulianos, has shown quite the competitive spirit in their first three contests. From here on out, the schedule only gets harder for the Tribe, so we can only wait and see how they progress throughout the year.

 

8. WHEELER BEARCATS (1-2)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: Outside looking in

WEEK 3: 24-6 win at River Forest

THIS WEEK: Bishop Noll (1-2)

WHAT LED TO WHEELER’S FIRST WIN?: A second half of complimentary football between all three phases.

After a scoreless first half against River Forest, a play was needed to get things going for the then-winless Bearcats. Things started with a great punt from Bryce Compton which was followed by an errant snap that resulted in a safety to benefit the Bearcats. That seemed to be all they needed.

The Wheeler offense, who struggled to capitalize on red zone trips in the first half, changed the course in half number two after the safety. Caleb Klimczak did a much better job at making the right play and limiting the turnovers. Bryce Compton had the best game of his season with eight catches for 131 yards. Jayden Ortiz carried the load with 25 carries for 135 rushing yards and three scores which all came in the second half. 

This is a Wheeler team that truly could be more talented than last year’s division-winning team, which is why they find themselves back on the list. With a number of guys going both ways for the Bearcats, pieces like Ortiz, Compton, Tyne Vettickal, Mitch Krolikowski, and others could potentially lead to this to repeat as South division champs. 

Next up for the Bearcats will be Bishop Noll, as they now begin the portion of their schedule from last year of which they won six straight games to finish out 2023. Who says they cannot do it again?

7. WEST SIDE COUGARS (3-0)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: Outside looking in

WEEK 3: 8-6 win over Boone Grove

THIS WEEK: River Forest (2-1)

PLAYER TO NOTE?: Guiseppe Moore, senior, QB

The Cougars have been one of the more consistent programs record-wise over the past half-decade, and they are off to a great start this year, as they are one of our biggest movers on this list.

West Side, who played a team that they lost to by 40 in 2023 ended up scrapping out a win to start their conference campaign on the right foot in 2024. The Cougars accomplished this feat without a completed pass.

But all those yards that would’ve been gained through the air were made up for on the ground, specifically through Guiseppe Moore. In last week’s win, Moore carried the ball 34 times for 223 rushing yards and the Cougars’ lone touchdown. That performance brought Moore’s rushing beyond the 500-yard mark. Moore has been the top performer in this offense, leading West Side to their best start record-wise in 20 years.

The Cougar defense has been stout too, as they have only given up 26 points all year and shut down a quality offense in Boone Grove. Granted, the Wolves were without their top QB in Mark Rowland, but that should not take away how West Side has performed through this first third of the regular season.

This week could be the biggest test yet for West Side, as River Forest is planning to bounce back. It will be a battle of two of the top rushing QBs in the GSSC with Moore and RF’s Ayden Silver. West Side is in the same division as Wheeler and Griffith, two ranked teams on our list. The Cougars’ case for walking out of this season with a division title is having a dynamic player under center in Moore and a really tough defensive unit.

 

6. GRIFFITH PANTHERS (3-0)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #8

WEEK 3: 28-14 win over Hammond Central 

NEXT WEEK: Whiting (2-1)

FIRST 3-0 START SINCE?: The Russ Radtke era.

Believe it or not, the Griffith Panthers have not gotten off to a start like this since the days of the great Russ Radtke. It was last done in 2006, a team that went 12-2 and danced to a semi-state appearance. While aspirations of the Panther faithful may not reach those levels of the Radtke days yet, things are certainly moving in the right direction for the Griffith program.

Last week against Hammond Central was arguably the biggest test of this season for the Panthers up to this point. Griffith went down early, a position they have not been in in 2024. It was also the first set of points they allowed this fall. 

But Panther QB Ryan Buillon flipped a switch, as the sophomore has been playing well beyond his years through his first season as the starter under center. Buillon accounted for nearly 200 yards of offense and all four touchdowns, with three coming through the air. The sophomore has quickly become one of the top passers by yardage in the area. 

Things are changing at Griffith, as the Panthers oppositely started last season with a record of 0-3. But this year, Griffith has dismantled everyone who has crossed their path up to this point. Fortunately for that 2023 team, they brought their record back up to .500 after their next three opponents (Whiting, River Forest, ECC). This year’s Griffith squad is hoping to follow suit in that regard. 

As previously mentioned, the GSSC South Division is for the taking. Right now, it can be seen as a three-horse race between West Side, Wheeler, and Griffith. With the way the Panthers have played through three weeks, many could start to like their chances.

 

5. ANDREAN 59ERS (1-2)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #10

WEEK 3: 28-7 win at Kankakee Valley

THIS WEEK: Munster (0-3)

WHO IS TO PRAISE FOR THE TOP TEN VICTORY?: The Niner defense.

Coming into a game where Andrean was battle tested and hungry for their first win, especially against a KV team that they have had their way with, the writing may have been on the wall for this big win. Nonetheless, the Niners far and away played their best game yet this season, as the defense contained KV’s Marco Castro, who is the area’s top rusher.

Castro finished the night with 92 rushing yards, but only on a 3.2 yard per carry average. The Kougars as a team had 73 rushing yards, as Andrean got to KV QB Diego Arroyo often. The Niner defensive unit held a KV team that scored 23+ in their first two games to nothing until the waning minutes of the game.

Andrean’s offense took a step up as well. Brady Stovall, the sophomore running back for the Niners put together his second straight 60+ yard performance. Junior QB Brady Elish arguably had his best game of the season, completing half of his passes for 154 yards and a score, in addition to 23 yards on the ground. Jimmy Finley continued his tremendous productivity for Andrean, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown catch to seal the deal.

With how much this team is seeming to progress week-to-week as conference play begins in addition to a top-ten victory, we felt that this jump to the top five is warranted. If there is a team right now that could hold a flame to the Hanover Central Wildcats for the NCC crown, it might just be the Andrean 59ers. 

 

4. VALPARAISO VIKINGS (2-1)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #4

WEEK 3: won 42-7 over LaPorte

NEXT WEEK: at Michigan City (1-2)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Thomas Burda, senior, RB

Across the Northwest Indiana football scene, at least over the past few seasons, we can say that there are three things that are certain in life: Death, Taxes, and a strong Valparaiso Vikings rushing attack. For the past few seasons it was Travis Davis, but this season, it is the Thomas Burda show.

The senior Viking RB has won our Crowel Companies Lantern Man Superhero of the game for Valparaiso’s previous two victories, as he is the main focus in the run heavy offense. Burda stepped in for Davis last year and excelled then. Now as the top back for the Vikings, the senior has etched himself into the conversation as one of the top offensive players in the area. 

After the week one heartbreaker against Penn and the concerning first half against Andrean, Valparaiso has played 1 1/2 great games of football and the style we have been accustomed to seeing from the Vikings over the past few seasons. The defense, who came into the season as an inexperienced unit, has been only getting better while the offense continues to do damage.

Valparaiso will have a big road test coming up, as they will take a trip to Ames Field to do battle with Michigan City, who is coming off of a conference win of their own against Chesterton.

 

3. MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (2-1)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #2 

WEEK 3: lost 46-13 to #1 Crown Point

THIS WEEK: at #10 Portage (2-1)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: Against a team that requires you to play perfect, Merrillville was certainly not “perfect” for the deciding second quarter.

After a 12-7 first quarter, a belief was that Merrillville may give the Bulldogs their first real test of the year. But after a series of unfortunate events, that belief was quickly squashed after Crown Point outscored the Pirates 27-0 in quarter number two.

On the positive side of things, that could arguably be the toughest matchup Merrillville could have until deep in the postseason. One that could potentially be second on that list is Valparaiso, but that game will also be at home.

One of the early season questions with Merrillville is who is going to be the true piece under center? Both Darnell Bowles and Jordan Sanders once again split snaps in last week’s contest.

The potent Merrillville rushing attack was held under wraps last week, but Cameron Jordan still continued his solid sophomore campaign, leading the Pirates far and away in rushing with 74 yards on 12 carries.

Next week will call for a bounce back game for the Pirates, as they will visit Portage, a team that is also looking to get back on track after a surprising start to the season. This Merrillville team is still shaped up to be another talented roster that is destined for a deep playoff run – last week was just a bump in the road. All we can do is see how the Pirates respond.

2. HANOVER CENTRAL WILDCATS (2-1)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #3

WEEK 3: won 54-0 over Highland

NEXT WEEK: at Lowell (1-2)

STATISTIC TO NOTE: 316 to 76.

Last Friday, Hanover Central continued their conference dominance in the first game of their question to potentially repeat as NCC champs in as many years as they have been in the conference. Through their first seven games within the NCC, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents by that margin listed above. It has been utter dominance since they have joined the party.

The main contributor to Hanover’s most recent victory was senior QB, Tommy Bonner, who completed 13 of his 17 passes for 126 yards and four scores. 10 different Hanover receivers caught at least one pass before the night was over. There were also seven different ball carriers in the game.

One of the plus sides of playing at a talented program like Hanover Central is that there will be no shortage of reps. As we have seen so far from the Wildcats in the NCC, games have been decided by wide margins in Hanover’s favor, allowing for up-and-coming players chances to see the field and further build for the future.

The Wildcats hope to continue their conference dominance against the Lowell Red Devils this week, as they will be taking the trip to the Inferno come Friday.

 

1. CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (3-0)

LAST WEEK’S RANKING: #1

WEEK 3: 46-13 win at #3 Merrillville

THIS WEEK: #9 Lake Central (2-1)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Trevor Gibbs, junior, TE/H/LB

Teams that are at this level of talent are expected to be littered with players across the board who will go on to have fine post-high school football careers, and that is certainly the case with Crown Point. However, there have been times, especially this past week, when one player still finds a way to separate himself from the rest of the pack.

Although he rarely leaves the field on a given night, Trevor Gibbs did just about everything imaginable in Crown Point’s impressive victory over Merrillville. To start with his offensive production, out of Noah Ehrlich’s 11 completions on the night, Gibbs caught seven of them for over 150 yards and two scores. Shifting over to his work on the defensive side, Gibbs once again was a force at linebacker, as he almost scored a third time with on an interception return. 

Long story short, it is not often you see someone with this production play both ways in the highest level of football in the state. Crown Point certainly has a good one not only for the rest of this season but in 2025 as well.

The Bulldogs used a second-quarter outburst to take over the game, scoring the only points that the Merrillville defense has allowed up to that point all season. Many thought that with the game being at Merrillville, a place where the Pirates thrive, things would be different in comparison to last year’s beatdown. Well, as Crown Point has continued to do to many over the course of the past few seasons, they proved us wrong once again.

CP will shift their focus to Lake Central, as the Bulldogs will be back home against their 6A classmate, who is coming off of a big win at Portage.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES

KANKAKEE VALLEY KOUGARS

RIVER FOREST INGOTS

CHESTERTON TROJANS

HOBART BRICKIES

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