FOOTBALL: RSN Top 10 – Week #6

#10.

 KANKAKEE VALLEY KOUGARS
Team Spotlight

3-2/0-1
Last Week:
#10
↔

It’s not often that a team loses at home in a  conference games and still holds on to the #10 spot in the rankings, but the Kougars played Lowell tougher than most and their only other loss this year was to highly state-ranked Rensselaer. Can they hold onto their spot in the rankings if they drop a second straight game as they travel to Hobart this week? That’s a lot to ask.

#9. 

ANDREAN 59ERS
Team Spotlight

3-2/0-2
LAST WEEK:
#8
↓

The overtime loss to Hobart was tough in that in not only put the Niners a game back in the early part of the conference race, but it also continues a bad trend for Andrean – they are 0-4 in their last four regular season games played against opponents with winning  records. That better turn around quick if they want to compete for the NCC crown.

#8

HANOVER CENTRAL WILDCATS
Team Spotlight

4-1/2-1
LAST WEEK: #3
↓

In order to keep their #3 spot in the rankings, the Wildcats had little to no room for error, so the loss to Boone Grove forces HC to take a tumble down the poll. In both 2014 & 2015, 4-0 Hanover starts were followed by losses to Boone Grove and a multiple game losing streak – this program seems to have moved past those days….we think.

#7
GRIFFITH PANTHERS
Team Spotlight

4-1/3-0
LAST WEEK: #9
↑

With shutouts of River Forest, Calumet and Wheeler, the Panthers have tied a school record by not giving up a single point in three consecutive games. It’s just the fifth time in school history a black and gold defense has done this (1995, 1991, 1989 & 1977 being the other years.) No Griffith team has ever had four straight shutouts, and considering this program’s history that would be a special achievement for the 2017 Panthers.

#6
HOBART BRICKIES
Team Spotlight

4-1/1-0
LAST WEEK: #7
↑

The opening week loss to Chesterton seems like so long ago. The Brickies gave up 35 points in that one, but in the four games since? A total of 33. Three of the next four are at home, including this weeks showdown against Kankakee Valley, so expect to see Hobart right at, or near, the top of the NCC standings all season.

#5
LAPORTE SLICERS
Team Spotlight

3-2/2-1
LAST WEEK: #5
↔

Since joining the Duneland in 1976, no Slicers team has ever put up more points in a conference game, in regulation, than LaPorte did by scoring 56 in their win over Lake Central last week. Can the Slicers continue this offensive onslaught? Possibly not, but playing a defense this week that gives up nearly 32 points a game doesn’t hurt.

#4
PORTAGE INDIANS
Team Spotlight

3-2/3-0
LAST WEEK: #6
↑

Don’t look now fans of other DAC teams, but Portage is rounding into form. The offense has scored 27 or more points in four of their five games this season and the defense has given up 14 or fewer in two of the last three weeks. A brutal conference stretch is coming up with Chesterton, Michigan City & Valpo to close out the regular season.

#3
MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES
Team Spotlight

3-2/2-1
LAST WEEK: #4
↑

All season long the Wolves have followed up a win with a loss, capturing victories in weeks #1, #3, & #5 and losses in weeks #2 & #4. Will that pattern continue as they travel to Lake Central this week? It’d be a huge upset if it did as the Wolves look to build momentum down the stretch.

#2
VALPARAISO VIKINGS
Team Spotlight

5-0/3-0
LAST WEEK: #2
↔

As dominant as the Vikings defense has been this season, it’s hard to believe that last week’s win over Chesterton was just their first shutout of the season. The defense may continue to need to be that good as the offense has struggled, in part due to injuries, to put things together as they’ve scored more than 17 points just once.

#1
LOWELL RED DEVILS
Team Spotlight

5-0/1-0
LAST WEEK: #1
↔

After returning from “The Farm” with a well earned jug of milk, Lowell continues play in the NCC this week by welcoming in the Highland Trojans. A lot of focus this year has been on the Red Devil defense, and rightfully so as they’re only giving up 7.8 points per game, but this squad is putting up over 31 points per game – and that’s more than five points better than last year’s semi-state squad.