
10. Griffith Panthers (2-1)
LAST WEEK: 42-14 loss vs. Lowell
PREVIOUS RANKING: 5
NEXT WEEK: at Boone Grove (1-2)
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: An out-of-character four-quarter performance for the Griffith Panthers.
In what may have been the most anticipated game for Griffith for quite some time, the Panthers ultimately fell flat from the jump and were never able to get back on track after an early deficit. Lowell was able to implement the running clock rule before the game’s end, something that probably was not on many people’s bingo cards heading into the evening.
Nonetheless, you have to respect Griffith for gunning high after three straight NCC opponents to begin the year. Now, it is back to the drawing board in hopes of running the table in the conference and regaining momentum for what is hoped to be a long postseason.
That said, for teams that have Griffith in the latter half of the season, you may be running into a group that is less than pleased and looking to get back to its dominating ways. Next up for the Panthers are the Boone Grove Wolves, which may be a favorable matchup for Phil Mason and co., as it is the first GSSC matchup of the year.

9. Morton Governors (2-1)
LAST WEEK: 42-20 win over Shepard
PREVIOUS RANKING: 10
NEXT WEEK: at Byron Center (0-2)
STATISTIC TO NOTE: Morton began the 2024 season with a 0-4 record.
Although last year posed a tough out-of-conference schedule, all but one of the opponents remained the same, and it must be noted that Morton was a point away from a possible 3-0 start. This is the Governors’ best start in a full season since 2019.
The connection between Ameer Daniels and Amari Price continues to grow, as Daniels led the Govs with five catches for 105 yards and a score. Price completed eight passes for 133 yards. Davion Terry had his best game as a Governor, as the former Hammond Central tailback had a whopping 185 rushing yards on just 10 carries, scoring twice. It was an impressive win against a Shepard team that made the playoffs last year in Illinois.
Morton will have to get ready to hop on a bus and head up to Byron Center, a team they lost to at the Mansion 54 to 28.

8. Lowell Red Devils (2-1)
LAST WEEK: 42-14 win at #10 Griffith
PREVIOUS RANKING: Outside Looking In
NEXT WEEK: at Hanover Central (1-2)
PLAYERS TO NOTE: Brody Kalwinski, senior, quarterback | Tymothy James, sophomore, running back
In what was a game that was billed to be a big test for both teams, Lowell answered the call in what was shades of a Red Devil performance that made them so great in years prior. Kalwinski and James combined for 200 yards on the ground and all six touchdowns for RDP. While Kalwinski did a lot of good throwing the ball in the first two weeks of the season, it was all ground game this past Friday.
It was a statement win to say the least, as now Lowell is riding high heading into its first conference game of the season at Hanover Central. Lowell has struggled against the NCC’s newest team, dropping the last two meetings since the Wildcats joined the conference. That said, Coach Casey McKim and company will hope to follow suit and not get complacent after their impressive performance against the previously fifth-rated Griffith Panthers.

7. Michigan City Wolves (2-1)
LAST WEEK: 30-13 win over Chesterton
PREVIOUS RANKING: 9
NEXT WEEK: at #5 Valparaiso (1-2)
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: While the high-scoring passing attack was stagnant, the City defense and rushing attack came to play.
Michigan City put together a dominant second half after a 7-7 halftime score ballooned to 23-7 at the end of the third frame. The Wolves’ QB Trinaston Hart still made an impact despite the lax evening as a passer. Hart had 91 rushing yards for a score. Jeremy Thurman, a senior back, scored twice with 100 rushing yards. As a team, they ran for 295 rushing yards and an average of 7.4 yards per carry.
The defense helped out as well, racking up a combined 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. The play of the game was a blocked punt that resulted in a safety in the third quarter.
If the defense and rushing attack can follow suit next week, they can make things really interesting against fellow unbeaten in the DAC, the Valparaiso Vikings.

6. Wheeler Bearcats (3-0)
LAST WEEK: 49-0 win over River Forest
PREVIOUS RANKING: 8
NEXT WEEK: at Bishop Noll (1-2)
STATISTIC TO NOTE: 134 to 7
The two numbers listed above are the points scored and points allowed for Wheeler over the course of its first three games. So far, they may be the team to beat once again in the GSSC. It is the best start record-wise to a season since 2015. Looking ahead at the Bearcats’ future opponents, they have a real chance to enter the month of October unblemished.
All six touchdowns were scored by non-seniors last Friday. While Levi Murray has been great in the tailback role to start the year, freshman Andrew Bizzieri had his best game of the year with 101 rushing yards and two scores. The defense combined for five sacks and two takeaways, both forced by Conner Welch, who also found the end zone and led the Bearcats with 89 receiving yards.
The train does not plan to stop for the Bearcats, as they now turn their focus to the Bishop Noll Warriors

5. Valparaiso Vikings (1-2)
LAST WEEK: 28-0 win at LaPorte
PREVIOUS RANKING: 6
NEXT WEEK: #7 Michigan City (2-1)
POSITION GROUP TO HIGHLIGHT: The Valparaiso receiver room.
There was a lot of notable change out wide for this Valparaiso team after graduating some quality pieces. While returning QB Kellan Hosek was a big plus, his targets were a question coming into 2025. However, it seems that Hosek has found connections a few new names. Chase Lovig, Jimmy Parisi, and Sam Vernard all logged at least three catches and 20+ yards in the win over LaPorte.
One area that is hoped to improve moving forward is the rushing attack, as the Vikings had an average of 2.9 yards per carry and 82 yards as a team. All four Valpo scores came on the ground, with senior Gage Finlay finding paydirt twice. Freshman Cooper Gear may be a piece to look out for, as he scored his first touchdown of his Viking career.
Valparaiso will be back at home this week in an intriguing matchup against the Michigan City Wolves. Despite these two teams always being in the mix in the Duneland, the Vikings have had the upper hand, winning the previous four meetings.

4. Andrean 59ers (2-1)
LAST WEEK: 38-8 win over Kankakee Valley
PREVIOUS RANKING: 4
NEXT WEEK: at Munster (0-3)
PLAYER TO HIGHLIGHT: Brady Stovall, junior, running back
The rushing game of the 59ers was the talk of the town after its 268 yards and a 7.2 yards per carry. While classmate Ethan Reyna crossed the century mark, Brady Stovall had the top game of his junior season with 73 rushing yards and three scores of his own.
The overall production from Andrean’s non-seniors did not end there, as Tyler Vo put together an evening out wide. The sophomore receiver brought in a season-high seven catches for 151 yards and an 89-yard score.
Andrean has been terrific in its two games after the opening week loss to the Merrillville Pirates. Last Friday’s performance especially saw the offense come alive. They will head to Munster this Friday in hopes of keeping its unblemished NCC record intact. Munster has not beaten Andrean since 2016.

3. Merrillville Pirates (1-2)
LAST WEEK: lost 35-21 at #1 Crown Point
PREVIOUS RANKING: 2
NEXT WEEK: Portage (0-3)
WHAT’S TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD?: Plenty more wins to come.
No team in Northwest Indiana has had a tougher start to its schedule than the Merrillville Pirates. If the Andrean 59ers are labeled as the “easiest” team so far, it means that the level of competition has been high.
That said, brighter days are certainly ahead for the Pirates, despite the program’s first 1-2 start since 2017. This team is a heck of a lot better than its record, which is why they still hold the #3 spot. Plus, we may be in line for something similar to the 2024 season. After a 46 to 13 loss in week three to the Bulldogs, Merrillville rattled off nine straight victories – with most of them coming convincingly. This team certainly has the pieces in place to do that once again.
The Pirates will head back home to take on Portage, a team they have not fallen to since that aforementioned 2017 season.

2. Hobart Brickies (3-0)
LAST WEEK: won 41-7 over Munster
PREVIOUS RANKING: 3
NEXT WEEK: at Kankakee Valley (0-3)
PLAYER TO NOTE: Max Pickett, senior, running back
The Brickies enter the top two after what was the second of two quality losses for the Merrillville Pirates. That said, this Hobart team has been on fire for the first third of the regular season.
Max Pickett was the star of the evening this week, logging 22 carries for 153 yards and a whopping SIX touchdowns. The do-it-all-back has been asked to wear a few hats in the early parts of the year, often doing things from the Wildcat formation. After a few seasons behind Willy Shearer, Pickett was the lead back in his senior year – nearly matching last year’s season total of 517 rushing yards. The game against Munster raised his season totals to 323 yards and 7 total touchdowns.
Hobart looks to continue its thrilling start, as they will take a trip to DeMotte to do battle with the Kankakee Valley Kougars, a team they have not lost to since 2014.

1. Crown Point Bulldogs (3-0)
LAST WEEK: 35-21 win over #3 Merrillville
PREVIOUS RANKING: 1
NEXT WEEK: at Lake Central (2-1)
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: Another grind-it-out victory that puts them in position to potentially win their third straight outright DAC title.
In a game that was billed again as the top matchup in the Region, the Bulldogs walked away with a convincing win over their conference-mate to really increase their odds at another Duneland crown. In their fourth straight win over the Pirates, the offensive line and company were clicking on all cylinders, running for over 400 yards against an always-stout Merrillville defense.
Multiple year-starters like Nolan Cicero and Austin Reading anchor things on an O-Line unit that has led to the breakout of Brayden Schutt and now Max Gurnic, who led the Bulldogs with over 150 yards on the ground. This win against the Pirates also marks the 30th straight regular-season victory and the 22nd in the Duneland Conference.
The hope is that things will get even smoother for the rest of conference play, as Crown Point will be back on the road for a meeting against Lake Central.
Outside Looking In

Calumet Warriors (3-0)

Lake Station Eagles (3-0)

Chesterton Trojans (1-2)

West Side Cougars (2-0)

Hanover Central Wildcats (1-2)
