Sunday, August 16, 2009

Who's the Best in Indiana High School Football?

by Jeff Fisher
Indiana High School Football Huddle


Everything is coming together as high school football fans prepare for the opening of the regular season next weekend. Who's considered the best in the state before a game is played? The Associated Press will answer that question on Monday when it releases its pre-season poll in all five classifications.

In 5A, eyes will be on Ben Davis because of its post-season run in 2008. After a 5-3 start, the Giants ripped-off five straight wins before losing to eventual state champ Center Grove 49-21 in the state semifinals. Next Friday Ben Davis opens on the road against Penn.

If Ben Davis hopes to make it to the Lucas Oil Dome for the state championship game, the Giants will once again have to navigate the always tough Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, which includes the likes of defending state champ Center Grove, Carmel and Warren Central.

Many believe that Warren Central is back-on-track to go after a state title after a two year hiatus. The Warriors won four straight state titles from 2003 to 2006. Before that run, it was Ben Davis that had won three titles ('99, '01, '02) in four years.



What about the defending champs? Center Grove has to replace a lot of talent from last year's 14-1 squad.



And what about the Carmel Greyhounds, the team that lost in the biggest comeback in state finals history?



All of the above video comes from the Indy Star, which does a great job of covering the high school sports scene in central Indiana! Who are the other contenters in 5A? Go to the Indy Star link to find-out.

In 4A, Cathedral is hoping to defend its title, which would give the program its third championship trophy in four years. The start of the season is brutal for the Irish with its opener with Carmel followed by Warren Central. The following week, Cathedral has a showdown with Ohio power St. Xavier in the Horseshoe Classic in the Dome. The brutal four-week stretch ends with 3A power Bishop Chatard.



Go to the Indy Star link for the rest of the 4A breakdowns.

in 3A, like Cathedral, Bishop Chatard appears to be ready to rebound and go after the program's third title in four years.



Click the Indy Star link to read about the rest of the contenders in 3A.

The 2A classification is very interesting because it now features the defending champ Heritage Christian and last year's 1A champ Cardinal Ritter, which moves-up a class this year.





Click on the Indy Star link to read about the rest of 2A.

With Cardinal Ritter up in 2A, it looks like Sheridan is back in the Class A spotlight. Ritter snapped Sheridan's run of three straight titles last year. The Class A can be found by clicking on the Indy Star link.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

2009 Indiana High School Football Schedules

by Jeff Fisher
Indiana High School Football Huddle


Practice begins August 3rd in the Hoosier state with the first weekend of games scheduled for August 21st and 22nd. Click here to get all a list of all the 2009 team schedules from around the state.

North Beats South in Grange Insurance All-Star Classic

by Jeff Fisher
Indiana High School Football Huddle


Here's a nice story out of Friday night's 43rd annual Grange Insurance All-Star Classic at North Central High School. The North squad beat the South 20-13 in the final coaching appearance by Rich Dodson, who retired from NorthWood. Click here to read how Dodson's former quarterback Skyler Titus, who will try to walk-on at Purdue, helped send his coach out as a winner.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

State Football Championships to Stay in Lucas Oil Stadium

by Jeff Fisher
Indiana High School Football Huddle


The news that the Indiana High School Football Championships are staying in the dome for three more years through the 2011-2012 school year comes as no surprise, but the fact that the Indianapolis Colts will sponsor the entire state football championship tournament does.

The Colts are believed to be the first professional sports franchise in the country to partner with a high school association for this type of sponsorship.

“We are extremely pleased and appreciative of the Indianapolis Colts involvement in making sure high school football continues at Lucas Oil Stadium,” said Blake Ress, IHSAA Commissioner. “This plan has been more than a year in the making and their financial involvement will help reduce the ever-increasing expenses associated with holding the state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. This one-of-a-kind type of sponsorship is like no other that I know of in the country. The Indianapolis Colts commitment to the local community and the community at large certainly made this type of sponsorship agreement possible.”

“The Colts organization has a long standing commitment to youth football in Indiana and our new relationship with the IHSAA is an extension of that commitment,” said Tom Zupancic, Colts Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing. “The IHSAA and the Indianapolis Colts have a common goal of developing the core values of young athletes. It is an honor to join forces with such an outstanding organization.”

“The IHSAA would also like to thank Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard for his leadership in making sure we continue to play championship high school football in Lucas Oil Stadium in front of thousands of fans,” said Ress.

Mayor Ballard understands the importance of keeping the football state finals here in Indianapolis. “It is critical that the capital city of our state remain the home of our high school championships and I am thrilled the IHSAA and the Indianapolis Colts worked together to make this happen,” said Mayor Ballard. “I continue to believe that Lucas Oil Stadium is a community gathering place for our entire state and I am pleased that we will continue to call it the home of the IHSAA Football State Finals.”

Last fall’s state championships, which were played in Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time, drew a record crowd of 40,680 to Saturday’s three games (Class 3A, 4A and 5A). Coupled with Friday’s attendance (Class A and 2A), the state finals drew an overall record total of 56,050.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Center Grove Enters USA Today Super 25

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle


Center Grove (IN), Maine South (IL) and Muskegon (MI) all won state championships last weekend, and in addition to the shiny trophies, all three are in the new USA Today Super 25 released on Tuesday. Joining that trio is Grayson (GA), which hops into the rankings at #14 after taking down defending Georgia champ and former #4 Lowndes in the GHSA quarterfinals on Friday.

Here are the new rankings...

1. Trinity (Euless, TX) 13-0, LW: #1
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 12-0, LW: #2
3. Armwood (Seffner, FL) 12-0, LW: #3
4. Centennial (Corona, CA) 12-0, LW: #5
5. Long Beach Poly (CA) 12-0, LW: #6
6. Skyline (Issaquah, WA) 13-0, LW: #7
7. Madison County (Madison, FL) 11-0, LW: #8
8. Lakeland (FL) 12-0, LW: #9
9. South Panola (Batesville, MS) 14-0, LW: #10
10. Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) 14-0, LW: #11
11. Lake Travis (Austin, TX) 13-0, LW: #13
12. Byrnes (Duncan, SC) 13-1, LW: #22
13. Allen (TX) 12-1, LW: #14
14. Grayson (Loganville, GA) 13-0, LW: NR
15. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, OH) 14-1, LW: #16
16. St. Xavier (Louisville, KY) 12-0, LW: #17
17. Center Grove (Greenwood, IN) 14-1, LW: NR
18. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) 10-1, LW: #19
19. River Hill (Clarksville, MD) 13-0, LW: #20
20. De La Salle (Concord, CA) 10-1, LW: #21
21. Bethel Park (PA) 14-0, LW: #23
22. Oceanside (CA) 10-0-1, LW: #25
23. Maine South (Park Ridge, IL) 14-0, LW: NR
24. Timpview (Provo, UT) 13-0, LW: #24
25. Muskegon (MI) 14-0, LW: NR

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Center Grove Mounts Big Comeback to Win Indiana 5A Crown

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Center Grove won its first Indiana state title Saturday and made history along the way. The Trojans rallied from a 19-point deficit with a little less than nine minutes to go in the game on the way to a 36-33 win over defending state champ Carmel at Lucas Oil Stadium. Click here to read about the comeback that is the biggest in Indiana high school championship history.

Indianapolis Cathedral Captures 7th Indiana Title

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle


For the second straight week, Indianapolis Cathedral took down an undefeated team. The reward...the school's 7th Indiana high school football championship. Cathedral (12-2) beat Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 10-7 for the state's 4A title. Click here for a game story.

Bellmont Grabs Indiana 3A Title

By Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle


Bellmont won its first ever Indiana high school football championship Saturday beating Evansville Memorial 28-14. Click here for a game recap.

Indiana High School Football Scoreboard - Championships

Indiana High School Football Scores
Saturday, November 29, 2008

5A

Center Grove 36 Carmel 33

4A
Indianapolis Cathedral 10 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 7

3A
Bellmont 28 Evansville Memorial 14
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