Preview: All Northern State Conference roads go through Jimtown

The
Northern State Conference is a football-oriented league comprised of a number
of â�?��?programâ�?� schools. That is a term meaning that good teams just donâ�?��?�t happen
— they are the result of long-term, solid development. The quality of football
in the conference as a whole is sometimes overshadowed by the fact that the NSC
has its very own 600-pound gorilla: the Jimtown Jimmies.

Jimtown is
not only the defending NSC champion, but it is the defending Class 2A state champion,
a role that is not unfamiliar to them. Led by the man many believe to be the
best football coach in Indiana, Bill Sharpe, the Jimmies are a threat to be in
the RCA Dome every year. If they make it in ���?06, they will have been well
tested during the season, because the Northern State
is strong.

Jimtown: The Jimmies lost a great deal on
defense but return a strong nucleus on offense, including most of an offensive
line that was the key to their power running game. Replacing people on the
defensive side has never been a problem — Jimtown is Indianaâ�?��?�s
high school version of Linebacker
U.

New Prairie: This is another program school.
Coach Bart Curtis has the Cougars ready to win every year, and ���?�06 will be no
different. Led by a talented and experienced backfield, New Prairie is the most
serious challenger to Jimtown.

Knox: The Redskins enter their third
year under the direction of Steve Snodgrass. Winless in his first season, they
were competitive last year. Many believe Knox is ready to jump up and bite some
of the league���?�s upper-echelon teams.

Glenn: Yet another solid program, the
Falcons are always strong defensively, and very physical.

Triton: Here���?�s an improving program that
may rise up and bite someone along the way. Over the long haul of a season,
though, Triton is probably not ready to challenge for the title.

Culver Community: Culver made a great hire in
getting former Garrett coach Andy Thomas. There is widespread belief his
presence will eventually shift the balance of power in the conference. In his
first season, however, Thomas will face serious number challenges at his new
school.

Bremen: A once-proud athletic program has
underachieved in recent seasons, and the skid is likely to creep out onto the
football field this year. The problem is not necessarily in the athletic
department.

LaVille: This program has had a lack of
continuity at the top. Even if that is remedied, it will take a while to be
back in contention in this league.

The
biggest change is the hiring of Thomas at Culver. Meanwhile, LaVille has its
third new coach in as many years as Brian Stultz takes the helm. Look for the
latter program to improve as well in coming years.

QB Zach
Blackwood, New Prairie

RB Matt
Zakrewski, New Prairie

RB Mitch
Huber, Bremen

RB/LB Coty
Majchrzak, Knox

FB/LB Jeff
Verzynckt, New Prairie

FB Ryan
Konrath, Jimtown

Aug. 18:
NorthWood at Jimtown, LaPorte at New Prairie

Sept. 15:
Jimtown at New Prairie

Oct. 13:
New Prairie at Knox

Obviously,
Jimtown will again be a threat in 2A. The Jimmies will get an early test in the
very first week as 3A champion NorthWood comes to town. Also, look for New
Prairie to make some noise. The key here is that the Cougars play in a meat-grinder
sectional. If they get past that, look out.

A look back at the past five years of Northern State
Conference play:

So what do you think? Share your thoughts in our Football
forum.