Week 3: Big games

BLACKJACK!
According to the Sagarin power ratings, there are 21 big games on tap in Week 3
of the 2006 Indiana
high school football season. Following is a look at a baker�s dozen of the
really big showdowns as well as the pertinent pre-game numbers taken from John
Harrell�s wonderful site.

Don�t
forget to check back Saturday for a look back at all the action!

A pair of
payback games loom up North this weekend as Andrean visits Hammond Morton in a
Class 3A battle of unbeatens and 4A Lowell travels to 3A Griffith.

A year
ago, Andrean was a popular pick to duke it out with perennial Indianapolis
Catholic powerhouse Chatard in the RCA Dome. But the Fighting 59ers may have
looked past Hammond Morton, and that oversight bit them big time in the
sectional when the Governors swelled up with a 24-10 monster upset. Andrean had
won the last four meetings between the two, so you think a little revenge may
be in order?

Lowell
(1-1) took its lumps at home last season from Griffith (2-0) by a 21-0 count,
but that did not sidetrack the Red Devils from their steamrolling journey to
the 4A title with a classic one-point, come-from-behind win over perennial
Indianapolis Catholic powerhouse Roncalli. You may assume that 16^th-year
coach Kirk Kennedy plotted out this Week 3 road trip against 14^th-year
mentor Russ Radtke and Griffith as a 2006 litmus test for his Devils.

All that
reigning 3A state champ NorthWood, fresh off a pair of heart-wrenching road defeats
to defending 2A champion Jimtown and 3A riser Culver Academies, has to overcome
in its home opener is the high-powered offense of 4A Concord (2-0). The
Panthers own a slight 6-4 lead in the series� last 10 meetings, but it was Concord that posted a
tight 24-21 win at home a year ago.

An unbeaten
small-school showdown awaits Lafayette Central Catholic when the Knights roll
into Michigantown to face Clinton Central. Following a 41-18 drubbing in 2005,
this clash represents a huge opportunity for CC to show it has moved back into
the same neighborhood as LCC, which has won six of the last 10 meetings.

Finally, another
Class A throwdown will be on tap at South Newton,
where the 2-0 Rebels host (perennial power alert!) Pioneer (1-1). Winners of 11
of the last 12 meetings in the series, including a 46-14 waltz last year,
Pioneer may have its hands full with the resurgent Rebels.

There are seven
biggies set to go on the first day of September involving schools from the
populous central portion of the state, including a trio of league forays in the
Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference.

Ya gotta start at
the top, where three-time defending 5A champ Warren Central hosts Lawrence
North in a battle of unbeatens. There appears to be no let-up from the Warriors
after transitioning from the title-laden Kevin Wright era into a subsequent
roll under Steve Tutsie, who shouldn�t have any problem reminding his troops
that their last loss came at home to Lawrence North just ahead of the ââ?¬Ë?05
postseason. The Warriors technically already took care of that lapse with a
55-3 thrashing of the Wildcats in the sectional, but they undoubtedly would
still like to push their series advantage to 12-3.

Ben Davis knows a
little about winning state championships (seven under former coach ****
Dullaghan), and the Giants (2-0) appear to have returned to form under
third-year mentor Tom Allen. But they could be suffering a letdown following a
thrilling overtime win last week against Penn, so new Panthers� coach Mark Haste
may have a shot at making his move from Tri-West Hendricks to North Central
(2-0) pay immediate dividends. Ben Davis has won seven of the last 10 in the
series and will be looking to reverse last year�s 14-7 loss.

Carmel (1-1) hits the road for the first time in
heading to Greenwood
to face Center Grove (2-0), where the Trojans served notice two weeks ago with
a 13-3 win over Roncalli. The Greyhounds, meanwhile, silenced 2A threat Hamilton Heights a week after falling late to
perennial Indianapolis Catholic powerhouse Cathedral (and yes, we are done with
that perennial powerhouse thang). This series has been even Steven over the
last eight meetings as each school has won four times, including Carmel�s 35-17 romp a
year ago.

Moving outside the
MIC �

Southern Indiana

MORE OF SHAWN’S PREVIEW RAMBLINGS TO COME ââ?¬Â¦

The games:

GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Zlotnik Field.

COACHES: Brett St. Germain, 35-5 in 4th year at Andrean. Roydon Richards, 44-35
in 8th year at Hammond Morton, 67-60 in 13th year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Andrean, 72.26, 57th overall, 11th in Class 3A.
Hammond Morton, 63.95, 100th overall, 16th in Class 3A.

LAST GAME: Andrean defeated Hammond Noll, 27-6. Hammond Morton defeated Hammond
Gavit, 54-7.

LAST MEETING: Hammond Morton, 24-10,
sectional, Oct. 21, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Andrean, 4-1.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Amzi Miller Field.

COACHES: Richard Moren, 20-22 in 5th year at Bremen. Bart Curtis, 67-34 in 10th year at
New Prairie, 94-63 in 16th year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Bremen, 65.8, 88th
overall, 8th in Class 2A. New Prairie, 64.95, 94th overall, 15th in Class 3A.

LAST GAME: Bremen defeated Tippecanoe Valley, 19-6. New Prairie lost to South Bend Washington,
21-14.

LAST MEETING: New Prairie, 19-12, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Bremen, 6-4.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Center Grove.

COACHES: Mo Moriarity, 8-6 in 2nd year at Carmel,
191-48 in 22nd year overall. Eric Moore, 62-26 in 8th year at Center Grove,
110-31 in 12th year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Center Grove, 88.4, 7th overall, 6th in Class 5A. Carmel, 87.86, 10th
overall, 7th in Class 5A.

LAST GAME: Carmel defeated Hamilton Heights, 24-8. Center Grove defeated
Perry Meridian, 47-31.

LAST MEETING: Carmel, 35-17, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Tied, 4-4.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Andrews Field.

COACHES: Tim Dawson, 98-86 in 18th year at Concord.
Rich Dodson, 145-39 in 15th year at NorthWood.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Concord, 88.23, 9th
overall, 3rd in Class 4A. NorthWood, 73, 54th overall, 10th in Class 3A.

LAST GAME: Concord defeated Elkhart
Memorial, 40-7. NorthWood lost to Culver
Academy, 27-20.

LAST MEETING: Concord, 24-21, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: NorthWood, 6-4.

GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Demaree Stadium.

COACHES: Chip Pettit, 31-25 in 6th year at Crown
Point, 36-32 in 8th year overall. Zac Wells, 2-0 in
1st year at Merrillville.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Crown Point, 87.11, 13th
overall, 10th in Class 5A. Merrillville,
74.48, 43rd overall, 22nd in Class 5A.

LAST GAME: Crown Point defeated Hobart, 34-20. Merrillville defeated Highland, 26-0.

LAST MEETING: Merrillville, 16-13, sectional,
Nov. 4, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Merrillville, 7-5.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Western Boone.

COACHES: Terry Siddall, 1-1 in 1st year at Danville,
37-32 in 7th year overall. Jeff Pearson, 129-111 in 22nd year at Western Boone.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Danville, 68.71, 80th
overall, 13th in Class 3A. Western Boone, 62.52, 106th overall, 11th in Class
2A.

LAST GAME: Danville defeated
Crawfordsville, 29-0. Western Boone defeated Indianapolis Scecina, 28-2.

LAST MEETING: Danville, 29-28, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Danville, 8-0.
 

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Dave Walters Stadium (WCYT, 91.1 FM).

COACHES: Chris DePew, 39-20 in 6th year at East Noble. Chad Zolman, 17-8 in 3rd
year at Homestead.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Homestead, 84.47, 15th
overall, 11th in Class 5A. East Noble, 78.17, 30th overall, 9th in Class 4A.

LAST GAME: East Noble defeated Northridge, 41-28. Homestead
defeated Warsaw,
28-6.

LAST MEETING: Homestead, 28-17, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Homestead, 7-3.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Chambers Field (WLYV, 1450 AM).

COACHES: Chris Svarczkopf, 40-13 in 5th year at Fort Wayne Dwenger. Casey
Kolkman, 11-12 in 3rd year at Fort Wayne North.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Fort Wayne Dwenger, 76.32,
34th overall, 11th in Class 4A. Fort Wayne North, 70.95, 63rd overall, 20th in
Class 4A.

LAST GAME: Fort Wayne Dwenger defeated
Fort Wayne Elmhurst, 55-0. Fort Wayne North defeated Fort Wayne Luers, 28-13.

LAST MEETING: Fort Wayne Dwenger, 37-6,
Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Fort Wayne Dwenger, 8-2.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Frank Cioli Field.

COACHES: Curt Trout, 2-0 in 1st year at Fountain Central. Hank Lopez, 12-3 in 2nd
year at Riverton Parke.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Fountain Central, 43.73, 222nd overall, 17th in
Class 1A. Riverton Parke, 42.11, 235th overall, 21st in Class 1A.

LAST GAME: Fountain Central defeated Turkey Run, 55-8. Riverton Parke defeated Union (Dugger), 27-0.

LAST MEETING: Riverton Parke, 36-21, sectional, Oct. 21, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Fountain Central, 10-4.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Leland Etzler Field.

COACHES: Bob Yager, 170-117 in 29th year at Heritage. Barry Ehle, 7-6 in 2nd year
at Woodlan.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Heritage, 67.33, 83rd overall, 6th in Class 2A.
Woodlan, 56.98, 141st overall, 17th in Class 2A.

LAST GAME: Heritage defeated Manchester,
81-7. Woodlan lost to New Haven,
21-14.

LAST MEETING: Heritage, 40-0, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Heritage, 10-1.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio).

COACHES: Jim O’Hara, 28-19 in 5th year at Indianapolis Cathedral, 65-43 in 11th
year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Indianapolis Cathedral, 95.1,
2nd overall, 1st in Class 4A.

LAST GAME: Indianapolis Cathedral defeated
Detroit Renaissance (Mich.),
38-0.

LAST MEETING: Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio), 24-21, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Cincinnati St. Xavier (Ohio), 6-1.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Roncalli Field (WXLW, 950 AM).

COACHES: Vince Lorenzano, 39-7 in 4th year at Indianapolis Chatard, 98-74 in 15th
year overall. Bruce Scifres, 168-40 in 17th year at Indianapolis Roncalli.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Indianapolis Roncalli, 85.46,
14th overall, 4th in Class 4A. Indianapolis Chatard, 75.35, 38th overall, 5th
in Class 3A.

LAST GAME: Indianapolis Chatard defeated
Indianapolis Arlington, 49-7. Indianapolis Roncalli defeated Franklin Central,
21-14.

LAST MEETING: Indianapolis Chatard, 14-7, Sep.
2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Indianapolis Roncalli, 8-4.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Bulldog Stadium.

COACHES: Ryan Gallogly, 22-15 in 4th year at Lafayette Central Catholic. George
Gilbert, 109-87 in 19th year at Clinton Central, 149-129 in 27th year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Lafayette Central Catholic,
70.58, 64th overall, 2nd in Class 1A. Clinton Central, 49.41, 187th overall,
9th in Class 1A.

LAST GAME: Lafayette Central Catholic
defeated Benton Central, 42-14. Clinton Central defeated Northwestern, 42-26.

LAST MEETING: Lafayette Central Catholic,
41-18, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Lafayette Central Catholic,
6-4.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Warren Central.

COACHES: Tom Dilley, 25-11 in 4th year at Lawrence North, 60-27 in 8th year
overall. Steve Tutsie, 2-0 in 1st year at Warren Central.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Warren Central, 101.97, 1st overall, 1st in Class
5A. Lawrence North, 92.02, 5th overall, 4th in Class 5A.

LAST GAME: Lawrence North defeated
Evansville Reitz, 21-14. Warren Central defeated Maine South (Ill.), 61-12.

LAST MEETING: Warren Central, 55-3, sectional, Nov. 4, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Warren Central, 11-3.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Tri-West.

COACHES: Kent Wright, 27-26 in 6th year at Lebanon. Chris Coll, 1-1 in 1st
year at Tri-West.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Tri-West, 69.01, 77th overall, 5th in Class 2A. Lebanon,
68.8, 79th overall, 26th in Class 4A.

LAST GAME: Lebanon lost to
Mooresville, 30-20. Tri-West defeated South Putnam, 68-14.

LAST MEETING: Tri-West, 30-28, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Lebanon, 4-3.
 

GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, The Boneyard.

COACHES: Kirk Kennedy, 116-60 in 16th year at Lowell. Russ Radtke, 124-41 in 14th year at Griffith, 243-96 in 30th
year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Lowell, 75.61, 36th
overall, 12th in Class 4A. Griffith,
74.08, 46th overall, 7th in Class 3A.

LAST GAME: Lowell defeated Calumet, 63-6. Griffith
defeated Chesterton, 35-34, overtime.

LAST MEETING: Griffith, 21-0, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Griffith, 8-5.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Giants Stadium (WBDG, 90.9 FM).

COACHES: Mark Haste, 2-0 in 1st year at North Central (Indianapolis), 120-67 in 17th year overall.
Tom Allen, 18-8 in 3rd year at Ben Davis, 26-11 in 4th year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Ben Davis, 88.41, 6th overall, 5th in Class 5A.
North Central (Indianapolis),
87.33, 11th overall, 8th in Class 5A.

LAST GAME: North Central (Indianapolis)
defeated Lawrence Central, 19-7. Ben Davis defeated Penn, 35-32, overtime.

LAST MEETING: North Central (Indianapolis), 14-7, Sep. 23, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Ben Davis, 7-3.
 

GAME TIME: 6:30 pm CT, Rebels Stadium.

COACHES: Mike Johnson, 113-59 in 16th year at Pioneer. Chris Bell, 51-55 in 11th
year at South Newton, 58-74 in 14th year
overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Pioneer, 61.98, 109th overall, 3rd in Class 1A. South Newton, 58.02, 134th overall, 5th in Class 1A.

LAST GAME: Pioneer defeated Winamac, 48-6. South Newton
defeated Frontier, 26-7.

LAST MEETING: Pioneer, 46-14, Sep. 2, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Pioneer, 11-1.

GAME TIME: 7 pm CT, Legion Field (WAXL, 103.3 FM).

COACHES: Bruce Green, 53-20 in 7th year at South Spencer. John Elliott, 3-9 in
2nd year at Tell City.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Tell City, 67.25, 84th overall, 7th in Class 2A.
South Spencer, 56.06, 148th overall, 18th in Class 2A.

LAST GAME: South Spencer defeated Gibson Southern, 41-26. Tell City lost to Heritage
Hills, 37-21.

LAST MEETING: South Spencer, 29-27, sectional, Oct. 21, 2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: South Spencer, 8-5.

GAME TIME: 7:30 pm ET, Blackhawk Field.

COACHES: Brad Urban, 2-0 in 1st year at Twin Lakes,
53-40 in 9th year overall. Larry Wright, 309-140 in 41st year at Sheridan, 310-144 in 42nd
year overall.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Twin Lakes, 73.19, 50th overall, 8th in Class 3A. Sheridan, 71.96, 59th
overall, 1st in Class 1A.

LAST GAME: Twin Lakes defeated Frankfort,
26-7. Sheridan defeated Indianapolis Washington,
47-6.

LAST MEETING: Sheridan, 20-13, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Twin Lakes, 3-2.

GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Red Pride Field.

COACHES: Darrin Fisher, 7-7 in 2nd year at Whiteland. Brian Woodard, 2-0 in 1st
year at Plainfield.

SAGARIN RATINGS: Plainfield, 84.07, 16th
overall, 5th in Class 4A. Whiteland, 72.37, 55th overall, 18th in Class 4A.

LAST GAME: Whiteland defeated Indian Creek, 33-21. Plainfield defeated Evansville Memorial,
55-7.

LAST MEETING: Plainfield, 51-14, Sep. 2,
2005.

SERIES LAST 10 YEARS: Plainfield, 8-0.