Predictions: Semistate football picks review, state finals selections

By E. Shawn Aylsworth

Managing Editor

With all three Hoosier Authority “experts” going 7-3 in last weekend’s semistate picks, the sad truth is that Executive Director Mike McGraw maintained his three-game lead over Eric Eaton and four-game advantage over myself.

A look back at our semistate results:

Mike: -3 (Dwenger, Cathedral; Chatard)

Shawn: -3 (Center Grove; Dwenger; Chatard)

Eaton: -3 (Dwenger, Cathedral; Chatard)

If we total ‘em all up (last week’s semistate picks along with regionals and the three-week sectional results), we get this updated mass of ugliness for the postseason:

Mike: -22

Eaton: -25

Shawn: -26

So what does all that mean? It means I have to pick at least four different winners to catch McGraw. Which I am about to do.

To the final five picks!

CLASS 5A

Mike: Carmel. The turnover bug is bound to bite Warren Central somewhere along the line, and Carmel seems to be the beneficiary of that sort of thing all the time.

EZ-E: Warren Central

E. Shawn: Coach John Hart was the head coach at Evansville Reitz two years ago when the Panthers won the 4A title. As you will see, there is an Evansville-related theme to my final round of picks. Warren Central.

CLASS 4A

Mike: Evansville Reitz. Like I am going to pick against somebody that just whacked Cathedral by 21. I don’t care if Hughes was hurt or not. That is a ****-kicking.

EZ-E: Reitz

E. Shawn: My aunt died this week, and I went to her burial the day before Thanksgiving near Evansville. Upon chatting with some long-lost relatives afterward, the conversation turned to their excitement about Saturday’s championship games involving Reitz and Memorial. It just seems, then, that picking the Evansville schools is the best way to honor the memory of the incredibly unselfish and giving human being that was Katherine Mottley. Reitz.

CLASS 3A

Mike: Evansville Memorial. Should be a great game. In the end, I like Memorial’s defense a little better.

EZ-E: West Lafayette

E. Shawn: See 4A explanation above. Memorial.

CLASS 2A

Mike: Fort Wayne Luers. I can’t get past the schedule difference. Also, Monrovia pulled one big upset with the win over Ritter. I don’t know if they have two of them in ’em. It hurts me to make that pick.

EZ-E: Monrovia

E. Shawn: Since I agreed with McGraw (gross) on Reitz above, that means I HAVE to take Monrovia. No problem! The Dags.

CLASS A

Mike: Lafayette Central Catholic. It won’t be as easy as most people think.

EZ-E: Central Catholic

E. Shawn: Fountain Central it is!