The teams are so close they can taste it...Semi-State weekend is upon us, and one more win earns a spot in the IHSAA State Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It has been another fabulous season on the Central Indiana Grirdiron and we've had a great time bringing you Football Friday Night on Fox 59. We also hope you've enjoyed our additional content right here on Indysportsnation.com.
The Pigskin Picks column gets both easier and more difficult each week of the post-season. It is easier because the field is cut in half each week. Of course most of the match-ups are highly competitive, making it harder to pick who will come away victorious.
There were some great games on Regional Friday, I did correctly pick Monrovia's vicrtory over Cardinal Ritter, but just missed on my Brownsburg upset. Overall I went a respectable 14-6, moving my overall post-season selection record to 237-60, stil 80% (if you round up)
Time to see who will advance from the Final Four of each class to the State Championship games.
CLASS 5A
Carmel 17 Merrillville 7 One thing is certain, the Carmel defense is going to make life difficult on the Merrillville offense. We also have a pretty good idea that the Greyhounds are going to play somewhat conservative on offense, not lighting up the scoreboard, but not making mistakes either. Take a look at the final scores of Carmel's games this season:
L 3-7 W 42- 7 W 17-14 W 55- 7 W 24-21 W 38- 0 W 24-22 W 51- 0 W 21- 7 W 21- 7 W 7- 0 W 17- 9 W 10- 7
The Greyhounds are giving up just 6 points per game and averaging 15 in their last five games. I don't expect much to change this week and think we'll see Mo Moriarity's guys in the State Finals for the fourth consecutive season.
Center Grove 31 Warren Central 21 In a rematch of the highly competitive regular season finale, I think the Trojans will get the victory. True, Warren Central is tough to beat, especially on its home field, but the Warriors have shown some vulnerability at times during the playoffs. I think Eric Moore and his staff will take advantage setting up for a Carmel - Center Grove rematch at Lucas Oil Stadium.
CLASS 4A
Cathedral 42 Evansville Reitz 7 Cathedral is the class of the field, and might get a challenge in the state finals, but not this week.
FW Dwenger 36 Lowell 10 Dwenger almost beat Cathedral last year in the finals, they should get another shot provided they aren't looking past the Red Devils
CLASS 3A
Bishop Chatard 38 Evansville Memorial 3 You don't think Ari Pappas and company are looking forward to this rematch? Memorial knocked off Chatard down in Evansville last year in the Semi-State. This one is being played in Indianapolis (Saturday at Tech HS) and the Trojans big win will make for a long bus ride back to Southern Indiana for the Tigers.
Jimtown 10 West Lafayette 6 Marshall Overly has done a fantastic job with the Red Devils this season. I thought last year was West Lafayette's chance to make a championship run, but the undefeated Red Devils lost in the sectionals to Yorkdown. The 2009 team is still unbeaten and hosts Jimtown for the right to play for a 3A Championship. This is a toss-up, but I'm going with the Jimmies in a close one.
CLASS 2A
FW Luers 8 Rensellaer Central 6 Luers played one of the highest scoring games of the season last week, knocking off Lewis Cass 54-53 in double-overtime. The Knights didn't have an impressive record entering the post season, 4-5, but you knew their Summitt Athletic Conference schedule would have them prepared for the post-season. The Bombers are my favorite nickname of semi-state weekend, but Luers wins.
Monrovia 7 Paoli 6 The only Semi-State match-up of unbeaten teams could be a classic. My gut feeling is it will be a low-scoring game, and I can't turn my back on Monrovia after praising them all season...Bulldogs advance
CLASS A
Lafayette Central Catholic 28 Southern Wells 0 I watched Southern Wells run into the Sheridan buzz-saw last year in the semi-state. The Raiders' season ends a game short of Lucas Oil Stadium again, LCC cruises to the Class A finals.
Clinton Central 13 Fountain Central 10 Good match-up, that I'll be attending with Indysportsnation's Wes Woodward. Both schools are savoring the opportunity to play football in mid-November. The Mustangs have a better record, but the Bulldog defense and home-field advantage is the difference.
It has been another fabulous season on the Central Indiana Grirdiron and we've had a great time bringing you Football Friday Night on Fox 59. We also hope you've enjoyed our additional content right here on Indysportsnation.com.
The Pigskin Picks column gets both easier and more difficult each week of the post-season. It is easier because the field is cut in half each week. Of course most of the match-ups are highly competitive, making it harder to pick who will come away victorious.
There were some great games on Regional Friday, I did correctly pick Monrovia's vicrtory over Cardinal Ritter, but just missed on my Brownsburg upset. Overall I went a respectable 14-6, moving my overall post-season selection record to 237-60, stil 80% (if you round up)
Time to see who will advance from the Final Four of each class to the State Championship games.
CLASS 5A
Carmel 17 Merrillville 7 One thing is certain, the Carmel defense is going to make life difficult on the Merrillville offense. We also have a pretty good idea that the Greyhounds are going to play somewhat conservative on offense, not lighting up the scoreboard, but not making mistakes either. Take a look at the final scores of Carmel's games this season:
L 3-7 W 42- 7 W 17-14 W 55- 7 W 24-21 W 38- 0 W 24-22 W 51- 0 W 21- 7 W 21- 7 W 7- 0 W 17- 9 W 10- 7
The Greyhounds are giving up just 6 points per game and averaging 15 in their last five games. I don't expect much to change this week and think we'll see Mo Moriarity's guys in the State Finals for the fourth consecutive season.
Center Grove 31 Warren Central 21 In a rematch of the highly competitive regular season finale, I think the Trojans will get the victory. True, Warren Central is tough to beat, especially on its home field, but the Warriors have shown some vulnerability at times during the playoffs. I think Eric Moore and his staff will take advantage setting up for a Carmel - Center Grove rematch at Lucas Oil Stadium.
CLASS 4A
Cathedral 42 Evansville Reitz 7 Cathedral is the class of the field, and might get a challenge in the state finals, but not this week.
FW Dwenger 36 Lowell 10 Dwenger almost beat Cathedral last year in the finals, they should get another shot provided they aren't looking past the Red Devils
CLASS 3A
Bishop Chatard 38 Evansville Memorial 3 You don't think Ari Pappas and company are looking forward to this rematch? Memorial knocked off Chatard down in Evansville last year in the Semi-State. This one is being played in Indianapolis (Saturday at Tech HS) and the Trojans big win will make for a long bus ride back to Southern Indiana for the Tigers.
Jimtown 10 West Lafayette 6 Marshall Overly has done a fantastic job with the Red Devils this season. I thought last year was West Lafayette's chance to make a championship run, but the undefeated Red Devils lost in the sectionals to Yorkdown. The 2009 team is still unbeaten and hosts Jimtown for the right to play for a 3A Championship. This is a toss-up, but I'm going with the Jimmies in a close one.
CLASS 2A
FW Luers 8 Rensellaer Central 6 Luers played one of the highest scoring games of the season last week, knocking off Lewis Cass 54-53 in double-overtime. The Knights didn't have an impressive record entering the post season, 4-5, but you knew their Summitt Athletic Conference schedule would have them prepared for the post-season. The Bombers are my favorite nickname of semi-state weekend, but Luers wins.
Monrovia 7 Paoli 6 The only Semi-State match-up of unbeaten teams could be a classic. My gut feeling is it will be a low-scoring game, and I can't turn my back on Monrovia after praising them all season...Bulldogs advance
CLASS A
Lafayette Central Catholic 28 Southern Wells 0 I watched Southern Wells run into the Sheridan buzz-saw last year in the semi-state. The Raiders' season ends a game short of Lucas Oil Stadium again, LCC cruises to the Class A finals.
Clinton Central 13 Fountain Central 10 Good match-up, that I'll be attending with Indysportsnation's Wes Woodward. Both schools are savoring the opportunity to play football in mid-November. The Mustangs have a better record, but the Bulldog defense and home-field advantage is the difference.
