Upset Friday! When all is said and done, Week 8 might be remembered by one big-time shocker and a miracle that almost happened. In college football, we often see a big favorite fall to a lesser opponent when they are caught looking ahead to a big game or are still getting high fives for a win the week before.
We don't often see huge upsets in high school football because the talent disparity is sometimes large enough that a favorite can overcome a sub-par performance and still scratch out a victory. On Center Grove's Senior night, the North Central Panthers shocked the Trojan fans and the entire Central Indiana Football followers by grabbing a 13-6 victory in overtime. The analysis of the Upset where I'll start the Week 8 Edition of the Football Friday Rewind.
How did this happen?: If take a look at the Center Grove schedule, this was the very definition of a trap game for the Trojans. In Week 7, they hosted perennial power Ben Davis in a rematch of last year's Semi-State Showdown. Eric Moore's guys were VERY impressive in knocking off the Giants 27-7. Center Grove also had a trip to Warren Central looming in the last week of the regular season. In the middle, a game against 1-6 North Central. If you think the Panthers were a good 1-6, remember they lost at home to Terre Haute South in Week 7. This was the Braves first road MIC win since 1999!
I have documented numerous times on this site how impressed I've been by the Trojans this season. Perhaps Coach Moore summed it up best when speaking with the Daily Journal in Johnson County after the game. "We just couldn't finish tonight. All season long, I feel like we've overachieved on offense. Tonight, we underachieved." Regardless of whether the Trojans really are a Top-5 team in Indiana, credit must go to Coach Keith Shelton for getting his kids to believe they could win this game. Major props to the North Central defense for that Goal-line stand in overtime that preserved the victory. A football follower from Southern Indiana posted this on the Gridiron Digest message board this weekend, "Has to be the biggest upset of the season." SIAC fan, I would agree, click here for extended highlights from the upset of the season...(up to this point)
What was the score? Pike beat Perry Meridian Friday to clinch the outright Conference Indiana crown. The game was not nearly as easy as many might have figured. Coach Derek Moyers had an idea the playing conditions might be difficult as rains have put the Southport HS field in bad shape. He also knew what grass remained, would likely be allowed to grow in an effort to slow down the speedy Red Devils. The torrential rains on Thursday and Friday didn't help matters as the soggy conditions likely kept this one close, Pike pulled out a 13-10 Double Overtime win.
As sweet as this celebration likely was for Pike, how bad must the loss have felt for the Falcons? They haven't won a game since September of 2007, and have failed to score more than 16 points in any game this season. Points were once again a problem for Perry, but the Falcon defense (and the mud) helped keep this one close. Matt Bennett of Perry Meridian kicked a field goal in OT #2 to give Perry a 10-7 lead, however if his attempt in OT #1 hadn't been blocked, the Falcons would've ended their long losing streak. As it was, Steffon Martin's touchdown gave Pike a win, the Red Devils improve to 7-1, despite a major scare on the southside.
Not My Kind of Game: I totally understand the role the weather played in the final outcome (total points) in many of the games around Central Indiana during Week 8. While teams that have Field Turf were likely a little less affected than ones still playing on natural grass (mud). However, I don't think you can blame all of a lack of offense on the rain. Take for instance Lebanon's game at Danville. After 48 minutes of play, neither team had cracked the scoreboard. Neither the Tigers nor the Warriors could muster up 100 yards of offense in the game! In Overtime, each team gets four chances, starting at the ten yard line, thus Danville was able to score (on a pass) and upset the Lebanon 7-0. I'm sure the old school fans think that was a GREAT game...I on the other hand, will favor one with at least a little bit of offense....still, I'm sure the Warriors (1-6 entering the game) will take a W any way they can get one this season.
Welcome Back! When Brebeuf was off their fast 5-0 start, I was hearing all kinds of chatter about running back Evan Kroot. When Indysportsnation.com's Scott Hudson went to a Brave practice prior to their game at Culver Military, he came back and said that Kroot was sick that day. Little did we know at the time, that he had mono, and would miss the next three games.
While Friday's rainy, cold conditions didn't seem like the perfect time to bring someone back to the field who had been out with mono, it was the perfect time for the Braves. Kroot made his presence felt in the first half of Friday's game at Beech Grove. He came onto the field on the Braves second possession and I immediately looked at ISN's Wes Woodward when the PA Announcer mentioned his name. A couple plays later, Kroot was off to the races, scoring on a 23 yard touchdown run. Kroot ended up carrying the Braves on his back, rushing 24 times for nearly 180 yards in a 21-14 win. Brebeuf is now 7-1, and with Kroot back in the lineup, a force to be reckonned with in the Class 3A playoffs.
Senior Night Celebrations: Half of all the teams in Indiana will honor seniors this weekend. Most of the others held celebrations during week 8. The traditional walk across the field always takes place on the teams' final regular season home game. This is a chance to honor those players who could be playing for the last time in front of the home fans. Most of the prep players in Indiana are wrapping up their playing careers in the next month. Senior night is always an emotional time, the first in a year full of "last time ever" experiences that many students are about to go through.
I remember getting a little emotional prior to my senior night game against Mississinewa back in the fall of 1995, even though I knew the next week I'd be playing at Bengal Memorial Stadium against the arch rival Logansport Berries. This was a bit emotional simply because of the escort from my parents who played such a big role in my high school career.
While now, I tend to worry about how long a Senior Night ceremony might take place, since we're always in a hurry to get highlights and get back to the station to work on our 10:35 PM program, I ask you take a moment this week to give the seniors around the state a round of applause. And more importantly, players, give your parents a big hug, because Senior Night is also meant to honor the family who has supported you and made your playing experience possible.....BTW...14 years later...Thanks Mom & Dad!
We don't often see huge upsets in high school football because the talent disparity is sometimes large enough that a favorite can overcome a sub-par performance and still scratch out a victory. On Center Grove's Senior night, the North Central Panthers shocked the Trojan fans and the entire Central Indiana Football followers by grabbing a 13-6 victory in overtime. The analysis of the Upset where I'll start the Week 8 Edition of the Football Friday Rewind.
How did this happen?: If take a look at the Center Grove schedule, this was the very definition of a trap game for the Trojans. In Week 7, they hosted perennial power Ben Davis in a rematch of last year's Semi-State Showdown. Eric Moore's guys were VERY impressive in knocking off the Giants 27-7. Center Grove also had a trip to Warren Central looming in the last week of the regular season. In the middle, a game against 1-6 North Central. If you think the Panthers were a good 1-6, remember they lost at home to Terre Haute South in Week 7. This was the Braves first road MIC win since 1999!
I have documented numerous times on this site how impressed I've been by the Trojans this season. Perhaps Coach Moore summed it up best when speaking with the Daily Journal in Johnson County after the game. "We just couldn't finish tonight. All season long, I feel like we've overachieved on offense. Tonight, we underachieved." Regardless of whether the Trojans really are a Top-5 team in Indiana, credit must go to Coach Keith Shelton for getting his kids to believe they could win this game. Major props to the North Central defense for that Goal-line stand in overtime that preserved the victory. A football follower from Southern Indiana posted this on the Gridiron Digest message board this weekend, "Has to be the biggest upset of the season." SIAC fan, I would agree, click here for extended highlights from the upset of the season...(up to this point)
What was the score? Pike beat Perry Meridian Friday to clinch the outright Conference Indiana crown. The game was not nearly as easy as many might have figured. Coach Derek Moyers had an idea the playing conditions might be difficult as rains have put the Southport HS field in bad shape. He also knew what grass remained, would likely be allowed to grow in an effort to slow down the speedy Red Devils. The torrential rains on Thursday and Friday didn't help matters as the soggy conditions likely kept this one close, Pike pulled out a 13-10 Double Overtime win.
As sweet as this celebration likely was for Pike, how bad must the loss have felt for the Falcons? They haven't won a game since September of 2007, and have failed to score more than 16 points in any game this season. Points were once again a problem for Perry, but the Falcon defense (and the mud) helped keep this one close. Matt Bennett of Perry Meridian kicked a field goal in OT #2 to give Perry a 10-7 lead, however if his attempt in OT #1 hadn't been blocked, the Falcons would've ended their long losing streak. As it was, Steffon Martin's touchdown gave Pike a win, the Red Devils improve to 7-1, despite a major scare on the southside.
Not My Kind of Game: I totally understand the role the weather played in the final outcome (total points) in many of the games around Central Indiana during Week 8. While teams that have Field Turf were likely a little less affected than ones still playing on natural grass (mud). However, I don't think you can blame all of a lack of offense on the rain. Take for instance Lebanon's game at Danville. After 48 minutes of play, neither team had cracked the scoreboard. Neither the Tigers nor the Warriors could muster up 100 yards of offense in the game! In Overtime, each team gets four chances, starting at the ten yard line, thus Danville was able to score (on a pass) and upset the Lebanon 7-0. I'm sure the old school fans think that was a GREAT game...I on the other hand, will favor one with at least a little bit of offense....still, I'm sure the Warriors (1-6 entering the game) will take a W any way they can get one this season.
Welcome Back! When Brebeuf was off their fast 5-0 start, I was hearing all kinds of chatter about running back Evan Kroot. When Indysportsnation.com's Scott Hudson went to a Brave practice prior to their game at Culver Military, he came back and said that Kroot was sick that day. Little did we know at the time, that he had mono, and would miss the next three games.
While Friday's rainy, cold conditions didn't seem like the perfect time to bring someone back to the field who had been out with mono, it was the perfect time for the Braves. Kroot made his presence felt in the first half of Friday's game at Beech Grove. He came onto the field on the Braves second possession and I immediately looked at ISN's Wes Woodward when the PA Announcer mentioned his name. A couple plays later, Kroot was off to the races, scoring on a 23 yard touchdown run. Kroot ended up carrying the Braves on his back, rushing 24 times for nearly 180 yards in a 21-14 win. Brebeuf is now 7-1, and with Kroot back in the lineup, a force to be reckonned with in the Class 3A playoffs.
Senior Night Celebrations: Half of all the teams in Indiana will honor seniors this weekend. Most of the others held celebrations during week 8. The traditional walk across the field always takes place on the teams' final regular season home game. This is a chance to honor those players who could be playing for the last time in front of the home fans. Most of the prep players in Indiana are wrapping up their playing careers in the next month. Senior night is always an emotional time, the first in a year full of "last time ever" experiences that many students are about to go through.
I remember getting a little emotional prior to my senior night game against Mississinewa back in the fall of 1995, even though I knew the next week I'd be playing at Bengal Memorial Stadium against the arch rival Logansport Berries. This was a bit emotional simply because of the escort from my parents who played such a big role in my high school career.
While now, I tend to worry about how long a Senior Night ceremony might take place, since we're always in a hurry to get highlights and get back to the station to work on our 10:35 PM program, I ask you take a moment this week to give the seniors around the state a round of applause. And more importantly, players, give your parents a big hug, because Senior Night is also meant to honor the family who has supported you and made your playing experience possible.....BTW...14 years later...Thanks Mom & Dad!
