Can Indian Creek Stay Unbeaten?
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What happened to the high school football season? We anticipate Football Friday night from the moment March Madness wraps up, and it seems like the season comes and goes as fast as the blink of an eye. It has been an enjoyable first eight weeks, and before we go getting emotional about football coming to an end, realize there are still seven Fridays of Football in 2009.
However, we are at the final week of the regular season so many games have conference championship implications. The Week 9 Edition of JJ's Pigskin Picks will focus only on the games that play a part in determining who wins conference titles. Last week was my best performance of the season, finishing 9-1. My only blemish, a 14-7 Roncalli win over Decatur Central, that I picked the home-standing Hawks. Hopefully we are rounding into form at just the right time and can go 90% again.
Fishers (7-1) at Brownsburg (6-2) The Bulldogs no longer control their own destiny thanks to last week's heart-breaking 7-0 loss at Brownsburg. I think people keep waiting for Brownsburg to fall back to earth but their 6-2 record just might be legit. If Fishers wins they clinch at least a tie for the HCC crown, a tremendous accomplishment as we've noted throughout the season. I'm picking the visitors not because I doubt Brownsburg, but because I'm very impressed with the Tigers. Fishers 29 Brownsburg 28 OT.
McCutcheon (3-5) at Hamilton Southeastern (7-1) The Royals dropped a close 10-6 decision to county rival Fishers 10-6 back in Week 2, but haven't lost since. Coach Scott May has once again done an outstanding job building this team around a stingy defense. That defense makes Hamilton SE a legitimate contender in the Sectional 4. However, potential post-season match-ups against Fishers and Carmel can wait, HSE is concerned only with clinching a share of the HCC title Friday, McCutcheon shouldn't provide much of a fight, Royals roll. Hamilton SE 35 McCutcheon 3
Carmel (7-1) at Ben Davis (5-3) Here we go again, for the second time in three weeks, the MIC's top four teams play each other, in almost round-robin fashion. Carmel has yet to lose a conference game, and looks to cap off an impressive 6-0 league slate at Ben Davis. I have been a bit disappointed by the Giants this season, but know Mike Kirschner has had quite a few injuries to deal with. Last season, Ben Davis ruined Morgan Newton's senior night, I think the Carmel seniors who played last year will have revenge on their minds. The Greyhounds clinch the out-right MIC title Carmel 17 Ben Davis 10
Center Grove (6-2) at Warren Central (7-1) Both the Trojans and Warriors have to be wondering what might've been had a few plays gone differently in games at Carmel. Thanks to CG's surprising loss to North Central last week, Warren Central is the only team besides Carmel alive in the MIC title fight. A Warren win, coupled with a BD loss gives the John Hart and company a share of the title. Not so fast my friend, I think Eric Moore's guys will come to play after last week's let-down game. Illness likely had something to do with the loss, but there still is no way Center Grove should lose a home game to the Panthers. I'll take the Trojans with a mild upset on the East Side. Center Grove 30 Warren Central 21
Franklin (1-7) at Martinsville (7-1) OK, so this one shouldn't probably count towards my overall record as it would appear to be an obvious Artesian victory. However, the same could've probably been said about the Center Grove-North Central game last week. I don't see an upset here, as the Grizzly Cubs are really down and Martinsville has too much talent and too much to play for. A win clinches a tie for the Mid-State Conference title with Mooresville. The Artesians win one for birthday boy John Wooden Martinsvile 99 Franklin 27
Hamilton Heights (6-2) at Peru (1-7) Another game that is an easy pick. The Huskies lost a chance at the out-right Mid-Indiana Conference crown last week thanks to a loss at home to Western. Now, three teams have identical 5-1 records in the conference, and the Huskies have the easiest regular season finale. It pains me to say that Peru is really down, with only a win over Taylor preventing a winless season. Hamilton Heights rolls into Bengal Memorial Stadium and shuts out the Tigers, Hamilton Heights 35 Peru 0.
Lewis Cass (5-3) at Western (5-3) If Indysportsnation had a chopper, I guarantee this is a stop we would make. Western stayed in the MIC race with last week's win at Heights. Lewis Cass lost three of it's first four games, but enters the regular season finale winners of four straight. Last year's Class 2A State Runner-Up lost quite a few key seniors to graduation, but appear to be gelling at just the right time. Scott Mannering is an excellent coach and something tells me the guys from Galveston will pick up the win, tying Heights for the conference championship. Lewis Cass 13 Western 10
Indiana Creek (8-0) at South Decatur (4-4) Three teams are alive in the Mid-Indiana Football Conference (not to be confused with the previously mentioned Mid-Indiana Conference) race. However, Triton Central and Milan both need South Decatur to pull off an upset to tie for the title with Indiana Creek. Don't expect that to happen Mike Gillin's guys cap off an undefeated regular season with a road win, Indian Creek 42 South Decatur 20
Shelbyville (7-1) at Delta (8-0) We are used to seeing this game as a battle of unbeatens, however New Palestine ruined the Bears perfect season a couple weeks ago. Delta is good, but showed they are beatable last week at Lucas Oil Stadium when they edged Mount Vernon 24-16. Eagle coach Grant Zgunda has karma on his side after making the hour-plus trip to the Indysportsnation studios last Friday to talk about the Hoosier Heritage Conference Day at Lucas Oil Stadium and the special Kickoff for Kids program that benefits Riley Hospital. I think Delta avenges last year's season ending loss to Shelbyville in a big way. Delta 28 Shelbyville 14
New Palestine(6-2) at Mount Vernon (5-3) The Indysportsnation Feature game is about both bragging rights and possibly a conference championship. If the Dragons win on the road and Shelbyville can knock off Delta, we will have a three-way tie for the HHC Championship. The Marauders might have something to say about that however. While New Pal doesn't control its own destiny in the conference, they can claim the Battle of the Boundary Rail as Ken Sothman discussed in his Feature Game Preview. I think New Pal is a slightly better team, but am going with the home team in an upset, Mount Vernon 21 New Palestine 20
Don't forget Football Friday Night can be seen at 10:35 this week on Indiana's 4 (WTTV) and after Fox 59 News which airs after Game 1 of the ALCS on Fox 59.
However, we are at the final week of the regular season so many games have conference championship implications. The Week 9 Edition of JJ's Pigskin Picks will focus only on the games that play a part in determining who wins conference titles. Last week was my best performance of the season, finishing 9-1. My only blemish, a 14-7 Roncalli win over Decatur Central, that I picked the home-standing Hawks. Hopefully we are rounding into form at just the right time and can go 90% again.
Fishers (7-1) at Brownsburg (6-2) The Bulldogs no longer control their own destiny thanks to last week's heart-breaking 7-0 loss at Brownsburg. I think people keep waiting for Brownsburg to fall back to earth but their 6-2 record just might be legit. If Fishers wins they clinch at least a tie for the HCC crown, a tremendous accomplishment as we've noted throughout the season. I'm picking the visitors not because I doubt Brownsburg, but because I'm very impressed with the Tigers. Fishers 29 Brownsburg 28 OT.
McCutcheon (3-5) at Hamilton Southeastern (7-1) The Royals dropped a close 10-6 decision to county rival Fishers 10-6 back in Week 2, but haven't lost since. Coach Scott May has once again done an outstanding job building this team around a stingy defense. That defense makes Hamilton SE a legitimate contender in the Sectional 4. However, potential post-season match-ups against Fishers and Carmel can wait, HSE is concerned only with clinching a share of the HCC title Friday, McCutcheon shouldn't provide much of a fight, Royals roll. Hamilton SE 35 McCutcheon 3
Carmel (7-1) at Ben Davis (5-3) Here we go again, for the second time in three weeks, the MIC's top four teams play each other, in almost round-robin fashion. Carmel has yet to lose a conference game, and looks to cap off an impressive 6-0 league slate at Ben Davis. I have been a bit disappointed by the Giants this season, but know Mike Kirschner has had quite a few injuries to deal with. Last season, Ben Davis ruined Morgan Newton's senior night, I think the Carmel seniors who played last year will have revenge on their minds. The Greyhounds clinch the out-right MIC title Carmel 17 Ben Davis 10
Center Grove (6-2) at Warren Central (7-1) Both the Trojans and Warriors have to be wondering what might've been had a few plays gone differently in games at Carmel. Thanks to CG's surprising loss to North Central last week, Warren Central is the only team besides Carmel alive in the MIC title fight. A Warren win, coupled with a BD loss gives the John Hart and company a share of the title. Not so fast my friend, I think Eric Moore's guys will come to play after last week's let-down game. Illness likely had something to do with the loss, but there still is no way Center Grove should lose a home game to the Panthers. I'll take the Trojans with a mild upset on the East Side. Center Grove 30 Warren Central 21
Franklin (1-7) at Martinsville (7-1) OK, so this one shouldn't probably count towards my overall record as it would appear to be an obvious Artesian victory. However, the same could've probably been said about the Center Grove-North Central game last week. I don't see an upset here, as the Grizzly Cubs are really down and Martinsville has too much talent and too much to play for. A win clinches a tie for the Mid-State Conference title with Mooresville. The Artesians win one for birthday boy John Wooden Martinsvile 99 Franklin 27
Hamilton Heights (6-2) at Peru (1-7) Another game that is an easy pick. The Huskies lost a chance at the out-right Mid-Indiana Conference crown last week thanks to a loss at home to Western. Now, three teams have identical 5-1 records in the conference, and the Huskies have the easiest regular season finale. It pains me to say that Peru is really down, with only a win over Taylor preventing a winless season. Hamilton Heights rolls into Bengal Memorial Stadium and shuts out the Tigers, Hamilton Heights 35 Peru 0.
Lewis Cass (5-3) at Western (5-3) If Indysportsnation had a chopper, I guarantee this is a stop we would make. Western stayed in the MIC race with last week's win at Heights. Lewis Cass lost three of it's first four games, but enters the regular season finale winners of four straight. Last year's Class 2A State Runner-Up lost quite a few key seniors to graduation, but appear to be gelling at just the right time. Scott Mannering is an excellent coach and something tells me the guys from Galveston will pick up the win, tying Heights for the conference championship. Lewis Cass 13 Western 10
Indiana Creek (8-0) at South Decatur (4-4) Three teams are alive in the Mid-Indiana Football Conference (not to be confused with the previously mentioned Mid-Indiana Conference) race. However, Triton Central and Milan both need South Decatur to pull off an upset to tie for the title with Indiana Creek. Don't expect that to happen Mike Gillin's guys cap off an undefeated regular season with a road win, Indian Creek 42 South Decatur 20
Shelbyville (7-1) at Delta (8-0) We are used to seeing this game as a battle of unbeatens, however New Palestine ruined the Bears perfect season a couple weeks ago. Delta is good, but showed they are beatable last week at Lucas Oil Stadium when they edged Mount Vernon 24-16. Eagle coach Grant Zgunda has karma on his side after making the hour-plus trip to the Indysportsnation studios last Friday to talk about the Hoosier Heritage Conference Day at Lucas Oil Stadium and the special Kickoff for Kids program that benefits Riley Hospital. I think Delta avenges last year's season ending loss to Shelbyville in a big way. Delta 28 Shelbyville 14
New Palestine(6-2) at Mount Vernon (5-3) The Indysportsnation Feature game is about both bragging rights and possibly a conference championship. If the Dragons win on the road and Shelbyville can knock off Delta, we will have a three-way tie for the HHC Championship. The Marauders might have something to say about that however. While New Pal doesn't control its own destiny in the conference, they can claim the Battle of the Boundary Rail as Ken Sothman discussed in his Feature Game Preview. I think New Pal is a slightly better team, but am going with the home team in an upset, Mount Vernon 21 New Palestine 20
Don't forget Football Friday Night can be seen at 10:35 this week on Indiana's 4 (WTTV) and after Fox 59 News which airs after Game 1 of the ALCS on Fox 59.
