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Regional Friday is always entertaining, but sometimes is one of the more un-predictable weeks of the IHSAA post-season. I feel like it is the one week where upsets can and do happen for a number of reasons.
Many teams set a primary goal of winning a sectional title. I've said before that to win a sectional in football is probably harder than any in other sport. There are 8 teams in most football sectionals, while many other sports host 6 team events. You also must win three games spread out over three weeks to hoist the sectional hardware. After such a big accomplishment, sometimes players have inevitable let-downs.
The ultimate goal for any team is to play in the state finals. Teams realize this week they are one win away from making that dream come true. However, the regional round is sometimes the trap game, where players who are caught looking too far ahead can sometimes see their season come to a crashing halt.
The regional games involving Central Indiana schools were fairly competitive, a couple of almost upsets, along with one somewhat surprising result, but for the most part form held in the regional round. Now for another look back, along with highlights from last week's show, here is the regional edition of the Football Friday Rewind.
Destiny's Darlings: The somewhat surprising result would be the 20-15 Monrovia victory over Class 2A #1 Cardinal Ritter. However, the Bulldog victory didn't shock me; after all, I did pick Monrovia to win in my Regional picks column. My 14-13 prediction was based partially on the fact that Ritter had a couple of big rivalry road wins (Heritage Christian & Speedway) and might be already making plans for Lucas Oil Stadium.
Monrovia, however, is a hard-nosed, gritty football team that believes they can beat everyone, and up to this point, they have. The Bulldogs scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the second straight week to claim the victory and advance to Semi-State for the first time in school history. I love seeing new schools experience post-season success, thus Monrovia is my favorite team still playing football.
The Other Bulldogs: Of the 40 teams playing in last week's regionals, four, including Monrovia were Bulldogs. All are worth mentioning, even though only two advanced. Brownsburg gave Warren Central a great game in Class 5A. The Warriors are likely the most talented team still playing, but they were in a dog-fight Friday. Brownsburg's players could've easily been satisfied with the school's first sectional title since 1985, but the Bulldogs showed plenty of determination despite the14-6 loss.
Batesville might be the third-best team in Class 3A. (Behind Chatrd & Brebeuf) The Ripley County Bulldogs hung with Indianapolis Chatard, trailing just 10-7 at halftime. Vince Lorenzano's team eventually pulled away for a 31-14. While the Bulldogs only loss this season is certainly painful, Eric Heppner'guys have served notice that the Batesville is NOT just a basketball school.
Clinton Central is the second Bulldog team still playing. While the Class A Bulldogs entered post-season play with four losses, they are getting hot at just the right time. Mike Quick's team pitched a shutout on the road at Lutheran Friday. Clinton Central is now one victory from a first-time trip to the state finals. A potential opponent at Lucas Oil Stadium is Lafayette Central Catholic, LCC beat CC 45-0 in Week 3, and the Bulldogs would love another shot at the Knights.
MIC Domination: While some people in other parts of the state probably are tired of hearing about just how good the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference is, you can't argue with their results. Once again, three of the four teams playing in the Class 5A Semi-State are from the MIC. There stands a very good chance that the 5A title game will be a conference showdown for the third time in four years.
While I do love variety and enjoy seeing new teams compete, you can't knock what Carmel, Center Grove, and Warren Central have been able to accomplish this season. I think an all-MIC final would almost be guaranteed to be a great game, although to ask for a repeat of the 2008 drama might be too much to ask for. We shall see if Merrillville can de-rail the MIC party...sorry region football fans, I'm not holding my breath.
Business-Like Approach: I went to the New Palestine-Cathedral game on Friday. I thought the Dragons might be able to hang around for awhile before the Irish would eventually pull away. I was wrong. I'm incredibly impressed by the Irish and the approach they take on Friday nights. Many will talk about Cathedral being a private school and yada, yada, yada however, their coaching staff is a big reason the Irish are the best team in Indiana.
Rick Streiff and his assistants have this team prepared for anything that might happen. I felt like I was watching a college team not because their players were that much bigger, faster, and stronger, but because of the way the Irish took care of business. The kids don't carry themselves like teenagers when on the field and I think much of the credit for that has to go to the coaches. You may not root for a team like Cathedral to win every single year, but you have to respect the way the Irish play the game. For any other team, a long Friday afternoon bus-ride to Evansville might be a difficult hurdle to overcome, not Cathedral. The Irish will roll in the Reitz Bowl Friday.
(Check Back Thursday for Semi-State Predictions)
Many teams set a primary goal of winning a sectional title. I've said before that to win a sectional in football is probably harder than any in other sport. There are 8 teams in most football sectionals, while many other sports host 6 team events. You also must win three games spread out over three weeks to hoist the sectional hardware. After such a big accomplishment, sometimes players have inevitable let-downs.
The ultimate goal for any team is to play in the state finals. Teams realize this week they are one win away from making that dream come true. However, the regional round is sometimes the trap game, where players who are caught looking too far ahead can sometimes see their season come to a crashing halt.
The regional games involving Central Indiana schools were fairly competitive, a couple of almost upsets, along with one somewhat surprising result, but for the most part form held in the regional round. Now for another look back, along with highlights from last week's show, here is the regional edition of the Football Friday Rewind.
Destiny's Darlings: The somewhat surprising result would be the 20-15 Monrovia victory over Class 2A #1 Cardinal Ritter. However, the Bulldog victory didn't shock me; after all, I did pick Monrovia to win in my Regional picks column. My 14-13 prediction was based partially on the fact that Ritter had a couple of big rivalry road wins (Heritage Christian & Speedway) and might be already making plans for Lucas Oil Stadium.
Monrovia, however, is a hard-nosed, gritty football team that believes they can beat everyone, and up to this point, they have. The Bulldogs scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the second straight week to claim the victory and advance to Semi-State for the first time in school history. I love seeing new schools experience post-season success, thus Monrovia is my favorite team still playing football.
The Other Bulldogs: Of the 40 teams playing in last week's regionals, four, including Monrovia were Bulldogs. All are worth mentioning, even though only two advanced. Brownsburg gave Warren Central a great game in Class 5A. The Warriors are likely the most talented team still playing, but they were in a dog-fight Friday. Brownsburg's players could've easily been satisfied with the school's first sectional title since 1985, but the Bulldogs showed plenty of determination despite the14-6 loss.
Batesville might be the third-best team in Class 3A. (Behind Chatrd & Brebeuf) The Ripley County Bulldogs hung with Indianapolis Chatard, trailing just 10-7 at halftime. Vince Lorenzano's team eventually pulled away for a 31-14. While the Bulldogs only loss this season is certainly painful, Eric Heppner'guys have served notice that the Batesville is NOT just a basketball school.
Clinton Central is the second Bulldog team still playing. While the Class A Bulldogs entered post-season play with four losses, they are getting hot at just the right time. Mike Quick's team pitched a shutout on the road at Lutheran Friday. Clinton Central is now one victory from a first-time trip to the state finals. A potential opponent at Lucas Oil Stadium is Lafayette Central Catholic, LCC beat CC 45-0 in Week 3, and the Bulldogs would love another shot at the Knights.
MIC Domination: While some people in other parts of the state probably are tired of hearing about just how good the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference is, you can't argue with their results. Once again, three of the four teams playing in the Class 5A Semi-State are from the MIC. There stands a very good chance that the 5A title game will be a conference showdown for the third time in four years.
While I do love variety and enjoy seeing new teams compete, you can't knock what Carmel, Center Grove, and Warren Central have been able to accomplish this season. I think an all-MIC final would almost be guaranteed to be a great game, although to ask for a repeat of the 2008 drama might be too much to ask for. We shall see if Merrillville can de-rail the MIC party...sorry region football fans, I'm not holding my breath.
Business-Like Approach: I went to the New Palestine-Cathedral game on Friday. I thought the Dragons might be able to hang around for awhile before the Irish would eventually pull away. I was wrong. I'm incredibly impressed by the Irish and the approach they take on Friday nights. Many will talk about Cathedral being a private school and yada, yada, yada however, their coaching staff is a big reason the Irish are the best team in Indiana.
Rick Streiff and his assistants have this team prepared for anything that might happen. I felt like I was watching a college team not because their players were that much bigger, faster, and stronger, but because of the way the Irish took care of business. The kids don't carry themselves like teenagers when on the field and I think much of the credit for that has to go to the coaches. You may not root for a team like Cathedral to win every single year, but you have to respect the way the Irish play the game. For any other team, a long Friday afternoon bus-ride to Evansville might be a difficult hurdle to overcome, not Cathedral. The Irish will roll in the Reitz Bowl Friday.
(Check Back Thursday for Semi-State Predictions)
