FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Indy-area schools add to prep weekend

Sep. 28—Wabash Valley high school football teams get reintroduced to the Circle City Conference the next couple of weeks, which isn't always a good thing.

When Conference Indiana was having trouble filling its nonconference football schedules a few years ago, after the departures of Franklin Central and Perry Meridian, an informal agreement was made with the CCC, which is probably the only football conference in the state in which all its members are ranked. Three years ago Northview also began a series with Guerin Catholic, one of the four Catholic schools that make up the league that has the top-ranked and fourth-ranked teams in Class 3A (Indianapolis Chatard and Guerin) and the 12th- and 14th-ranked teams in Class 4A (Brebeuf and Roncalli).

And the latter two are probably underrated.

Because two of those teams travel west on Friday, Terre Haute South and Northview have supplanted Sullivan as the every-week Game of the Week participants (for one more week, but probably not for two).

—Brebeuf (3-2) at Terre Haute South (2-4), 7 p.m. — The visiting Braves (yes, this is one of those games sportswriters hate because the teams have the same nickname) are coming off a victory over Roncalli while the host Braves beat Northview in a classic game last Thursday.

The South perspective on this game is that its team will get a boost after ending a string of tough losses, while its visitors might take this week lightly (lack of confidence is generally not a problem for teams in the CCC). Should be a good one.

—North Putnam (1-5, 1-2) at West Vigo (1-5, 1-2), 7 p.m. — Looking at the records, both overall and in the Western Indiana Conference Green Division, it appears this game is a tossup.

Look further, however, and you'll see that the schedule for the visiting Cougars has been brutal, including close losses in the past three weeks to strong teams from Covenant Christian and Cascade.

—Sullivan (3-3, 1-1) at Edgewood (1-5, 0-2), 7 p.m. — Spearking of Cascade, the Cadets beat the Mustangs 63-2 earlier this season and, for a change, Edgewood looks like the team that could finish last in the WIC Gold Division.

The Golden Arrows, who had a nice bounceback week last week, need to take care of business to make that prediction come true.

—Fountain Central (4-2, 3-1) at South Vermillion (5-1, 4-0), 7 p.m. — Herb King coaching against Greg Barrett in a game with Wabash River Conference championship implications? Another GOTW possibility?

It could be, but it also might not be. The Wildcats are at home, have the edge in comparative scores (which is meaningless, of course) and might still have another level to reach.

—Parke Heritage (2-4, 1-3) at North Vermillion (4-2, 3-1), 7 p.m. — The Falcons were pretty close to being the WRC leader themselves and still have a chance to share the title.

So they can't afford to suffer a letdown against the Wolves, who are still capable of making a run toward a winning record.

—Attica (0-6, 0-4) at Riverton Parke (1-5, 0-4), 7 p.m. — The host Panthers are heavily favored to notch their first Wabash River Conference game of the season at their homecoming.

There's a suspicion that the Red Ramblers have watched quite a few queens get crowned the past couple of years.

—Linton (5-1) at North Knox (4-2), 7 p.m. — These two teams aren't conference rivals anymore, but they are still rivals (and the Warriors won at Linton three seasons ago). They are also possible sectional foes.

Even though this judgment comes from afar, the Miners also look like a really good team that still hasn't hit its peak.

—Martinsville (4-1) at Farmer City (Blue Ridge) (2-3), 7 p.m., 6 p.m. CDT — The Bluestreaks have fared slightly better vs. common opponents than the Knights have (again, meaningless).

Martinsville clinches a winning regular season with a win.

—Terre Haute North (0-6, 0-4) at Southport (0-6, 0-2), 7:30 p.m. — There'll be plenty of joy for the team that wins this Conference Indiana matchup, but also a tinge of sadness.

It will be the first career win for one of these coaches (Michael Ghant or Alex Bettag) who are former Patriot assistants — proof that high school football coaching isn't always easy.

—Guerin Catholic (4-2) at Northview (5-1), 7:30 p.m. — The home team has won every time in the first three years of this series, and it's a game that could be a good measuring stick for the Knights.

In contrast to the South-Brebeuf matchup, this GOTW will be between two teams that won't be in good moods.

—Marshall (1-4, 1-2) at Casey (5-0, 3-0), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — Sharing the Little Illini Conference lead and almost certainly playoff-bound, the host Warriors are riding high.

Could there be a more perfect scenario for the Lions, or does this rivalry not have the juice it used to?

—Newton (1-4, 1-2) at Paris (2-3, 1-2), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — These two teams aren't usually trying to avoid the bottom of the LIC when they meet.

Previous results this year would seem to indicate that the Tigers will be firmly in the middle of the conference pack when the night is over.

—Lawrenceville (4-1, 2-1) at Robinson (1-4, 1-2), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — The Maroons were also expecting better things when the year started (and the Indians might be pleasantly surprised so far).

Strength-of-schedule considerations favor the home team in this one.

Saturday

—OPH (0-5) at North Central (1-5), 2 p.m., 1 p.m. CDT — When the Thunderbirds play well, they are a lot better than their record indicates, and the Panthers are struggling.

With any luck, however, this rivalry seems geographically capable of lasting awhile.

—Tri-State Crusaders (3-1) at Dugger Union (4-2), 3:30 p.m. — The Crusaders are from Harlan, IN, and have played just one Indiana team (Faith Christian) so far. Geography would seem to discourage this as a perennial rivalry.

The rivalry that ought to happen, however, is this one: Dugger vs. Martinsville for the Wabash Valley interstate 8-man championship.