#1	LAPORTE SLICERS 4-0/2-0

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Last Week: #1

The Slicers carved up Chesterton 49-14 and will hold the #1 ranking for a third straight week. The longest bus ride on the conference schedule takes place this week as the Slicers travel from the Maple City to Tri-town for a mid-season pow wow with the Indians at the LC Coliseum.

#2	VALPARAISO VIKINGS 2-2/1-1

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Last Week: #5

The Vikings had no trouble with the Wolves at Ames Field on Friday. If not for LaPorte’s two-point conversion that beat them late in week three, Dave Coyle’s kids would be at the top of the poll. Instead, the Vikings are back in the two slot. This week they’ll host Chesterton, who’s hungry for a victory.

#3	WHITING OILERS 4-0/2-0

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Last Week: #3

Now that Wheeler revenge is out of the way, Whiting can continue their quest on returning to Indy around Thanksgiving. A bus ride to take on a tough Lake Station squad is this week, but we’ve already got our calendars circled for next week, when there could be a potential battle of 5-0 teams when the Oilers host Hanover Central.

#4	MERRILLVILLE PIRATES 3-1/2-0

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Last Week: #6

The Pirates plundered Portage in week four – and they did it with defense. This week Merrillville meets Michigan City along I-65, so their defense at Demarree will need to be just as good as it was at the Warpath.

#5	MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES 3-1/1-1

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Last Week: #2

From out of nowhere to #1 (in another local poll). Perhaps it was all just a little too much a little too fast. Numero uno needs to be earned, and while the Wolves were winning big early, the DAC is a week in, week out deal…and this week the deal is Merrillville, on the road.

#6	CROWN POINT BULLDOGS 2-2/1-1

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Last Week: #10

The Bulldogs vowed not to be a one win team this season and with their upset of favored Lake Central, they’ve made good on that promise. But as big as the win was, the Dogs play in the Duneland, where there’s no time to rest on your laurels. This week Portage comes to the south county country club. Should be a good one.

#7	PORTAGE INDIANS (2-1)

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Last Week: #7

The red Indians didn’t get the win but they did give the Pirates all they could handle. The experience gained by the underclassmen in 2015 is paying dividends so far in 2016. Forget the loss to the Bucs, this program is getting better.

#8	HOBART BRICKIES 3-1/2-0

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Last Week: NR

After a two week absence, the Brickies make their triumphant return to the rankings following back to back wins over Griffith & KV. Hobart and Munster are the only two NCC teams with unblemished records and with the way the Brickies are playing defense this year (11.8 points against per game), don’t bet on them picking up one in the loss column any time soon.

#9	HANOVER CENTRAL WILDCATS 4-0/2-0

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Last Week: NR

Sure the schedule hasn’t exactly been a “murderer’s row” of elite competition, but all a team can do is play the opponent across from them. Not only have the Wildcats done that, coming away winners every time, they’ve won big with an average margin of victory of 37.75 points. This is the third straight 4-0 start for HC, but they’ve lost to Boone Grove both times in their Week #5 meetings. You can bet the ‘Cats are well aware of that.

#10	CHESTERTON TROJANS 2-2/0-2

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Last Week: #4

Just two weeks ago, the Trojans were riding high at number two in the poll, but back to back bad ones have knocked them off their high horse. The Trojan team buses head south down Campbell Street to Viking Field this Friday, where a victory over their arch enemy would put the season back on track.