A lot of changes, including two brand new teams in the Week #9 RSN Top 10!

#10	NORTH NEWTON SPARTANS 7-1/6-0

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Last Week: NR

What’s at stake historically for North Newton on Friday night as they host Hanover Central? How about a win meaning they tie for the second best regular season in program history – and they’ve been playing football since 1967. How about a win meaning a conference championship – the first in program history. Is that all?

#9	EC CENTRAL CARDINALS 6-1/4-0

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Last Week: NR

Despite being the highest scoring team in the Region along with having one of the best scoring defenses, the Cardinals are making just their first appearance in the rankings – mainly due to strength of schedule. A win over Griffith this Friday though means any remaining doubters must finally admit – this team is for real.

#8	GRIFFITH PANTHERS 6-2/5-1

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Last Week: #8

The Panthers did their best George Costanza impression this season and went out on a high note in the NCC, capturing (at minimum) a share of the conference title. While no trophies or plaques are on the line this week as they are done with NCC play, Griffith will play the best offense they’ve seen all season long as they travel to take on EC Central.

#7	WHITING OILERS 7-1/5-1

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Last Week: #6

The win over Bishop Noll last week clinched the GSSC North division title for the Oilers, which is all well & good, but hardly the prize they are striving for this season. Whiting has bigger fish to fry and we’re not referring to this week’s game against River Forest – tournament time is around the corner and that’s when the Oilers are ready to make real noise.

#6	HOBART BRICKIES 6-2/4-1

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Last Week: #5

We can hear the unhappy Brickie faithful already – Hobart wins, yet they drop a spot. Well, that’s what happens in life in the Top 10 when teams ranked above you lose close ones and teams below you have impressive wins. Hobart’s win over Morton last week was all well & good but it’s this week’s game against Highland that really counts – a Brickie “W” means a share of the NCC title.

#5	HOBART BRICKIES 5-3/4-2

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Last Week: #2

Previously at #2, the Vikings were ranked high for a team with a pair of losses on their resume, but we could forgive those and rank them near the top as those losses were to LaPorte & Penn. But, a loss to Portage this past week not only means the Vikings can’t stay at #2 but it raises some questions about Gang Green as the tournament approaches.

#4	PORTAGE INDIANS 5-3/4-2

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Last Week: #9

The Indians came away with a big win over Valpo in week eight and now have a six win season regular season in their sights. After two straight one win campaigns, 2016 is already a success. Handing LaPorte their first loss would make an already good season that much better. Week nine at the Warpath should be like old times.

#3	MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES 6-2/4-2

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Last Week: #3

It’s rare when a team loses a conference game, at home, and doesn’t fall down the rankings at least a little bit, but that’s the case we have with the Wolves. Not only did Michigan City fight tooth and nail with the top ranked Slicers, if a controversial call goes City’s way, we’d quite possibly have a new #1. So even though it still goes down in the record books as a loss, that’s as good of a loss as we’ve seen all year.

#2	HANOVER CENTRAL WILDCATS 8-0/6-0

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Last Week: #4

The Cats keep climbing. It doesn’t hurt that the teams in front of them keep falling, but winning is the name of the game and that’s why Hanover is where they are. One more win sends them into the tournament undefeated. That win will have to come against Jeff Bean’s 7-1 North Newton squad. No easy task this season.

#1	LAPORTE SLICERS 8-0/6-0

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Last Week: #1

The Slicers were impressive in their win over City at sold out Ames Field this past Friday, especially the running game. With the victory came the Duneland Conference trophy, so their first goal has been accomplished. The next goal is an undefeated regular season, for which Portage stands in their week nine way. From there LaPorte’s goal is a win a week. They have six such goals.