FOOTBALL: RSN Top 10 – Week #3

#10.
MERRILLVILLE PIRATES
1-1

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LAST WEEK: NR

The rare case of a team making it into the Top 10 after a loss. Merrillville’s valiant performance against Penn, combined with their win over Andrean, give the Pirates just enough clout to sneak into the rankings. Will they be able to stay another week? We’ll see as they take on DAC rivals Crown Point this week. Merrillville has won the last three regular season meetings against the ‘Dogs, including last year’s which was the lone Pirate victory. Speaking of Crown Point…

9.
CROWN POINT BULLDOGS
1-1

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LAST WEEK: #10

To little surprise, the young Crown Point offense isn’t lighting up the scoreboard yet, scoring just a combined 21 points in two games. Thankfully, the ‘Dog defense is pulling their weight, holding Lowell to just one offensive touchdown in the opener and Highland to 10 points last week. The offense will have to be at their best this week as they take on a Merrillville defense that can, and will, capitalize on any mistakes.

#8.
BOONE GROVE WOLVES
2-0

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LAST WEEK: #8

After scoring 40 points in Week #1 and 46 in Week #2, the Wolves get their chance to be under the Region spotlight this week as they host Whiting (at Valpo) on Saturday night. We’re pretty sure the BG offense has what it takes to move the ball against a good Oiler defense, but can they stop the Whiting offense? That remains to be seen. This may be the game of the year in the GSSC.

#7.
LAKE CENTRAL INDIANS
2-0

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LAST WEEK: NR

Talk about eye opening performances. Lake Central’s 33-13 rout of Morton not only put the Indians in the RSN rankings for the first time in at least a year, but it gave LC their first 2-0 start since the 2014 campaign. They’ll have to play just as well, if not better, this week when they travel to “The Warpath” to battle Portage.

#6.
ANDREAN 59ERS
1-1

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LAST WEEK: #7

59er fans might be able to exhale a little bit after shutting out Hanover Central 24-0 to even up their record at 1-1. They can’t get too comfortable though as Week #3 brings about maybe their toughest challenge of the regular season – a trip to New Prairie to take on a Cougar team that won their first two games by a combined 97-14. A win for the Niners will shoot them back up the rankings.

#5.
VALPARAISO VIKINGS
0-2

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LAST WEEK: #3

The bad news is that the Vikings are 0-2, which is the opposite of what they expected. The good news is that with seven games remaining, there’s time to salvage the season. The bad news, they’ll have to salvage it against the DAC part of the schedule. The good news, Mishawaka and Penn aren’t in the Duneland – but LaPorte is, and they’re also 0-2, so something’s gotta give come Friday. With a trip to Ames Field on the docket for next week, Valpo needs to win in week three, period.

#4.
WHITING OILERS
2-0

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LAST WEEK: #5

We keep saying the Oilers are big, strong and fast – and they keep making us look like we know what we’re talking about. The dominant win over Griffith serves notice to any and all doubters that this Whiting team is for real. This week it’s the second Saturday night special of the season for the Oilers, who get an early season test against fellow Top 10er Boone Grove – a game that will be played at Valparaiso High School. Saturday night lights – can we do this every week?

#3.
LOWELL RED DEVILS
1-1

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LAST WEEK: #2

The Devils lost a heart breaker to Portage late on Friday and break even with the DAC, rather than sweep it. Starting QB Ethan Igras is out with an injury, so Lowell’s going to have to find ways to score – as in points from the defense and special teams will need to happen. Replacing the tangibles is one thing, replacing the intangibles in another. Football is about adversity, so let’s see how they respond against Morton and beyond. History says they’ll overcome.

#2.
HOBART BRICKIES
2-0

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LAST WEEK: #4

Survive and advance. Just because it’s not tournament time, doesn’t mean the Brickies aren’t embracing the motto. With two one-point wins on the road against two Duneland teams, Craig Osika is living a charmed life through two games as a head coach. A real tough Culver Academies club comes to the land of bricks and mortar this week, so we’ll see if Hobart has just been lucky or if they’re actually good. We think it’s been some of both so far.

#1.
MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES
1-1

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LAST WEEK: #1

Seldom does a team fail to triumph yet stay at the top of the rankings. But the way we see it, the Wolves only got outscored on Friday, they didn’t get beat. What’s worth remembering is City’s performance against a nationally recognized football machine, not the outcome. The momentum from that performance will make the Wolves better…and they’re already #1 – by a mile.