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FOOTBALL: Home Improvement Week Five Top 10 – 9/16/25

Check out our Home Improvement Week Five Top Ten! This list is presented by Eenigenburg Exteriors.

10. CHESTERTON TROJANS (2-2)

LAST WEEK: 34-14 win vs. LaPorte

PREVIOUS RANKING: Outside looking in

NEXT WEEK: #9 Valparaiso (1-3) 

UNIT TO HIGHLIGHT LAST WEEK?: The Chesterton defense.

In what was on the sloppier side of games, the Chesterton defense forced more mistakes than the LaPorte Slicer to the tune of three takeaways. Senior LB Lucas Anderson had his best game of the season if not his career, racking up a team-high eight tackles with four behind the line of scrimmage. Anderson also had two sacks, a fumble recovery, and a pick-six in the third quarter. The defense as a unit had five sacks, with two more coming from Colin Kellogg. 

Hunter Boyd is also continuing to improve, going 8 of 12 for 113 yards and two scores. Seniors Gus Wisch and Louis Raffin each scored through the air. Andrew Goveia also found the end zone, rushing for 81 yards on 26 carries.

The Trojans hope to stay in the top ten with a win against rival Valparaiso, a team they have lost to in the last 14 meetings, including two in the 2024 season by a combined total of nine points.

9. VALPARAISO VIKINGS (1-3)

LAST WEEK: 27-21 loss vs. Michigan City

PREVIOUS RANKING: #5

NEXT WEEK: at #10 Chesterton (2-2)

STATISTIC TO NOTE: This is Valparaiso’s worst start record-wise since 2014.

Some change has been evident with the Valparaiso Vikings. Although on paper, the schedule has been very difficult, last week’s loss against Michigan City may have come as a shock to some. 

The running game was nonexistent once again, with only 72 yards on a 3-yard-per-carry average. Those are numbers that rarely reach those lows at Valpo. The new-look offensive line and backfield may lead to that, but those are marks that are hoped to improve, given the recent performance against a sectional opponent. 

Kellan Hosek played well once again, going 21 of 35 with 242 yards and three scores. The new-look receiver room has been a pleasant surprise, as Jimmy Parisi grabbed a game-high eight passes for 115 yards and two scores. Chase Lovig added to the production with five catches for 93 yards and a score. 

The Vikings will now turn to another sectional opponent, as they will be on the road against rival Chesterton. In both games last year, Valparaiso squeaked by, with one of them coming in the Sectional Championship round.

8. GRIFFITH PANTHERS (3-1)

LAST WEEK: 49-0 win at Boone Grove

PREVIOUS RANKING: #9

NEXT WEEK: River Forest (1-3)

WHAT’S TO SAY AFTER LAST WEEK’S WIN?: Are you even surprised?

It may be hard to believe that the Panthers were not going to come out guns-a-blazing after their head-scratching loss to Lowell at the Boneyard in week three. Now, with conference play ahead of them, the Panthers are back in focus on getting to the top of the GSSC.

The expectation may be the same for head coach Phil Mason and his squad, as after three NCC games to begin the year, things just get easier for the Panthers before tournament play. The Panthers take on River Forest at the start of what is a three-game home streak. This stretch alone may be crucial in building up momentum for matchups at Calumet and Wheeler in weeks eight and nine.

7. LOWELL RED DEVILS (3-1)

LAST WEEK: 35-20 win at Hanover Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #8

NEXT WEEK: Highland (2-2)

STATISTIC TO NOTE?: Lowell’s 3-1 start is the program’s best since the 2020 season.

The Red Devils got the job done against a Hanover Central team that immediately made their presence felt in the NCC. RDP avenged its back-to-back losses against the Wildcats with another impressive showing. The team crossed the 200-yard mark on the ground again, led by QB Brody Kalwinski and RB Tymothy James, who each scored. Zak Scharnke reeled in an 81-yard score for his lone catch of the ballgame.

The defense has been solid as well, led by Lincoln Schneider’s game-high 13 tackles against the Wildcats, with three coming for a loss. The group is senior-led, with other pieces like Scharnke, Malachi Goodall, and Max Arredondo holding down the fort. 

First-year head coach Casey McKim may have something brewing. McKim and company will now get ready for Highland, a team they have not lost to since the 2001 season.

6. WHEELER BEARCATS (4-0)

LAST WEEK: 52-0 win at Bishop Noll

PREVIOUS RANKING: #6

NEXT WEEK: Boone Grove (1-3)

WHY ARE THEY STILL AT SIX?: A much more challenging schedule awaits.

There is no way to dance around it; Wheeler has been surprisingly dominating teams to begin the year. Despite graduating key names, this team has looked as if the gains have outweighed the losses through the first four games. After its 52-0 win over Noll, Wheeler has now outscored opponents 186 to 7. Yes, you read that correctly.

However, the combined team record of Wheeler’s four wins is 3-13. The Bearcats first play a team with a winning record in week six against West Side, who were just shutout by a common opponent in River Forest – a team the Bearcats defeated 49-0. Much more will be told about Wheeler in the latter half of the season, but it is still hard not to give out flowers.

Logan Fox went a perfect 11-11 with 253 yards, while sophomore running back Levi Murray scored on nearly half of his carries with five touchdowns and 115 yards on the ground. Next up is Boone Grove, which is another team that is struggling in the early parts of 2025.

5. MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES (3-1)

LAST WEEK: 27-21 win at #5 Valparaiso

PREVIOUS RANKING: #7

NEXT WEEK: #3 Merrillville (2-2)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Zaire McKinney, senior, wide receiver

One name was called a lot throughout Michigan City’s 27-21 win at Viking Field. Zaire McKinney, one of the area’s top receiver yardage-wise, brought in seven passes for 162 yards and two scores – including what ultimately was the decider in the final frame. The two-sport athlete adds to the narrative of how much of a matchup nightmare he is. McKinney swiped 41 bags for the Wolves this past baseball season. Standing at a 6’3 frame, cornerbacks beware.

His running mate, Trinaston Hart, had a great night under center after a lax performance the previous Friday, completing 16 of 24 passes for 293 yards and three total TDs. The defense played well, racking up 13 TFLs, led by seniors Zay Gipson and Ethan Buskirk.

Another test awaits the Michigan City Wolves, as they will now gear up for the Merrillville Pirates, a team that does have a strong secondary that may lead to an intriguing matchup with playmakers like McKinney and junior Meek Laurent.

4. ANDREAN 59ERS (3-1)

LAST WEEK: 21-7 win at Munster

PREVIOUS RANKING: #4

NEXT WEEK: #2 Hobart (4-0)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: Another grind-it-out victory for the Niners. 

Despite what was a closer score than what people may have anticipated, the game script against Munster was very similar to Andrean’s week two victory against Bishop Luers: pound the rock, play good defense, and still offer a threat through the air.

Ethan Reyna was nearly unstoppable in the backfield, logging 25 carries for 224 rushing yards and a 9.0 yards per carry average and a score. As a team, Andrean ran for 289 yards and an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Gavin Jones caught a 36-yard score from Brady Elish, while Tyler Vo led the way with 59 receiving yards. Elish went 10 of 13 for 126 yards. 

The defensive line tandem between Christian Gavin and Landen Murray both had a tackle for loss and were #1 and #2 in the team lead in total tackles last Friday. Not counting the week one loss at Merrillville, Andrean has allowed eight or fewer points in its three victories.

NCC supremacy is on the line at the Holy Lands this Friday, as Andrean hopes to avenge last year’s OT loss at the Brickyard with a date against the #2 Hobart Brickies.

3. MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (2-2)

 LAST WEEK: 44-23 win over Portage

PREVIOUS RANKING: #3

NEXT WEEK: at #5 Michigan City (3-1)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: A get-back game for the Pirates.

The 1-2 overall record for Merrillville was certainly unfamiliar territory, despite the uber-difficult opponents they challenged themselves with to begin the year. Now, although the Pirates need some help to get back in the DAC race, this team plans to go on a roll in preparation for the tournament. Last Friday was the first step to reaching that goal.

Merrillville jumped out to a quick 17-3 lead over the Portage Indians and never looked back. Michael Hill and Cameron Jordan made some splash plays offensively, while the Pirate defense responded well with eight tackles for loss and three forced turnovers. Quran Moore was the star on that side of the ball with 10 total tackles, a sack, a fumble caused, and a fumble recovered.

Momentum will hopefully be kept against a very tough Michigan City team at Ames Field. These two played it close last year with a 14-12 Merrillville victory. The Pirates have won the previous five meetings against the Wolves.

 

2. HOBART BRICKIES (4-0)

LAST WEEK: 40-7 win at Kankakee Valley

PREVIOUS RANKING: #2

NEXT WEEK: at #4 Andrean (3-1)

NUMBERS TO NOTE: 38.3, 9.5

It has been a start to remember for Hobart, who has gotten off to its first 4-0 start since 2018 and has done so by averaging those two numbers listed above in the points for and points against categories. Those marks most often lead to wins. Moving forward, however, things will get a bit more challenging – starting as early as next week.

Hobart’s four victories have a combined record of 2-14. While you have to play who is on your schedule, that win-to-loss ratio is not a promising one if you care about the “strength of record” for the Brickies. They will take on a team this Friday that already has more wins than Hobart’s first four opponents combined in the Andrean 59ers.

This will be quite the test for the Hobart Brickies, as this may be a game that ultimately decides who gets at least a share of the NCC title. This game was an instant classic last year at the Brickyard, as the Brickies walked away with an overtime victory over Andrean. While those numbers listed above may be tough to obtain in this one, the Brickies certainly have a recipe that could lead to spoiling the party at Father Eckert Field.

1. CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (4-0)

LAST WEEK: 42-0 win at Lake Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #1

NEXT WEEK: at Portage (0-4)

PLAYER TO HIGHLIGHT: Caydon Smith, senior, wide receiver

There always seems to be a new name that shines every week for the Crown Point Bulldogs. This week was Caydon Smith, who found pay dirt twice in what was another big win for Crown Point. 

All three phases were on point for CP, as Griffin VanTichelt got the party started with what was a school record 92-yard punt return for a touchdown. The defense put together another sweltering performance, pitching their second full-game shutout of the year. Finally, the two-quarterback system has worked well for the Bulldogs, as Tyce Custy and Cooper Malaski have continued to flash when called upon.

Crown Point will gear up for what will be its fourth road game in five weeks with a trip to Portage.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

MORTON GOVERNORS (2-2)

CALUMET WARRIORS (3-1)

RIVER FOREST INGOTS (2-2)

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