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FOOTBALL: Home Improvement Week Seven Top 10 – 9/30/25

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

10. MORTON GOVERNORS (4-2)

LAST WEEK: 57-0 win at Calumet Christian

PREVIOUS RANKING: #10

NEXT WEEK: Hammond Central (0-6)

STATISTIC TO NOTE: This is Morton’s best start to a full season since 2019.

The Governors got the job done once again this past Saturday with their second consecutive shutout win, this time against Calumet Christian. After what was an up-and-down 2024, this year’s Morton team has almost matched the win total from last year. 

Say what you want about the recent matchups, but it must be noted that Morton has been tested in the earlier parts of the season. The two losses are a one-point defeat to #9 Chesterton and to Byron Center from Michigan, a team that is held with some of the best in the state.

Some tougher opponents are ahead, as the Govs will take on Hammond Central before a trip to the Brickyard in week eight.

9. CHESTERTON TROJANS (4-2)

LAST WEEK: 36-16 win at Portage

PREVIOUS RANKING: #9

NEXT WEEK: Lake Central (2-4)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Andrew Goveia, senior, running back

Chesterton’s bell-cow back is certainly in mid-season form, logging over 200 rushing yards on 35+ carries and three scores against the Portage Indians. These numbers are not out of the ordinary for Goveia, who is beginning to find his stride after a slower-than-usual start to 2025.

His play in the run game continues to make things easier for sophomore signal caller Hunter Boyd, who was efficient once again with over 100 yards and a score. Nearly half of those yards came from senior wideout Gus Wisch, who also found the end zone.

The marks the second straight 4-2 start to the season, highlighted by the first win over rival Valparaiso in a decade. Chesterton will ride the momentum back home against the Lake Central Indians, a team they squeaked out by a point last year.

8. HOBART BRICKIES (4-2)

LAST WEEK: 20-17 loss vs. Lowell

PREVIOUS RANKING: #4

NEXT WEEK: Hanover Central (3-3)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: Another letdown that may kiss the NCC race goodbye for the Brickies.

The standard at Hobart has and will always be high, given the program’s illustrious history. After last year’s three-way split for the conference crown, the plan was for the Brickies to take home the entire pie. After the first four games, that looked to be a real possibility. 

However, fast forward to week seven after two straight losses to Andrean and Lowell – with the latter coming on a back-and-forth game that ended with a time-expiring field goal by RDP. That was Hobart’s first loss to Lowell since 2021 and the first against the Red Devils at the Brickyard since 2017. It is a long season, but it’s safe to say that some momentum is needed after Hobart’s hot start – especially in a 4A Sectional that is up for grabs.

Hobart will need some help to accomplish their goal of winning at least a share of the NCC. The Brickies can move up the conference standings; however, in what may be another challenging matchup against the Hanover Central Wildcats.

7. MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES (4-2)

LAST WEEK: 37-17 win at Lake Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #8

NEXT WEEK: Portage (0-6)

SIX WEEKS IN, WHAT IS TO SAY?: This team has learned how to win when games are down to the wire.

The story of the 2024 Michigan City Wolves was a team with loads of talent whose record did not tell the full story. Multiple games, five to be exact, were lost within a seven-point window. Fast forward a year, and this team has flipped the script.

City is 1-0 in the single-score games, but has had two others that were notably played close for three quarters until a switch was mysteriously flipped. A few weeks ago, the Wolves turned a 7-7 halftime score into a 30-13 win over the #9 Chesterton Trojans. Then, this past Friday, Lake Central made things interesting by bringing the score to 20-17 in favor of City. The Wolves then responded with a 17-0 final frame to spoil the Tribe’s Homecoming. Believe it or not, this is City’s best start to a full season since 2018.

Senior QB Trinaston Hart had four total touchdowns and, most importantly, zero turnovers. He led the team in rushing, highlighted by a lengthy touchdown dash that put the game well out of harm’s way. The Wolves hope to continue to roll against the winless Portage Indians.

6. GRIFFITH PANTHERS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: 44-8 win over East Chicago Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #7

NEXT WEEK: West Side (2-3)

UNIT TO HIGHLIGHT?: The Griffith defense.

Despite the record, the Griffith defense had a real test facing East Chicago Central’s Derion Morris, the area’s top rusher by a wide margin. Morris, who has not had a game under 151 rushing yards, was held to just 45 rushing yards on 14 carries and did not find the end zone for the first time in a game this fall.

The Panthers certainly won the rushing attack battle, as school history was made with a 99-yard touchdown from Desmond Neylon. The Lake Central transfer has had an immediate impact on what is an offensive group that has been as multidimensional as they come.

Next up for one of the three unbeatens in the GSSC South Division are the West Side Cougars – a team that did play Wheeler fairly well.

5. WHEELER BEARCATS (5-0)

LAST WEEK: 42-26 win at West Side

PREVIOUS RANKING: #6

NEXT WEEK: Calumet (5-1)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Levi Murray, sophomore, running back

Last year, Jaydin Ortiz, an All-Area honorable mention, was the man accompanying the Bearcat signal caller. Behind him was then-freshman Levi Murray. One year later, the new lead back for the Bearcats has been exceptional, having his best game of the season in the closer-than-usual victory over West Side. Murray had a season high in carries (34), rushing yards (248), and touchdowns (4). 

Murray, who was far and away the most productive piece offensively in the week six win at West Side, has raised his season totals to 744 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, 7.4 yards per carry, and 148.8 yards per game. Wheeler’s ability to replace lost talent from last year has not gone unnoticed.

The Bearcats do hope to improve in some areas, as this game was much closer than what we have seen in the first four weeks of the year. They especially will have to gear up for what could very well be a top ten team, as they take on division unbeaten Calumet in a very intriguing game.

4. LOWELL RED DEVILS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: 20-17 win at Hobart

PREVIOUS RANKING: #5

NEXT WEEK: at Kankakee Valley (0-6)

STATISTIC TO NOTE: This was the first time Lowell has won at the Brickyard since 2017 – five games to be exact.

Sometimes you have to win ugly, which is exactly what Lowell did at the Brickyard this past Friday. Despite giving the ball away three times and only logging just north of 200 total yards of offense, Lowell went into a place where success was recently tough to come by and came out on top – the biggest win of first-year head coach Casey McKim’s time with the Red Devils.

Brody Kalwinski, despite throwing three interceptions, hung in there and ran for a game-high 79 yards and a score. Tymothy James added 70 yards. Defensively, this is a stout unit, as budding sophomore stud John Judd led the way with 12 tackles. State Champion wrestler and fellow sophomore Kameron Hazelett had 11 tackles, including a forced fumble. The unit matched Hobart’s takeaway total and required some heroics from junior kicker Dylan Bisacchi, as he went 2-2 on field goals, including the game-winner as time expired.

Lowell, who is tied with Andrean at the top of the NCC, will not see them until week nine. Until then, RDP will gear up for a date against Kankakee Valley this Friday.

3. ANDREAN 59ERS (5-1)

LAST WEEK: won 52-13 at Highland

PREVIOUS RANKING: #3

NEXT WEEK: at Angola (3-3)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Christian Gavin, senior, defensive end

One of the top players that have found a change of scenery is Andrean’s Christian Gavin, as he has played a large part in why the Niner defense may be one of the best in the class. The former Lake Central Indians had a whopping six tackles for loss, two sacks, and a game-high 13 total tackles in the win at Highland.

Despite giving up 41 points in the opening loss to Merrillville, Andrean is only allowing 12.7 points a night, a number that was 13.3 last year after three straight shutout wins in the sectional. This defense just may be even better, and it is hard to say that the new addition on the edge hasn’t led to some of this. 

Sophomore QB Dylan Gore deserves some praise, completing 16 of 18 passes for 202 yards and three scores. He added 31 yards on the ground. Fellow QB Brady Elish had 122 rushing yards and two scores. Next up for the #4 team in 2A is a new opponent in the Angola Hornets.

2. MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (4-2)

 LAST WEEK: won 38-0 vs. LaPorte

PREVIOUS RANKING: #2

NEXT WEEK: at Valparaiso (1-5)

STATISTIC TO NOTE: The Pirates are a combined 40-4 at home since the beginning of the 2019 season.

There is no place like home. The Pirates play in what is always an exciting environment at Demaree Stadium, stacking itself up with one of the top home-field advantages in the area. Whether it is the track-less facility or the sky-piercing bleachers, it is tough to go into the Purple Palace and walk out with a win. 

The LaPorte Slicers tried and failed this past Friday, as Merrillville has continued its impressive stretch of games since the two-game skid in weeks two and three. Cameron Jordan was the star offensively, scoring three times in the win. The defense pitched its first shutout of the season, lowering its points allowed per-game total to a respectable 16.7.

The #6 team in the post-week six class ranking will head out to a potential Regional opponent in Valparaiso. Although these games have been close in recent history, it is hard to go against the Pirates against the local 5A opponents.

1. CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (6-0)

LAST WEEK: 35-14 win over Valparaiso

PREVIOUS RANKING: #1

NEXT WEEK: LaPorte (2-4)

PLAYER TO HIGHLIGHT: Dom Fantin, senior, safety

The County Seat Trophy once again remains in the hands of Crown Point, as they handily defeated the sputtering Valparaiso Vikings, 35-14. Part of the reason that led to that conference win was the play of Dom Fantin, who picked off Valpo’s Kellan Hosek three times. Fantin, who has offers from Valparaiso, Saint Francis, Butler, and others, is one of the multiple three-year starters on that defensive side, a unit that forced a school record seven interceptions and eight total turnovers.

A group that certainly appreciates those eight turnovers is the CP offense, a group that was led by Max Gurnic with three touchdowns and 140 yards on the ground. For those keeping track, this is now the 33rd straight regular-season victory and the 26th straight in the conference.

The goal remains the same for the DAC’s lone unbeaten, as the Bulldogs control their fate for a fourth straight outright title. Next up, CP is back for Homecoming against the LaPorte Slicers.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

CALUMET WARRIORS (5-1)

LAKE STATION EAGLES (5-1)

HANOVER CENTRAL WILDCATS (3-3)

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