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FOOTBALL: Home Improvement Week Eight Top 10 – 10/7/25

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

10. MORTON GOVERNORS (5-2)

LAST WEEK: 76-0 win over Hammond Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #10

NEXT WEEK: at #8 Hobart (5-2)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: A third straight convincing shutout victory for the Govs.

This one felt personal, as the Morton Governors took care of some business against their cross-city rivals in the Hammond Central Wolves. Morton has been on a tear, regardless of their opponents, winning their last three games by a combined score of 195 to nothing. 

That being said, Morton will shift its focus to a huge road test against Hobart – a team that has more wins (5) than Morton’s previous three opponents. Although the Governors have been rolling through this part of their schedule, they may now have to adjust to a team that is certainly planning to make things difficult for four quarters. Long story short, Friday’s game at Hobart will tell a lot about Morton, as they hope to follow suit with last year’s 61-58 win over the Brickies.

9. CHESTERTON TROJANS (5-2)

LAST WEEK: 27-6 win over Lake Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #9

NEXT WEEK: #1 Crown Point (6-0)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Louis Raffin, senior, wide receiver

Looking at last year’s Chesterton offense in comparison to this year, it is night and day. Yes, the team suffered some injuries that resulted in the one-dimensional approach. However, the Trojan offense of 2025 is too exciting to not mention.

A big piece of sophomore QB Hunter Boyd’s development has been Louis Raffin, who had quite the evening last Friday. The senior pass catcher had some timely catches, including a 65-yard score. Despite only 76 yards from Andrew Goveia, Boyd and Raffin connected seven times for 169 yards – numbers that would have been out of the ordinary for 2024’s standards.

Coming off a three-game winning streak, the Trojans will face unbeaten Crown Point at home. If the Trojans can continue their impressive play, a win against Crown Point would tie things up at the top of the Duneland standings.

8. HOBART BRICKIES (5-2)

LAST WEEK: 42-23 win at Hanover Central

PREVIOUS RANKING: #8

NEXT WEEK: #10 Morton (5-2)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: A much-needed bounce-back victory for the Hobart Brickies.

Hobart traveled to an always-testy Hanover Central team that was certainly winning the momentum battle come gameday. Despite that, the Brickies returned to form to snap out of the two-game skid.

The damage was done on the ground and with the defense. Junior QB Aleks Tatum, despite a 9 of 23 clip through the air, he ran for a game-high 105 yards and accounted for four total scores. As a team, Hobart averaged 6.2 yards per carry and 230 yards overall. Miles White, a sophomore, found the end zone and added 73 yards. Hobart’s defense also picked off Hanover’s Wyatt Tewell three times.

A much-anticipated top ten out-of-conference matchup awaits at the Brickyard, as Hobart will face a Morton team that they lost to in a shootout a season ago. The Brickies have fallen in their two biggest tests of the season, so many would hope that third time is the charm.

7. MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES (5-2)

LAST WEEK: 43-3 win over Portage

PREVIOUS RANKING: #7

NEXT WEEK: at LaPorte (2-5)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK: Big plays galore, while the stars performed as usual.

The Michigan City offense is one for the explosive plays, as the group averaged 10.6 yards per carry and 24.5 yards per completion in the win against Portage. Trin Hart needed just 13 completions for 319 passing yards and five touchdowns. Leading receiver Zaire McKinney brought in six of those completions for 151 and three more scores to his name.

City’s defense did the job as well, led by Ethan Buskirk’s 17-tackle evening, which included four tackles for loss, an interception, and a sack. The group forced five takeaways, also highlighted by two interceptions from Isaiah Smoot.

The Wolves will take on rival LaPorte, as City sits in second place in the conference with its lone loss coming to Merrillville. A win at LaPorte sets them up with a chance to win a share of the conference crown.

6. GRIFFITH PANTHERS (6-1)

LAST WEEK: 49-12 win vs. West Side

PREVIOUS RANKING: #6

NEXT WEEK: at Calumet (5-2)

STATISTIC TO NOTE?: In all six of Griffith’s wins, they have scored at least 44 points or more.

If you want to stand a chance with the Griffith Panthers, we can say that things may start with keeping them off the scoreboard, which is much easier said than done. Griffith’s recent win was led by Ryan Buillon in a game that featured much more damage through the air.

On the other side, the Panther defense held its own against a West Side passing attack that notably gave Wheeler fits a week before. Griffith only allowed West Side’s Marcell Dixon to complete 5 of 17 passes for 60 yards, including an interception.

Griffith will now face its biggest challenge since its week three loss to Lowell, as it will begin a two-game road trip against the Calumet Warriors. We can only wait and see how much the Panthers have improved since that early-season defeat to the Red Devils.

5. WHEELER BEARCATS (6-0)

LAST WEEK: 21-16 win vs. Calumet

PREVIOUS RANKING: #5

NEXT WEEK: at Whiting (2-5)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Levi Murray, sophomore, running back

It is safe to say that Levi Murray has found his stride in the Wheeler offense, as the sophomore has scored 12 touchdowns and run for over 600 yards over the course of the past three weeks. During a time when the passing attack has struggled, Murray has been a pleasant surprise in his first season as the full-time tailback.

Looking back at last week, Wheeler trailed 16 to 7 entering the final frame. Murray would punch in two of his three scores, including the game-winner with over two minutes left, to send the Bearcat faithful happy. Wheeler, who ran through opponents in the first chunk of the season, has shown that they can win the close ones too.

The best brand of Wheeler football may still be something we have not seen yet. Levi Murray and company will hope to get back to the early-season domination this Friday at Whiting. 

4. LOWELL RED DEVILS (6-1)

LAST WEEK: 56-14 win at Kankakee Valley

PREVIOUS RANKING: #4

NEXT WEEK: Munster (2-5)

GROUP TO NOTE: The Lowell rushing attack.

While we have seen some good in the passing game with the Red Devils, this team still hangs its hat on pounding the rock. They did just that against the Kankakee Valley Kougars.

In the win at KV, Lowell averaged 15.3 yards per carry and 322 yards overall. Sophomore Tymothy James led the way with nine carries for 172 yards and two scores. Much respect goes to not only the six different ball carriers, but also the unit up front. 

The Red Devils now sit with a 5-0 record in the conference. If Lowell beats Munster this Friday, it sets up a potential NCC Championship game at the Inferno against #3 Andrean.

 

3. ANDREAN 59ERS (6-1)

LAST WEEK: 35-7 win at Angola 

PREVIOUS RANKING: #3

NEXT WEEK: Hanover Central (3-4)

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK?: A team that is getting acclimated to long bus rides and (hopefully) rewarding results.

The Niners took on a new opponent in the Angola Hornets, which required roughly a two-and-a-half-hour ride to Northeast Indiana. Despite the lengthy travel, Andrean made the most of its trip with another solid victory.

Andrean’s defense did not give up a score until the final frame, while the offense did its job. Most importantly, a trip like this may simulate something that Andrean may have to deal with later in the season, as the sights are set high on a deep 2A tournament run. With wins in the tournament come lengthy bus rides – a factor that can easily be a disadvantage.

The 59ers will be back at home to take on the Hanover Central Wildcats. Similarly to what was said before, a win over Hanover Central puts Andrean in a potential winner-take-all position for an NCC crown they split three ways a season ago. 

2. MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (5-2)

 LAST WEEK: 48-21 win at Valparaiso

PREVIOUS RANKING: #2

NEXT WEEK: at Lake Central (2-5)

PLAYER TO NOTE: Michael Hill Jr., junior, quarterback

Arguably, the top quarterback in the area has been Merrillville’s Michael Hill Jr., and he may just have a case for the top offensive player in NWI. The Pirate signal caller had his top game of the season against Valparaiso, accounting for six touchdowns and 586 yards of offense. Hill threw for a season-high 345 yards, as well as rushing for a season-best mark of 241. Not a bad Friday night by any means.

Hill has now crossed the 2,000-yard passing mark this year, while throwing 20 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. Off of his big game against Valpo, he sits at 495 yards on the ground and an additional five scores. To keep it all brief, the Pirates have a dude under center.

We shall only wait and see how this Merrillville team performs in week eight, as they will be on the road to take on the Lake Central Indians.

1. CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (7-0)

LAST WEEK: 42-7 win vs. LaPorte

PREVIOUS RANKING: #1

NEXT WEEK: at #9 Chesterton (5-2)

WHAT IS AT STAKE THIS FRIDAY?: Win = at least a share of fourth consecutive DAC title.

Crown Point had an eventful homecoming game after getting out to a big lead early against the LaPorte Slicers. After a 35-0 halftime lead, it was smooth sailing there. QBs of Crown Point reportedly completed 13 of 15 passes for 318 yards and four scores.

The Bulldogs will now be on the road against a team that has been playing very well over the past few weeks with the #9 Chesterton Trojans. That said, this will not be a walk in the park. Chesterton has the same number of wins (5) as Crown Point’s previous four opponents. If the Bulldogs walk away with a victory, a piece of the conference title would be theirs, as it would be another chapter of what has been a very impressive run in one of the state’s best conferences

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

CALUMET WARRIORS (5-2)

LAKE STATION EAGLES (5-2)

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