Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are, however you may be listening. Thanks for tuning in to the Get Indiana Podcast Network. My name is Dominic Miranda and I've been covering sports for nearly a decade. Most of which right here in Indianapolis. This is the Get In Sports Podcast. We're going to be covering everything in the Hooser State, high school, college, pro, in the sports capital of the universe in the greatest state on planet Earth.
Thanks so much for coming on this journey with us. Let's get into it. On today's episode of Get In Sports, our second repeat guest on the show, friend of the program, sports star extraordinaire Greg Rickstro for a little high school football check-in mid-season. We're five weeks through. I can't believe it. We're moving right along this football season.
Greg, you're still as excited as when you we started this thing. Always. Uh I'm more excited about the change in weather. Yes. Now, it wasn't the best for my golfing outing yesterday. I was kind of that guy that was whining about, okay, not this chilly, not a 30° drop from Sunday to Monday.
But now I have to beg the question, if I'm the second repeat guest, who was the first? Matt Carol, former Purdue basketball player. Okay. Uh, on a popular dating show on ABC that has yet to air. I can't top that. Yeah.
Well, I think you would be a great fit on the dating show if you weren't, of course, happily married. Mrs. Rick Straw would probably think otherwise. Actually, someday I probably wouldn't. Come to think about it. She more more than me jumping on.
Yeah. Matt Carol came on, talked a little hoops, but uh we're we're in the thick of football, Greg. And uh we're going to get into the high school football stuff cuz I think it's been an awesome awesome season, especially in 6A. What we kind of forecasted before the year, but we're fresh off Sunday Night Football. All right, I got in at 8 last night after going to bed at 7:00 in the morning. It's on my mind.
There are few people I'm going to let Dom actually ask a question where I start stop asking him questions. I promise you at some point in time, he may be the only person that worked a crazier schedule than I did. So, you left Arrowhead at what time? Sunday night, Monday morning, Kansas City time. Kansas City time. Yeah.
I remember looking at my watch when I did my three takeaways at 1:30. We left about 15 minutes after that. Got back to the hotel about 2:15 East or Central. And your first live hit on channel 13 for the morning show was So, we did a look live for 4:00 a. m. Okay.
So, that was slamming that together. And then I just stayed awake for Colts wake up at what would have been 5:45. So again, Dom is stuck sitting next to me in the Colts press room on Wednesdays. This is actually we're we're actually have these conversations on a regular basis. We're just filming this one u you know for one of the first times. So you actually carried out with the I'm better off not sleeping.
Yes. Okay. I I I told cuz Sunday Night Football in 24 I believe in Minnesota. I did lay down and go to sleep for a couple hours and I woke up and I was like that was a terrible decision. So tired. So I so I see all of Dom's live hits on 13 after the game because because well the game was on and so hence I'm in the studio and I do have the flexibility on those late games of ending the local only hour a bit early.
So we're on the network until 1:30 a. m. We're out in Indianapolis on Fan and Hank until 2:30. As long as all the spots play, I'm given the flexibility to end the show early. But if we have people on the phone lines, we're going to get to them. Yeah.
And if we have interviews that Lara has grabbed or anybody else from, I'm going to play them. So, we did end the show early. A minute early. I went to break at 2:26 a. m. to end the show on Sunday night, Monday morning, and I was then up 5 hours later to take my daughter to North Central.
There you go. On Monday morning. So, yeah, I understand what you're going through. You get it. No, I thought it I thought it went well. Oh, we we were we went on quite a bit.
We had quite a game to talk about. And we did. That's what I want to talk about. All right. They're 0 and2. The Colts are 0 and2.
This defense has given up over a,000 yards of offense. I understand. Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes. Okay. Neither here nor there. 3330 overtime thriller.
You had a chance in regulation. You had a chance in overtime. Big picture or just the game, Greg. Colts two weeks in. What do we think? If you look at the Colts going into the season, should we be stunned that they have lost to both the Ravens and Kansas City?
Probably not. And I for I' I've lost track of exactly which year this was. I want to say 2014. I think the Colts open with like the Eagles and Jets or something like the first two weeks and we're like, "Hey, listen. You know, this may be the Colts might be 0 and2 and then they're going to like almost win out." They went 11 and five.
There you go. You know, and and so I'm not sure that's the case with this group. Maybe not. We shouldn't be stunned. They lost to both the Ravens and the Chiefs, right? Can we be flipping out about the fact that they've given up over a thousand yards?
Yes, we can. And I will borrow from a colleague of ours and Stephen Holder is having to catch this on Twitter uh before you and I sat down to have this conversation. It is fair to say some of those yards allowed because the Chiefs had two possessions in overtime. Yeah, 100%. That's fair. So, if you go with average yards per play the Colts defense is allowed this year, it is 7.
2. 32nd in the National Football League. Yeah. So, let's not get lost in semantics. The defense has been bad. Yes, they have played two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
That is a factual statement. U at the same time, the New Orleans Saints, who nobody expects anything out of this year, just held Lamar in his house to 17 points on Sunday and won the game. Correct. So, so again, it is I think the 0 and2 part maybe we shouldn't be freaking out about. And yes, Sunday night was much closer than was the game against the Ravens, but are we at defcon 1 or five, whichever one is the worst one about this Colts defense? Yes, that is that is a fair and accurate statement and and a fair way to feel.
Did anyone expect this to be a three-point game in overtime? The full length of overtime? Probably not. On the road, hostile environment. Mahomes definitely looks like Mahomes. It's the how rather than the what.
But you had a chance. Do you have any qualms with after the treadwell play in overtime, the run pass there? You know, you want to say, hey, you know, you just went for the jugular on the first play. Yeah. Keep your foot on the accelerator. I am also of the opinion of Shane's Shane's explanation afterwards was I wanted to get the ball in my best players hands more or less.
And and trust me, I am the first person as the first line of defense on this on the postgame show. I would I think if the if somehow Jonathan Taylor in most games would run the ball 48 times and the Colts had 45 offensive snaps, somehow for some people that wouldn't be enough. So, believe me, I get the phone calls all the time. They should have featured Jonathan Taylor more. So, I I I get it. I also would have understood if he had went for it on fourth and eighth.
Yeah. Just with the idea of there's three minutes to go in the game. Even if we make the field goal, I'm not sure we could stop that guy. No, I don't think he wanted to send his me that message to his own defense this early in the year. So, so I I understand hindsight is always 2020. Yeah, he probably should have thrown the ball, you know, on on first or second down.
I get it. But at the same time, when your logic is I want to put the ball in my best player's hands, unquestion, that's Jonathan Taylor. I get that, too. We had a great game. Yeah, correct. The 28 touches, 132 total yards.
Yeah. I mean, the 24-yard touchdown, the patience in which both his touchdown runs unraveled was prime Jonathan Taylor. I thought he performed great and giving it the ball to Jonathan Taylor, not a bad thing to do. No, I I didn't look at it from the point of view of if you go for it on fourth and fourth and four is one thing. Fourth and eight, I don't trust my defense to stop Patrick Mahomes. Let's go for the win here.
I didn't I didn't look at it from that way. But at the same time, it's funny because I feel like they weren't stopping them because they had over 500 yards of offense and 33 points, but there were moments in that game where they kept them in the game at the same time, right? Is that it was more death by a thousand cuts more than it was the huge just god awful chunk plays that the Ravens were getting on a regular basis. Yeah. So that I mean obviously disappointing. I don't think anyone's surprised losing to the Chiefs and Ravens, but it's the how for me that's very upsetting.
And then and then on top of that, you know, Alec Pierce goes out, Travarius Ward continues battle injuries. Sauce went in, he came or out, he came back in. The the depth is obviously in question as well. And we we had questions about the depth of this team, you know, kind of going into the regular season. And every every team spends the injury roulette every week, you know, and the difference in week one to week two, folks, going to get progressively worse for every team in the National Football League. It is a war of attrition.
That's just simply the way the game is played. But we will now learn about this football team the next 3 weeks because the Texans very good defensively, struggling on offense. Um, you know, the Commanders obviously now will not have Jaden Daniels when you go across the pond to play. Most teams immediately say, "Give us the buy after London. This is the second time the Colts, you got to go back 10 years from the last time that it happened." But they have said, "No, no, we'd rather have a buy later.
We will voluntarily play the week after at Pittsburgh." And again, they didn't know what they were going to get, but it's at Pittsburgh, who frankly isn't very good, right? But at the same time, it's a place that the Colts haven't won since 2008. And so, we will we will learn because none of those three offenses are what we think the Ravens are, right? And what we kind of know the Chiefs are, um, we will learn exactly where this defense is over the next three weeks. I Yeah, I certainly think it was better in some regard.
I don't know if Colts fans probably. It could not have gotten worse. Let's be fair. I don't think Colts fans want to hear that because it was still not great. Um, and I think what they have more of a problem with is that despite everything that happened, despite the blown coverages and some missed tackles and personnel going in and out was you had the ball with what, a two minutes or less play in regulation. You had the ball knowing you needed a touchdown to win in overtime and you didn't.
And I think Kevin Bowen said it best on the fan is, you know, find a way was the mantra and it feels like they continually find a way to lose. Well, let's put it this way. I think a lot of us have looked at this year as it is a pass fail grade. Yeah, it is. You're you're a playoff team or not. Correct.
And even though I never covered him for whatever reason, I seem to quote Bill Parcels a lot. And that is you are what your record says you are. Yes. Uh it is 0 and2. And immediately as as you're talking about, you know, was the defense better? Yes.
Was it still an F? Yes. Right. There's not much difference if it's an F or an F minus. It's an F. You didn't get the job done.
Yeah. And that's exactly where this team is right now. So, yes, my eyeballs tell me Sunday night was better than the previous Sunday. But is it good enough right now? No. You still have a lot of ground to cover.
And the gift that keeps on giving, even though the Colts refuse to take it, is the AFC South. You are one game back of first. Yeah. In the AFC South. And to be blunt, if you are given the choice of, hey, you're going to go one and two in the first month of the year, what's the one you would choose? Houston.
It's the division game. So again, is everything great? Of course not. Is everything lost? Not yet. It's early in the season.
Not yet. We will have a if this does not go well this Sunday. Yeah, we are having a different conversation. It's crazy that week three it's as important as it is. Houston 0 and2 as well. I mean at home and then you go to London to Commanders without Jane Daniels.
You go to Pittsburgh who doesn't look great. It Yeah, it's important. I think we are burying the lead here though. Are you going to London? I'm not going to London unfortunately. Is Eli going to London?
Eli is not channel 13 will not be in London unfortunately. Isn't there like isn't like there's some like is Kier Simmons that's on the Today Show is like the international correspondent. Is he covering the game for you? We could get a national package. Martin Fletcher will be covering the game. Certainly.
Uh we can make something work there. despite my uh pleas there, it was not answered positively in that way. It's unfortunate, but that's okay. We'll get a much needed break. Mrs. Miranda quite happy about it.
I I will say about that, but uh yeah, just had to talk about the Colts because again, just just disappointing. Yep. Three winnable games, I would say. And we may have been the two last people talking about the Colts on Sunday night into Monday morning. Yes, that's correct. So, we get the right to open the show today by talking about that 100%.
And and again, as I continue to completely derail Dom's plans for a for a a a sequential conversation, did you listen to my advice on either Gates Barbecue or the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum while you're in Kansas City? Okay. As badly as I wanted to do both those things, we got in late on Saturday night and were spent. And the airport is not close to downtown. Well, it's out in the middle of a cornfield northeast of town. Well, and we drove.
Yeah. Even worse. Yeah. So, we drove. So if they went to the airport, it was they went the wrong direction if that was the case. So we were spent.
We had barbecue delivered by a three halves barbecue which was very good by the way. All Casey Barbecue. Um I did see Steven Holder visited the Negro League Museum which was awesome. I really want to get out there. We just didn't have time unfortunately. That is on our bucket list next time we go to Kansas City, which I hope is soon.
You know, maybe a playoff game in our future. We can hope, right? Um might need to stop a few people first. Yeah, we'll uh we won't hold our breath there. But uh yes, glad we opened up about the Colts. Greg, let's get into happier pursuits.
High school football in the state of Indiana. It has been a fantastic season. Truly player-wise, statswise, teams, storylines. It's been great. Let's get into the nitty-gritty. We will.
But what has most stuck out to you through five weeks in Indiana high school football that you've seen, how good Brownsburg is. Oh my word. And again, are are they unbeatable? No. Are they the clear favorite? Yes.
Yeah. This coming week is going to be their their last remaining regular season challenge. Yes. In terms of Westfield again, Brownsburg and kind of LN with them and and in other years you put Ben Davis in this mix. I just saw them for the first time. I was actually really impressed by Ben Davis.
They're two and three. Get to that in a matter of moments. The absolute toughest path you have to win 6A that that group that's in sectionals five and six. Yes. Because for example, Brownsburg could in theory and in consecutive weeks have to play Ben Davis, Lawrence North, Center Grover, Warren Central, Carmel, and Westfield. Yeah.
Insane. and and and and that's kind of what they've done and won the last two championships to put it mildly. So Brownsburg is tremendous. Sharp has been great. Unreal. Lewis is a kid who actually played more as a sophomore than as a junior.
He was kind of the victory cigard last year. He'd be the third running back and and rack up big yards in the fourth quarter. Well, now he's the guy. If you look at a position that has just been jaw-droppingly good this year, it's the running back position. Yeah. in the local area with with Lewis at Brownsburg, Lewis at Carmel.
Zay Moore has done as a senior even though he missed a little time uh for Lawrence North earlier this year. When Center Grove needs to win, they go back to the old school wing team and they run the football uh and have gotten that job done as well. But you got to start with Brownsburg. And I the other thing I would say is there are some really good teams who are like two and three because they've been beaten by other really good teams. Yes. Uh Carmel is of that mix having lost to Lawrence North for the first time.
hadn't played the last couple years, but their first loss to LN since 2016. LN has now rattled off four consecutive wins after losing to Brownsburg in week number one. Center Grove has found ways to win some games late at Carmel, trailing 10 nothing at Ben Davis, holding off an improving North Central team with Chase Grove having committed already as a junior to play at the University of Iowa. So, I was as giddy for this season. Yeah. As I was for kind of and knowing I get to focus on on the Mick and on 6A.
I was as giddy for this season as anyone that I have have had and it has delivered to this point. Yes. And I'm not trying to hit the fast forward button yet and get us into the playoffs, but the playoffs are going to be phenomenal because of again the way that teams are kind of spaced and and and laid out with really of that super six. The only two teams in the same sectional are Caramel and Westfield. Yeah. That that could see each other the first night, which would be October 30th if that's the case, which was a classic last season.
Yep. Was that the sectional final? That so that was I can't remember if the sectional final. No, it was the sectional semi-final maybe. No, it was the sectional final because I had I had LC and LN which was one on the fumble in the end zone by LC. Yep.
And then I had Westfield going forward on fourth down in overtime on trick plays to win the game. Those were my two 6A sectional games last year. Unbelievable. So that was the final last year. And then Westfield goes on to state, loses to Brownsburg again. And I think Josh Miracles lost like five games in his career and maybe three bits to Brownsburg or four.
It's unbelievable. But yeah, to your point about sectional, I mean, I remember when Ben Davis won in 23, I believe Brownsburg had a lead in that sectional, blew it. Ben Davis goes on to win state and then I think it flipped in 24. Correct. Where Ben Davis had a lead, Brownsburg came back. I mean, that sectional is brutal.
That is like a pivotal that that that that is the moment of the script where all of a sudden things change. Yeah. Because Brownsburg had had so many great regular seasons and had just not found a way through Avon or through Ben Davis. Yeah. And trailing against a Ben Davis team that was more of a 500 team. She'll have Mark Zachary.
Yeah. But that group was kind of a more of a 500ish group. And the fact that they found a way to overcome that, then they beat LN and comeback fashion the next week and it just kind of starts the ball rolling downhill. And and now 22 months later, we view Brownsburg football in a completely different light than we did the fall of 2024. Top 15 nationally is what I'm being told and what I'm reading. Caramel, three losses by a combined 13 points.
My math is correct. Two top five teams. Yeah. Yes. By four to Westfield, two to Center Grove, and seven to Lawrence North. I was at much of that game.
And Lawrence North impressed me the way they've kind of bounced back because Brownsburg obviously you you lose that first game and you're like okay maybe Lawrence North isn't in that league but all they've done is win and get better and they're also young other than prayer more sales you know guys have extensive varsity experience so I want to say they returned four defensive starters from last year and Manson was one of those and obviously he's been limited so far this year so you kind of have that ace in the hole that that that you know at some point in time you kind of get to play that hard. Um, and their sectional path is a little bit different this year. Pike has come into that group. Last year was Decator Central. They kind of got inserted there when Cathedral went back to 5A. So, their sectional is the all mix sectional.
It's the all north side of Indianapolis sectional. It's Pike, North Central, LC, and LN. And again, LNLC is a rivalry game. LN handily in week number three. LC had a nice bounce back against Pike last week. Pike has been down.
Pike, they're on their third quarterback of the season at this point. And I'm not sure and even though beat North Central and beat him up pretty good in week four, it's a North Central team that that hung with Center Grove last week and scored 42 on one of the best defenses in the state and Warren Central in week number three. So it's what I tell people about the Mick. You know, LC's won twice. They got a kid going to Texas A&M. North Central's one and four.
They got a kid that's committed to Iowa as a junior. And the receivers's good, too. And their all their receivers are good. Averett in the backfield is outstanding as well. So, uh, you know, again, the race is on for who the best league in in the state is between the Mick and the HCC. And getting to see the Mick every week.
I can tell you the depth of that league is just tremendous. It's been really nice to see how scrappy Ben Davis and North Central are. And again, I saw I had Ben Davis for the first time last week. They're playing Gabe Kennet who is a sophomore who played who played extensively as a freshman. Thing is, they actually run that kid a lot and he's 5'9 and a buck 55 in that neighborhood. Ben Davis doesn't have their typical size.
So, like for example, they have one defender above 225. Is that Tumor? Uh, no. Well, he he he plays like it's it's a hinting kid who really mobile up front. They've got some size at guard and center. Their tackles are like 220.
Uh, and so they really maybe don't run the ball as extensively as they would like to or have in years gone by, especially with a guy like Elijah Price that was seemingly there forever. They kind of ran with him in the back field for many years. Ben Davis is rapidly improving. Yeah, Warren won that game 258. That was a one-sore game into the fourth quarter. Ben Davis is going to be a tough outcome postseason.
100%. I visited with them before the season. And Brett Cooper, there's some I like him. I like there's just something about him. He's got it. He's got it figured out.
And I think his culture will be coming over at one of the most historic programs in the state of Indiana. Quickly on Brownsburg, 45 points they're averaging, holding defense, holding opposing offenses to just 11. They're just mowing everybody down, right? and and Brandon Sharp you knew was really good, but he has been electric. I don't know if you saw the play against Fisers this past week where I was kicking myself for not going to that game cuz you think, okay, they're going to roll Fischers pretty good, but he is a guy who I think is going to have trouble being kept off the field at IU. I mean, truly the guy that, and again, he is more of the Omar Cooper type.
You saw D'Von Chandler, another Ellen guy, score the touchdown against Western Kentucky. Yeah, he he is of that ilk, you know, not the most physically imposing guy, but a guy with speed and a guy that's played a whole lot of high school football because they have kept playing so far into the tournament. Yeah. Do you think he's leader in the clubhouse, Mr. Football right now? I think he can be again the running backs because they can accumulate so much yardage.
Now, if you default to the best player on the best team, he might be the guy. But again, the Lewis kid is going to get a lot of attention. Z Moore is gonna get a lot of attention uh from from LM because the numbers that that that he has has racked up. Yeah. Uh but yeah, Sharp Sharp should be in the conversation for sure. Z Moore is electric as well.
67 yardd run against Caramel. I had a chance to shoot. Was absolutely fantastic. Oscar Fry. I mean, my goodness. Don't put down your camera with Zay.
You think the play is over? No. just keep rolling for a few seconds because oftentimes that's what makes him because he's not the biggest dude by any stretch in the imagination, but he's not just a scatback or a speedback. He will power out of tackles and keep his legs moving. Yeah. Yeah.
It's impressive for a guy his size%. Uh I've noticed the past two weeks at least and maybe more, I'm not quite sure, Munchin Sales has been out. Have you What's What's the situation there? you know, he's been kind of dealing with some injuries and and um you know, hopefully he'll be back sooner rather than later. So, I have not had I have LN again next week when they play Warren Central, which should be a a fantastic game. Uh and and to me, that's what makes LN what they have done all the more impressive because when and they had a game where both he and Moore were out against North Central, they put up 56.
You go, okay, all right, there's there's something here. Um, and so I think that young group is developing and again their LN schedule is is I wouldn't say backloaded because they play so many good teams at the course of the year, but week seven and week eight for them are at Warren Central, home to Center Grove. Yeah, we'll learn a lot. We'll learn a lot. And again, those are games where you hope to see number one out there because he's probably going to be a little more needed in that one. Yeah.
How about a Ben Davis Warren Central Center Grove three-piece there for Lawrence North right here. I mean, that we're going to learn a lot about that. the the the the gauntlet stretch. I want to say Ben Davis Ben Davis goes they're in the middle of it now. So Ben Davis's order is Center Grove Warren LN Y at Caramel. Yes, that is absolutely Welcome to the Mick.
Yeah, welcome to the Mick. I love the Mick. I love watching the Mick. And you know, quickly on this number one versus number two matchup in 6A. So I mean theory the best two teams in the state of Indiana. They've played backto-back years in the state championship.
Correct. this game. Westfield just going about their business as well. I mean outscoring teams 40 to 15 on average. Granted, maybe a down Zensville, Noblesville, HSC, maybe not as good, but still just handing it to teams. Are they the defense has been what stuck out to me in the last two seasons?
But what makes Westfield so solid? Well, they graduated a lot off that defense last year and and so the fact they're still getting it done, we will get a much more accurate representation of where they are this week. Caramel obviously in week two there's no excuses needed for for that win 3834 there is a bigger gulf between the top end of the HCC and the back end versus say the Mick with maybe the exception of Pike maybe again injuries have just kind of ravaged what what they're able to do from an offensive standpoint we'll know exactly where Westfield is and again they also are the team that probably has the biggest game up first in their postseason path now if they were to get past Carmel yet again now we're have a for conversation because now the path opens up. Yeah. You know, Crown Point good, Penn good, Carol good, but not to the Indianapolis Central Indiana level of good. So, it's it's a bit of a different viewpoint.
And frankly, for for both of these teams, it is are be good enough to get back to these guys a second time, right? Um and and I'm not sure Westfield has a lot to prove. Brownsburg has even less, you know, less to prove at this point being the two-time defending state champs. I'm so excited for that game. Okay. When is the sectional draw?
So the sectional draw is October the 11th. Okay. So it is the Sunday before the regular season finale. Okay, man. And you're you're a big part of that. So I that is the one show I haven't been a part of because of of of Colts stuff, right, until this year.
Okay. So uh what I will do is I will do the postgame show because that's the Pittsburgh game. Okay. I'll do the postgame show until 6 and when the network portion signs off, I'll hand it off to Casey Valier. So, magically, I will appear at the 91st Marine offices of the IHSA at that point in time. Okay.
To then host the pairing show. Okay, that's exciting. I'm very excited for that. Okay, let's go. I just want to work our way down the classes here. See what you think.
Bloomington South has been a team that has been knocking on the door for the past few years under Gabe Johnson. Okay, then they run into New Pal and it, you know, it just gets tough. I'm looking at Bloomington South, Newal, and Cathedral. Top three there in class 5A. Playing fields in the mix. New Pal just beat Pendleton Heights.
What do you make of this class? New Pal, they dropped East Central. East Central looks like dominant. Sure. Coach Miners has done such a great job there. Uh what what sticks out to you about this class?
These three teams at the top uh really intrigue me. Cathedral has been has been very impressive after losing to Ben Davis. Yeah. In terms of going into Cincinnati and beating St. X terms of outlasting Chitaard, you know, New Pal. Frankly, I think the East Central result caught a lot of people by surprise.
And that's even acknowledging how good East Central is for sure each and every year. But Yorktown and Pendleton Heights have have played Newly tough games and that probably says more about Pendleton Heights and Yorktown than it does anything negative about New. You know, Bloomington South again, the path is a little bit different for them. And this year they are playing an independent schedule before they then fully shift over to a Hooser Hills Conference schedule. Got it. So that's interesting.
I think South is I think they're pretty good, but it's just a matter of, you know, will they have played anybody close to the magnitude of a new Por Cathedral by the time they get to them in the state tournament, right? So we'll learn a lot about them October 16th at Center Grove. Correct. And and and frankly, I expect them to get beat in that game and that's it's not a knock on them. That's just you know that you are you're hitting the fast forward button in terms of level of competition. New Pal's at a point where they're just a victim of their own standard.
Mhm. Right. I mean, it's just it's just ridiculous what Kyle Ralph has been able to do. I want to make sure I have this right. 159 and 15 in 14 years at the school. This may look like a down year for New Pal cuz they may finish with two losses.
You're right. I mean, how dare you lose? And I mean, and they've only lost one so far, folks. IMG is a bit of a diff different animal just that's coming in here, just so you know. Yeah, 100%. They got Ron Kali.
Um I'm really intrigued at New Pal again. See if they can do it again. Um I I I find it interesting that East Central held them to six points. I think that's what sticks out to me most about that game. Correct. Yeah.
And East Central can play keep away with you. East Central is the king of the 21 play 92 yard 10 and a half minute drive. I think they have had a ball for an entire quarter o over the years. That's what East Central does is just just grind you down. Um and so yeah, that that's what gets your attention. But again, to New Pal's credit, and again, this has not been a a a detrimental thing for them in the past because they may they haven't played the greatest schedule.
It hasn't mattered, right? This year, they do play a ridiculously difficult schedule. And remain a team that maybe isn't as good on the top end. Let's see if that actually pays dividends for them by the time they get to October and November. 100%. Again, just setting up for such an exciting state tournament time like Greg said, off the top.
Interesting. You mentioned Cathedral, who lost two games to start the season. that that Ben Davis win is aging nicely for Ben Davis. That's correct. They're going to be a tough out, right? Correct.
Young maybe undersized, but again, can't say enough good things about Brett Cooper. But Cathedral gets it done over Chitaard, Southport, and then they got three out of state opponents coming up. Trotwood Madison out of Ohio, Cumington Catholic out of Kentucky, and Akan Hoben. Correct. They also have Brigham Young East in there, too. Is that right?
Yeah. Okay. BYE. That's a buy. Brigham Young East. Okay.
I'm looking. I'm like, I can tell Dom was too young to cover Joe Tiller. God rest his soul. That was his favorite line was we got Brigham Young East coming up this week. BYE. Okay.
That's good stuff. That's good stuff. Um, okay. But I do want to talk about Chitaard. Dip down to class 4A here. Okay.
Danny Adams injured. Yep. That stinks. Yes, it does. I mean, that guy was going to be in contention for Mr. Football.
Sure. Um, and I think if he plays in that cathedral game, maybe not a different result, but a different complexion of the game, right? Um, they looked virtually unbeatable to begin the year. How does this change things? Well, again, I I think for them, um, you we've gone from not having many 4A teams in the indie area now having kind of two different 4A sectionals. Yeah.
So, Chitaard and Ron Kali are in different sectionals. Chitaard a one-sided victory 4214 against the Royals back in week number three. The big news for Roni is there's going to be a new quarterback for them by the end of the regular season. That's correct. With Jack Quillin, who kind of came up through the Ronali system. Yes.
been elected to go to Warren Central as a freshman, now is back and is sitting out his 30-day window and should be ready for the East Central game on October the 16th. Okay. Ron Kie has the easier path in Chitaard. Now, I expect Chitard to win their sectional, but there are tougher teams, frankly, in Chitard's sectional than there are in Ron Kie sectional, but those two are on a collision course to play each other in a regional game with the winner getting East Central. Wow. again who Ron Kie plays in week number nine.
Yeah. To kind of and that that is a that is the a wonderful thing that you know both teams needed a game almost 20 years ago scout each other and they try to sc every year as as best they can because East Central knows they have to travel to find competents not going to get it unless they go across the state line which they do a couple of times a year uh you know kind of in their own backyard. So um and frankly there's a couple of good teams in the Northern have to don't forget Bishop Dwinger is the defending 4A champs. I was just going to say and and beat Roni in the in overtime, what multiple overtimes in the week and East Noble is really good. Yeah. Uh and so those the teams talk about up north, but I would still think that of the likely duo of Chart and East Central, which could be an epic South Semi-state game.
Whoever wins that game would be the favorite in the state championship. You want to talk about tough schedules? Roni played Dwanganger to start the season. State championship rematch, three overtimes. That game went into overtime tied at zero. If you remember, they play Chitaard.
Okay. They got New Pal and East Central on the schedule as they're out of conference games. Looking like it doesn't look like a lot of teams there in the Circle City Conference. Am I right on that? So, this is the last year of the Circle City Conference. It's four teams and again, Burbuff and and Garen join the Who's Your Heritage Conference in with New Pal Greenfield.
Those guys next year. Got it. So, back. So, next year, Chitard and Roni full independence. Okay. That's interesting.
All right. So, class 4A East Central Chitaard. I I'm happy you mentioned East Noble because uh their coach has been doing really well. He hasn't been there too long. Three years at the school of 29 and three. Alex Stewart, right?
Battle play. That is correct. That is Alex Stewart. Got to mention out of the NLC Northridge having a good year. 5-0. Northwood maybe not so much, but we won't talk about that.
Class 3A. Okay. I came in this season. I I went to Tri West before the season. All right. Talked to uh Coach Ward, Jason Ward over there.
Jack Sorggy. Both of them said, "If we're not playing state championship weekend, this this season is a failure." Which is a crazy thing to say as a high school team, but I love it. Felt Indian Creek this past week. Indian Creek's 5-0. They also fell to Evansville Wrights, who's pretty dang good as well.
3A, there's not a ton of Indianapolis teams. I'm looking all the old indie 3A teams are now in 4A. Isn't that interesting? That's why 4A used to be kind of an indie area vacuum and now that's now those teams other than say Tri West have have kind of made that move. I think I think Garen is still three if I remember right. I believe you're right.
But Burbuff, Danville, Chitaard all now in 4A. Yeah. Okay. So I mean Evansville Memorial ranked first. What I mean what are you seeing or hearing in class 3A? This feels wide open to me.
It is absolutely wide open. Memorial is really good and Memorial via the success factor has been in 4A for quite some time. Got it. They have finally dropped down in the Evansville area. They are primarily playing 4A and 5A schools. Yep.
So Memorial is going to be one of the better teams. Gibson Southern and Heritage Hills have had these great runs. I think Heritage Hills has rotated back to 3A now. I think they're a couple of years or maybe this is their second year in 4A. Maybe they won't be in there. Those schools always get your attention.
My best bet would be from the area south of Indie. Memorial is likely the last team standing that would an Indianapolis area team would see at the semi-state level. Yeah, I think and you're right. Gibson Southern and Heritage Hills play this Friday actually. That should be a fun game. No question about it.
But I mean, Tri West, I'm interested because a lot of hype around Jack Sorggy. And again, I mean, regular season's regular season. You're playing tough teams. But I would be I would be shocked if they didn't get that they get far and I think they would be disappointed. And again, to prove the whole theory about 3A being wide open. Remember that neither of last year's 3A state finals participants are in 3A this year.
Lures up in 4A on the success factor. Cascade down on enrollment. Yeah. So the rare win a title and get I want to say demoted but they drop down to 2A. So that's part of the reason why 3A is so open this year. Cascade we talked about it when you came on before the season.
New new head coach chicken headach new head coach Nick Brickens. They lost to Danville week two but they've won every game since. You can't talk about 2A without talking about South Putinham in my opinion. I mean South Putinham moves up from class 1A and they are killing. They're demolishing people. Like we're talking 53-6 on average.
I have gotten the most DMs, emails, comments about South Putham just mowing everybody down. In fact, one guy told me their JV plays the second half of every game because they're so what what have you heard? I know ISC Matt Wisner text me all the time finals of North Putt and South putt games. He's like this I know this is your lead. South putt are can they contend in 2A? Absolutely they can.
I mean this is ridiculous. And I'm not sure there is all of that big of a gap from 1A 2A anymore. Um I you know and and you know 1A and 2A has had kind of been the domain of a lot of the parochial schools and Lutheran's going to be a factor in 2A and and Dave does a great job down there and heck they're playing a couple of 5A and 6A like Jeff in New Albany. Uh and they finished with Jeff I think uh you for the last game of of the regular season. You know both Lutheran and Cathedral are are actually off in week seven. I kind of go, man, you think about playing each other.
And and I get from Lutheran perspective. You're trying not to get kids hurt going to post. I But but they might be good enough for you to at least contemplate it to go, hey, maybe that's a possibility to play as well. Uh but no, South Putham is absolutely legit. And again, because they've got such extensive postseason experience, winning the 1A championship last year, losing at Providence the year before, they will be competitive in 2A. Now, again, I mentioned Cascade.
They're in the same sectional. That's crazy. After both winning state championships last year, and again, they were in the same league forever. They are not. South Putt is part of the Western Indiana Conference, frankly, now one of the smaller schools in that league, which is kind of what validates their results this year. They're they're beating a lot of 2A and 3A schools.
They're not playing a bunch of 1A teams. They're playing 2A and 3A. Cascade goes north now as part of the Monad Athletic Conference. Okay. So, so they know each other well even they don't see each other these days on the grid iron as often as they used to. That's interesting.
2A is another one that interests me. Brownstown Central, Lapel, Lutheran, Putnham, South Putham, East Side, all 5-0. So, Brownstown Central, Reed May's winning percentage is ridiculous. Like 840, 850. They finally made the state championship last year for the first time. Wow.
And and lost in in that game. Yes, they did. Um but but they're good every year. Lapel lost their all-time leading passer in Devin Craig and they're still out and dominating teams. And again, Lapel had been an independent for many years and now is playing in the new East Central Conference that is kind of the Shannondoa, Newcastle, that group and Lapel's tearing that group up too. Yeah, they are.
Uh, and so the Bulldogs will be a tough out too. Brownstown Central looks good. Reed May is 331 and 66. If you combine what he has done there and the basketball coach and David Benner has done there, remember the old movie Pleasantville? They didn't know what to do when they missed a shot. That's the folks in Brownstown.
Their teams win all the time. They have no idea what happens if they ever lose. That is so awesome. Lapel and Eastern Hancock uh next week, by the way. And those Royals are really good, too. Yeah, they are.
That's a That's going to be a top 10 battle in class 2A. Okay. 1A, I don't know much about, I'm going to be honest with you, Greg. Riverson Park, they're they're really good. They're 5-0. Pioneers 5-0.
North Judson's 5-0. Uh I've gotten a lot of comments about North Davies as well. That's team I used to cover over there. What what do you see? What have you been hearing about 1A? Because again, you know, it just seems like and Milin's 4-1.
Yep. So Springs Valley, I know Larry Bird's pumped. 4-1. So what do you think? You think Larry's aware of the football success? I think he's at every game.
Nor Davies again plays a lot of larger schools because there's that many a lot of the smaller schools around them don't field football teams. So they have to play larger competition. North Judson and Pioneer are in the same league. Wow. So that's a really good small schooly. The Hooser North Athletic Conference.
They play the last week of the season. Correct. Okay. And and so even though those schools are not that close to each other, they're probably about 40 50 minutes apart, I would say, if I have my geography correct, and have driven that that highway. O over the years, Pioneer is one of the schools that's good every year. Adam Barry does a does a remarkable job.
Obviously, North Jud made the state finals two years ago, got beat by Providence. So, there are kids that played deep into the into the postseason and kind of know what that's about. If I remember right, Riverton Park is actually, I think, in the southern half of the bracket. Okay. Even though they are north of Terraote. Yeah, that's interesting.
I could be wrong about that, but I think they I think they drop south. Okay. I think the per because again, so many of the smaller schools in southern Indiana simply don't play. And so, because of that, there's they they kind of get dropped in the brack a little bit. So RP opened the season by by beating Linton by three scores and this Linton team's down but but still really good every year. Traditionally a good school.
So So what you hear other than say a Pioneer is we have a lot of schools that we don't talk about that often. I know that are that are state and and Milin honestly made the semi-state last year but I think they beat Providence in the regional. They did and got beat by South Putham in the semi-ate and so Milin's been knocking on the door for a while too. Yeah, that's really interesting. And I just love the small school matchups. They all beat up on each other.
Worthy state champions when it's all said and done. All right, we went through the classes. Greg, this has been great. I just love I mean our and credit to those who are listening and watching and interacting on social media because our high school clips to this day, your clips in particular have done fantastic. Well, I have a lot of family members. So, thanks thanks to them all the rakes draws for uh for sharing on social media.
The love and passion for high school sports. I mean, we talked about it last time. It's just it's fantastic and I love shining a light on these teams. What I will leave you with is this. If I asked you to make a prognostication here that you feel most confident about in any one of these classes moving forward and looking ahead to state, what would it be? Wow.
Like biggest sure thing? Yeah. Or just something you are most confident in like Brownsburg's going to win a three repeat or you know Rivton Park's going to win a state championship. I don't know if it's that or a surprise team. I don't know. What do you think?
I will say this, the regional and semi-state matchups in the South and 6A, yeah, will be epic. Epic. Again, if if the fa if if the favorites hold serve, yeah, Brownsburg versus LN, Warren versus Center Grove. Oh my word. Now, Ben Davis would like to have something to say about that, I'm sure. Yes.
Uh Warren uniquely has a five team sectional. We've not had that before in 6A. and Decatur Central and Franklin Central a part of that and I think could could be a little more competitive than Warren's had the last couple of years. Um but again, if the favorites hold serve down south, you're talking about four of the top six teams in the state and you're kind of have that playoff just to get to Lucas Oil Stadium. Yeah. On Thanksgiving weekend, that's going to be mustsea TV.
It absolutely is. And I always find it fascinating. you know, Crown Point and Penn, you can throw Elcart in there looking like they're having an okay year from the north or Carol Fort Wayne Carol also having a good year and you know, they tested themselves against uh Center Grove if my memory is correct. Alabama South Eastern in week one, too. Yeah, they they come down and it's just seems like a different ball game. It is.
And that's why those schools realize and it's it's like graduate level. You want to be an AD, huh? All right. So, you got to balance. Do I take the the the closer game that probably has a better guaranteed ticket revenue? Yeah.
Knowing how much that funds athletic programs, right? Or do I send my team on the road or try to get a game against an Indianapolis school that maybe not isn't going to travel as well, but I know this makes me a better team come sectional, regional, semi-state. and and and the area that has I wouldn't say figured this out, but it's kind of acknowledged that conversation more than most has been Fort Wayne 100% where where Carol and Homestead and maybe to a lesser degree Snider have said, "Hey, we've got to kind of change how we do football in the Summit Athletic Conference because the bigger schools feel they can't compete with and the ones we're into first, the Hamilton County schools because they're going to see them in the regional round or the sometimes the sectional round tournament. We have to play these guys in the regular season to feel we have a chance against them in the postseason.
Yes. And so that's again 6A is a different animal in terms of athleticism, right? But it's also a different animal in terms of how you build your schedule, right? And in high school sports, we can talk about an Indianapolis dominance. Not in every sport, but the sport where where clearly is go you almost default to all right, who have you played? Yeah.
What level of speed and athleticism have you seen? Yeah. And typically that leads to, well, that team's from the Indie area probably going to be the favorite. Yeah. It's just the way football is right now. Yeah.
Because they they play it every week, correct? You're talking about the Mick. My My goodness. The speed of the game is completely different. Completely different. It is 100%.
You got D1 guys all over the place. And credit to Fort Wayne that that first week, at least three, if not more, Indie and Fort Wayne teams playing each other. Correct. And I love that. I I absolutely love it. It does.
And this is this is the last time this game will be played. It might be a one-off game. Homestead's going to play Warren Central in week nine. Oh, is that right? So, next year, Center Grove and Warren go back to week nine. That way, all the mid games are three through nine, but Homestead comes down to Warren kind of for a one-off.
And again, it is. And so, you know, and part of it is was just Warren finding who will play them. Warren's two non-conference games, Elcart and Homestead. See, I love that. I love that for the state. I love that for Warren Central and for Elcart.
And credit to them. And let me and let me again since you have a statewide audience here twice I have done Fort Wayne Snder at Warren Snider won that game and then won the 5A championship. Yeah. Then Warsaw played them and I go Warsaw is going to be all right and they made the 5A championship the next year. Okay. In this sport you especially early in the year you benefit from an up schedule like that because it slows it slows things down in the postseason for you.
If I can compete with with this, if I see this in the postseason, I'm gonna be okay. Yeah, because you get I mean, without question, you get better as the year goes on if you already have that data point. Okay, this worked or this didn't work. It's just really cool. I think it, you know, love it if the region played ball with Crown Point and Miraville coming down, Andrean coming down during the regular season. That'd be great, right?
Would love that. And and you know, Evansville and indie teams uh sometimes play each other. I know Wright's played Tri West. I'm probably forgetting a few. Uh one team we didn't mention really quick. What a job JT Whitaker has done.
Absolutely. I mean, unbelievable. They're 5-0. Okay. And are they for real? Yes, they are for real.
Having seen them last week and knowing that they returned so many of their key pieces from last year that made it to the semi-state round against Brownsburg, they are absolutely for real. And again, we mentioned the fact that Quillin left. Well, Dennis was a starter as a sophomore. Yeah. And I mean, having watched him play, he was he's a great those kids know him. He's a great leader for them.
He's got 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions through five weeks of the season. Keon Thomas is averaging nine yards a carry. He's headed for Iowa. Elkins is going to Purdue. Fox is going to Kentucky. Jackson's going to Sagenov Valley State.
That team's the goods. They are. Zack Wallace is going to Western Michigan. Okay. Absolutely. Is he really?
That Yeah, that that team's really good. That's Yeah. Watching Keon Thomas run. I love good running backs. There's just something about him. I'm happy you mentioned Lewis from Carmel.
He's shifty as can be. Not bad for an old quarterback, huh? Yeah. Right. I know. I saw that on the roster and I'm like, is this correct?
Of of the games I have done so far, Lewis has as in as in Michael Lewis because you got to you know the Brady at Brownsburg, Michael at Carmel. Michael is is the is the best singular talent I have seen in games this year. Really? He's had he's had the most dominant performance of uh he he leads the league in most guys made miss. Yes. who are chasing ghosts.
That's how good he has been. That is such a good point and that's saying something when you're talking about the personnel we've talked about on this show. Uh don't forget about Caramel, guys. I I know they've lost three times. They might just be waiting for the right moment. A lot of those losses, self-inflicted wounds as well.
I'm thinking of the uh Center Grove game. Obviously, there's been a few more mistakes on a few more penalties and mistakes on special teams you're kind of used to seeing from that group. If they can get it figured out, they're going to be okay. They're going to be okay. All right. It's going to be fun to watch, guys.
Greg, thank you so much. Anytime. I know you're busy. I literally live down the street. We can figure this out. That's clutch, man.
And uh hopefully postseason we'll get a little postseason rap as well. Maybe I can become the first three time guest for sure. I think I think there's a better than 50. I'll work on my social media skills if I can hop on the Bachelor or something along those lines. What I can do. All right, Greg Rickstro, thank you.
That is a mid-season high school football report there. This is Get In Sports. Follow us at Don Miranda TV at GetInports. Follow Nate Spangle, too. He's a good guy. We'll uh we'll see you next time.