2025 Top Ten

[NWI10]

What’s 2025 going to look like?

[Jimbo23]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

[NWI10]

Any thoughts as we are at the half point of the offseason?

[Region HOFer]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

Portage no thanks
Hanover will be in a dog fight for 6 wins
Morton Mac Daddy hasnt even had a winning season. (non covid)
Michigan City see portage
Hobart sectional champs
Griffith #6

[secretmole]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

- Having Valpo over Merrillville is a crime. Merrillville #2
- The fact that Hanover's new coach has a terrible head coaching record seems to slip your mind. Hobart #5, Portage #6, Hanover #7
- Griffith shouldn't even be in the top ten considering they only beat on sub-par .500 and below teams. The teams they beat will continue to stay down and the teams they can't beat will continue to progress. Lowell will be the real test for them early on but considering Lowell is making the right moves on hiring and upgrading athletic facilities, they'll struggle tremendously.

[Jimbo23]

Any thoughts as we are at the half point of the offseason?

My thoughts haven't changed as of March 21st at 7:40A.M. Lol

[Jimbo23]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

Portage no thanks
And who would you rather rank ahead of them?

Hanover will be in a dog fight for 6 wins
I agree. But there's not a program I ranked below them that is blatantly better/ will be better.

Morton Mac Daddy hasnt even had a winning season. (non covid)
True. But they beat that Preseason 2025 Sectional Champion Hobart program you mention below, and I still ranked Hobart ahead of them. If they don't belong, who then? Wheeler? Who had a nice year but lose a ton of players? You name em, I'll chat with ya.

Michigan City see portage
And who would you rather rank ahead of them? Chesterton? Lol

Hobart sectional champs
I'll believe it when I see it. I will say, if not this year then when?

Griffith #6
I would hear this argument if they beat anyone with a pulse last year but they didn't and while I think they will continue to progress (as I'll get to with our friend below your post) I don't think they would be able to beat any of the 9 programs I put ahead of them in 2025.

[Jimbo23]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

- Having Valpo over Merrillville is a crime. Merrillville #2
Valpo and Merrillville split the series in 2022 and 2023 before Valpo lost both last season. Lets not act like Merrillville is SO MUCH better of a program than a (much) more recent 5A State Champion. That said, if you wanted to switch my #2 and #3 it's a fair argument given how the previous season went, and if you have intel on the upcoming Viking and Pirate teams. Wouldn't call it a crime though.

- The fact that Hanover's new coach has a terrible head coaching record seems to slip your mind. Hobart #5, Portage #6, Hanover #7
No, Coach Bart's head coaching record is not lost on me. Neither is where he coached, the (lack of) true support he had there, nor the fact that he CAN coach but anyone who stepped into being Hanover's HC this season with THIS schedule was going to be fighting for 6 wins, as mentioned above.

- Griffith shouldn't even be in the top ten considering they only beat on sub-par .500 and below teams. The teams they beat will continue to stay down and the teams they can't beat will continue to progress. Lowell will be the real test for them early on but considering Lowell is making the right moves on hiring and upgrading athletic facilities, they'll struggle tremendously.
If not them then who? Lowell? New head coach who lost nearly the entire previous staff with the exception of a couple? Casey may be a really good coach but even really good coaches need really good staffs to be successful. Not saying they won't be but I am saying I am unsure of who will be there and that unsureness makes me hesitant to put in a team like Lowell over Griffith who will be in year 3 under Phil Mason. Who by the way, is a career 28-8 in his 3rd season at programs with 2 Sectionals and a Regional. I like his chances of improvement more than any coach any time anywhere in year 1 in a program. Not easy to fix/ change things in a single season.

[DACfanatic]

Jimbo's WAY Too Early 2025 Region Top 10
1. Crown Point Bulldogs (Someone outside of the Indy Metro area is gonna need to beat them for them to not be #1 around here)
2. Valparaiso Vikings (Very young team this year, mix that with tremendous coaching and a tremendous program and they'll be back with a vengeance)
3. Merrillville Pirates (Losing some key components up front on both sides, interested to see how they bounce back)
4. Andrean 59ers (Losing some key contributors but they're younger than they are old and the young ones are PRETTY good to say the least)
5. Hanover Central Wildcats (New head coach coming in, lots of key players graduating, but a solid program with good athletes will reload)
6. Portage Indians (Portage made significant progress from Roy Richards year 1 to year 2. I look for more of the same in year 3)
7. Hobart Brickies (Another team that was young in spots, but experienced in others, the Brickies will continue to grow under coach Schreiber)
8. Morton Governors (The Govs lose A LOT of high profile guys but they have some Juniors, and younger, who are REALLY good too. It's their turn)
9. Michigan City Wolves (Young in spots, lose some key pieces but these guys lost a lot of one score games. If they learn to win em they can be a real problem)
10. Griffith Panthers (Not sure about their youth/ experience factor but based on this years leap, I'll put the Panthers in the Region Top 10 for now)

- Having Valpo over Merrillville is a crime. Merrillville #2
Valpo and Merrillville split the series in 2022 and 2023 before Valpo lost both last season. Lets not act like Merrillville is SO MUCH better of a program than a (much) more recent 5A State Champion. That said, if you wanted to switch my #2 and #3 it's a fair argument given how the previous season went, and if you have intel on the upcoming Viking and Pirate teams. Wouldn't call it a crime though.

- The fact that Hanover's new coach has a terrible head coaching record seems to slip your mind. Hobart #5, Portage #6, Hanover #7
No, Coach Bart's head coaching record is not lost on me. Neither is where he coached, the (lack of) true support he had there, nor the fact that he CAN coach but anyone who stepped into being Hanover's HC this season with THIS schedule was going to be fighting for 6 wins, as mentioned above.

- Griffith shouldn't even be in the top ten considering they only beat on sub-par .500 and below teams. The teams they beat will continue to stay down and the teams they can't beat will continue to progress. Lowell will be the real test for them early on but considering Lowell is making the right moves on hiring and upgrading athletic facilities, they'll struggle tremendously.
If not them then who? Lowell? New head coach who lost nearly the entire previous staff with the exception of a couple? Casey may be a really good coach but even really good coaches need really good staffs to be successful. Not saying they won't be but I am saying I am unsure of who will be there and that unsureness makes me hesitant to put in a team like Lowell over Griffith who will be in year 3 under Phil Mason. Who by the way, is a career 28-8 in his 3rd season at programs with 2 Sectionals and a Regional. I like his chances of improvement more than any coach any time anywhere in year 1 in a program. Not easy to fix/ change things in a single season.

Just speaking from what I remember seeing pirates last year.. we lose our line both sides.. which isn't a concern we always "reload" there. And we only lose 1db/wr in peters which he wasn't really effective on the offense side last year.. defense will miss him.

I mean I could be wrong but feel like we only losing peters. That could hurt. Merrillville had some transfers back in winter to fill some spots on line.. I'll have to find the kids name but we got a DE from a school in (I think Alabama) it's a southern state school. And we had 2 ol come over from Illinois from what I was told. Again could be wrong but I know we have 3-4 out of state transfers that came in between December - February


Pirates I think will be better on offense since they bring back all the skills positions. Defense just depends on the line because we bring the rest back. Again when I find that kids name I'll let you know who he is. And whwre he is from I wanna say he is a DE/ TE

[Jimbo23]

- Having Valpo over Merrillville is a crime. Merrillville #2
Valpo and Merrillville split the series in 2022 and 2023 before Valpo lost both last season. Lets not act like Merrillville is SO MUCH better of a program than a (much) more recent 5A State Champion. That said, if you wanted to switch my #2 and #3 it's a fair argument given how the previous season went, and if you have intel on the upcoming Viking and Pirate teams. Wouldn't call it a crime though.

- The fact that Hanover's new coach has a terrible head coaching record seems to slip your mind. Hobart #5, Portage #6, Hanover #7
No, Coach Bart's head coaching record is not lost on me. Neither is where he coached, the (lack of) true support he had there, nor the fact that he CAN coach but anyone who stepped into being Hanover's HC this season with THIS schedule was going to be fighting for 6 wins, as mentioned above.

- Griffith shouldn't even be in the top ten considering they only beat on sub-par .500 and below teams. The teams they beat will continue to stay down and the teams they can't beat will continue to progress. Lowell will be the real test for them early on but considering Lowell is making the right moves on hiring and upgrading athletic facilities, they'll struggle tremendously.
If not them then who? Lowell? New head coach who lost nearly the entire previous staff with the exception of a couple? Casey may be a really good coach but even really good coaches need really good staffs to be successful. Not saying they won't be but I am saying I am unsure of who will be there and that unsureness makes me hesitant to put in a team like Lowell over Griffith who will be in year 3 under Phil Mason. Who by the way, is a career 28-8 in his 3rd season at programs with 2 Sectionals and a Regional. I like his chances of improvement more than any coach any time anywhere in year 1 in a program. Not easy to fix/ change things in a single season.

Just speaking from what I remember seeing pirates last year.. we lose our line both sides.. which isn't a concern we always "reload" there. And we only lose 1db/wr in peters which he wasn't really effective on the offense side last year.. defense will miss him.

I mean I could be wrong but feel like we only losing peters. That could hurt. Merrillville had some transfers back in winter to fill some spots on line.. I'll have to find the kids name but we got a DE from a school in (I think Alabama) it's a southern state school. And we had 2 ol come over from Illinois from what I was told. Again could be wrong but I know we have 3-4 out of state transfers that came in between December - February


Pirates I think will be better on offense since they bring back all the skills positions. Defense just depends on the line because we bring the rest back. Again when I find that kids name I'll let you know who he is. And whwre he is from I wanna say he is a DE/ TE

Merrillville's losses upfront aren't "typical" Merrillville losses. The O-Line was basically together for 2 seasons. The D-line has had Division 1 and 2 talent all over it the last 5 years. If they're getting lucky in the portal, good for them, it'll help them stay above Valpo if true. If not, could be a fun two matchups this season.