Week 1 DAC power rankings and predictions.

[DACfanatic]

DAC Preseason POWER RANKINGS AND DAC WEEK 1 predictions


Week 1 power rankings (based off this summer and last years results)

1. Crown point
2. Merrillvillle
3. Valpo
4. Chesterton
5. Lake central
6. Portage
7. Michigan city
8. Laporte


Week 1 predictions


Andrean @ Merrillville:

will be better than past few years as Andrean is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and Merrillville tends to reload every year recently. The X factor in this game will be how quick did the young players grow for Merrillville this summer and if Andrean can stop the top RB duo in region. Also rumor is Merrillville has added a wrinkle to the playbook by also incorporating the wishbone package?? Hmm interesting…
Andrean keeps it close but having to have to many 2 way players this early in the season will wear them down. Depth of Merrillville helps them pull away in 2nd half.

Merrillville 42-14


Chesterton @ Hobart:

Chesterton has owned this matchup the last few years as the bigger school with more talent. Hobart is entering year 2 of the Eric era. Will this team be improved? Can they stop Chesterton run game that returns one of the top backs in the area? I gotta go with the duneland!

Chesterton wins 21-10

Crown point @ Lowell:

What can I say here… after seeing both teams scrimmage Lowell is taking a step forward under there new coach. And crown point seems to be taking a small step back. But with that being said there’s still a big talent differential between these teams. Lowell might be able to hang for a quarter maybe a quarter and a half but the team with more depth and better coaching will prevail. Crown point with a running clock by end of 3.

Crown point wins 50-14


Hanover central @ Michigan city

This is a new matchup to the region. 1st time ever these schools will meet. Hanover is a fast rising program in NWI . They have been loaded with talent and the will to win. There were a lot of changes in there locker room as they have a lot to replace plus a new head coach stepping in after coach parker stepped away. Michigan city has one of the top returning defenses in 5A, but the offense didn’t really put a scare into anyone last year as there QB play was subpar. Michigan city got some transfers this offseason from surrounding schools and some new addictions to there coaching staff. I’m gonna have to go with the team with more experience.

Michigan city wins 35-14

Lake central @ Munster:

I’m going to keep this one as short as possible. Munster is steadily improving. Lake central is the better team in this matchup even if LC doesn’t feel like they can compete in duneland lately.

Lake central wins 35-0

New prairie @ Laporte:

Laporte hasn’t shown any type of improvement in my opinion over last 2 years. This program is a fish flopping around that needs to find something to build on. New prairie is a contender every year to make a run and I expect nothing less this year even after losing some big talent and coaches. Eventually laporte will get a group that will start to hopefully increase this program but won’t be this year. Gonna be a long season…

New prairie wins 42-10

Portage @ Morton:

This matchup has been defense optional last few years as the scores have reached 40s and higher. Lots of things happed this offseason. Roy Richard’s was let go from portage. Portage lost a handful of talent to surrounding schools (Merrillville, calumet, Michigan city) to name a few.. coach klimczack will take over the reigns at portage this season. Can he keep this team on the upward trajectory that Roy had them on? Morton on the other hand has some returning talent and some transfer talent from portage and other schools in the area. Morton should be able to win this game but it won’t be a blowout.

Morton wins 56-42


Game of week:

Penn @ valpo:

This matchup has been interesting the last few years. Valpo has lost the last 3 against Penn. Valpo has to replace a lot to graduation. This team is extremely young this year but like most schools it’s next man up mentality. Penn is in the 2nd year of the Pete era. Will they improve? Penn graduated some key pieces and lost a player or two to the transfer portal. Penn has owned this rivalry as of late and valpo will look different this year compared to years past as I expect them to be more of a throwing team. Time will tell..

Penn wins this game because of experience.

Penn 42-17

[BallinFreak]

Curious to see the NP and Laporte game. That one can be an odd duck rivalry game at times. NP changing coaches. How is that coming together? I think Laporte keeps this one close at least.

[DACfanatic]

Curious to see the NP and Laporte game. That one can be an odd duck rivalry game at times. NP changing coaches. How is that coming together? I think Laporte keeps this one close at least.

From my sources that are around the program, they don’t know everything but have heard that new parties has very little drop off if any at all. And are expected to make a deep tourney run this year