High School Football
2007 Schedule
on WIMS AM 1420

9/7 - Michigan City @ Valparaiso

9/14 - Merrillville @ Michigan City

9/21 - Valparaiso @ Crown Point

9/28 - Portage @ Michigan City

10/5 - Michigan City @ LaPorte

10/12 - Lake Central @ Valparaiso

Lannin's Line Week #5: Mid-Season
Report Card
An article by The Region Sports Network's Chris Lannin
Friday, September 21, 2007

Now that the pre-conference games and the first three
conference contests are in the books and the 2007 prep football
season has passed the midway point, it's time to review who's
hot and who's not and take a look at how the conference races,
new and old, are taking shape, assess some of the surprises and
maybe take a peek in the crystal ball here and there.

Duneland Athletic Conference - The DAC is historically one
of the most competitive conferences in the state, and this year
is no exception. While it may be no surprise that Crown Point
sits atop the standings with a 3-0 conference mark and that there
is a logjam in the middle, it is a bit of a surprise to most, if not
all, that Portage, along with Michigan City, brings up the rear at
0-3. Crown Point should be able to grind it out the rest of the
way, but if the Bulldogs stumble, the Merrillville Pirates will be
waiting. Chesterton Valparaiso and Lake Central are also just
a game back. But with history once again as our guide,
Chesterton's home loss to Valpo last week would indicate that
the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Golden Trojans are about to enter
another second half slide and the remaining schedule is simply
too tough for Valparaiso. If there is a dark horse here, it would
be Lake Central.

Disappointments: Portage - The Indians have
lost three straight in the DAC after a 2-0 non-conference start
including a win over Andrean, but what is puzzling is how they
seem to be regressing. After losing close ballgames to upstart
Lake Central and Merrillville to open DAC play, Portage was
completely dominated by Crown Point and seemed totally out
of synch offensively. Purdue bound RB Albert Evans has not been
able to get untracked and the lack of a passing game is not
helping Evans find any holes either. Without question, the
Indians are a little banged up, but what team doesn't have
injury issues at this time of the season. Remember, this was a
team that had state title aspirations. But if history is any guide
and Portage is to begin to resemble Portage, this should be the
week it begins. Remember, the Indians were off to a 1-4 start
last season heading into Week Six. In Week Six last year,
Portage came away with a 6-3 overtime win over Chesterton to
begin a five game winning streak to close out the season before
the Indians fell to Crown Point in the 5A sectional semi-finals by
a point in overtime. Look for a repeat performance beginning
this week with Chesterton on the docket.

Surprises: Lake Central - Lake Central got off to a 3-0 start for
the second straight year, but that's where the similarity ended.
Where last years' team was a work in progress and a bit of a
paper tiger, the Indians have made believers of the rest of the
DAC following their road win at La Porte. With the only blemish
on their record a respectable loss to Crown Point, if the Indians
can get consistent quarterback play down the stretch and cut
down on the turnovers, LC should be in the thick of things right
down to the wire. Overlooked for the job the first time around,
Bill Melby has emerged as a leading candidate for Coach
of the Year.

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