Mark Lazerus’ season primer

Updated: August 19, 2011 6:55PM

Preseason Top 10

1. Valparaiso

A quick disclosure: Valparaiso was not on this list last year. Goes to show you how futile an endeavor this is. The Vikings lost a lot, but they’re here until someone proves otherwise.

2. Merrillville

Zach Raspopovich and Denzel Pierce formed one of the best QB-RB tandems in recent memory. But the Pirates — a perennial safe pick at the top of any Top 10 — always have more in store.

3. Morton

The Govs have come a long way since their old obsession with beating Griffith. Now a respected power state-wide, it’s up to them to stay there in the wake of big graduation losses.

4. Andrean

Expect to see a lot of Mason Zurek every game with Demetri Blanco graduated. The 59ers have a whopping 70 players out for the team. This is a Class 2A team in name only.

5. Munster

Leroy Marsh has quietly re-established Munster as a force, with three straight seven-win seasons. In a wide-open NCC, with no dominant team, Munster might be the favorite.

6. Crown Point

The Bulldogs had a nice bounce-back season last year, and bring back veteran quarterback Joe Hopman to lead the offense and all-area DL Billy Van Cleef to anchor the defense.

7. Wheeler

The Bearcats lost P-T Player of the Year Sam O’Shea to graduation and two-way all-area standout Jake Hidalgo is no longer with the team. But this football factory keeps churning out stars.

8. LOWELL

Replacing Cole Midgett won’t be easy, but it seems everyone has lost a do-it-all standout. The Red Devils say they’ve rediscovered “RDP.” They can prove it starting tonight.

9. SOUTH CENTRAL

Jeff Karras brought the fire and passion to South Central. Do the Satellites still have it now that he’s at Michgan City? We’ll see. They do have Ethan Biggs, though. That sure helps.

10. Rensselaer

Ten offensive starters are gone. Most of the defense, too. The Bombers have won two straight regionals, so you know they won’t roll over. But Andrean looms large in the sectional.

Season Ticket

Week 1, Aug. 20: Warren Central at Merrillville

Warren Central has won five of the last eight 5A state championships and have crushed Merrillville the last three years. But don’t forget 2007 at Demaree — Pirates 17, Warriors 10.

Week 2, Aug. 26: Lowell at Morton

Lowell has a brutal two games to open the schedule — the traditional opener against Crown Point, then a trip to Zlotnik Field. We’ll find out quickly if the Red Devils are back or not.

Week 3, Sept. 2: West Side at Andrean

Yes, it’s a big rivalry week elsewhere. But the fact that this game was scheduled shows how far West Side has come. Buy a ticket, so maybe more region schools will schedule the Cougars.

Week 4, Sept. 9: South Central at Whiting

In terms of sheer mileage, no game in any conference involves a longer drive. It was a heck of a game last year, too, with SC rallying from a 13-0 second-half deficit to win 23-20.

Week 5, Sept. 16: Munster at Morton

Morton might not have been granted a spot in the NCC, but the Govs still play much of the league. These natural rivals have played five straight games decided by seven points or less.

Week 6, Sept. 23: Valparaiso at Crown Point

It’s county seat vs. county seat as two of the region’s marquee programs clash. The Vikings took a pair of defensive slugfests from CP last year, including the sectional final.

Week 7, Sept. 30: Merrillville at Valparaiso

There’s quite a stretch of big games in the Duneland at the end of the year, and perhaps none bigger than this matchup of the top two teams in the preseason poll.

Week 8, Oct. 7: Valparaiso at Portage

These bordering rivals have met 71 times. Each team has
won 35 times, with one tie. Tired of the DAC by this point? Rensselaer visits 1A megapower Lafayette Central Catholic.

Week 9, Oct. 14: Andrean at Lowell

This one has had league title implications three of the four years of the NCC’s existence. It didn’t last year, but Andrean’s 35-28 overtime victory was one of the highlights of the season.

Week 10, Oct 21: Sectional openers

The reclassification has given us some tantalizing possibilities — maybe Andrean-Wheeler or Lowell-Mishawaka. But it’s sectionals — now it counts. So go see YOUR team. And good luck!

Ten People To Watch

1. Ryan Turley, Hobart coach

There’s not a better — or more daunting — coaching job in Northwest Indiana than Hobart. Turley’s a Hobart guy, so he knows how important it is to win — and win quickly.

2. Nick Naspinski, Wheeler quarterback

A big guy with big shoes to fill, he’s getting the keys to a Ferrari in the Wheeler offense. Plus, he still has all-area WR Robert Hurd (1,131 yards last year) to throw to, which helps.

3. Jason Johnson, West Side coach

If anyone can continue what Alex Pratt started at West Side, it should be Johnson. After all, what kid wouldn’t want to
play for a former professional football player?

4. Kourtney Berry, Merrillville safety

A rare two-way standout at such a large school, Berry was the leading tackler for Merrillville last year as a linebacker. Moving to safety is not an easy transition, but don’t bet against Berry.

5. Chris McCormack, Morton quarterback

It’s been a while since the dynamic Morton offense has had just one quarterback. Even without Kayln Aaron and D’Jari Griffin, McCormack could put up some huge numbers.

6. Keith Kilmer, Lowell coach

The Red Devils weren’t all on the same page by the time last year’s season ended with a humiliating loss at Concord. Now with a year under his belt, Kilmer hopes to bring RDP back.

7. Ethan Biggs, South Central running back

Biggs ran for a school-record 1,365 yards last year, leading the Satellites to their first sectional title. What can he do for an encore, with much of his supporting cast (and his director) gone?

8. Robert Robinson, Gavit coach

All Robinson did at Hammond was take a team that had won three games in two years and go 9-2, 7-4 and 5-6 before his stunning dismissal. Can he turn around the Gaviteers, too?

9. Kyle Schmidt, Chesterton kicker

Like Sam Ficken last year, Schmidt is the rare kicker who’s worth the price of admission. The touchback machine makes Chesterton a threat to score from almost anywhere inside the 50.

10. Mark Hoffman, Valparaiso coach

After four decades on the sidelines, this is Hoffman’s last season. He came close to the fairy tale ending last year. Can he go out on top? We’ll see. He’ll sure as heck have fun trying, though.

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