Week 15 NW Indiana HS Football Picks & Season Recap- 2009

'Mr. Picker' WEEK 15, 2009 Football Picks in Review: 37th Indiana State Football Tournament Nov. 27-28, State Championship games Wrong - 2; Right - 3 = 60.0%
The Pick	The Result
Class 1A
Lafayette Catholic 42, Fountain Central 14	Lafayette Catholic 52-0
Class 2A
Bishop Luers 41, Monrovia 21	Bishop Luers 24-17
Class 3A
Evansville Memorial 50, West Lafayette 35	WRONG... West Lafayette 24-10
Class 4A
LOWELL 30, Reitz 24	WRONG... Reitz 23-9
Class 5A
Warren Central 37, Carmel 28	Warren Central 42-36 (2 OTs)

Sophomore WR/DB Adam Folta (7) of the West Lafayette Red Devils is interviewed by a member of the media after his team defeated Evansville Memorial 24-10 in the Class 3A championship game in Indianapolis, 11-28-2009.

The Indianapolis Colts were the primary sponsor of the IHSAA 2009 State Football Championship games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS - The two private schools won in Class 1A and 2A, accenting the point that is easier for private or charter schools to win in the lower classes because there's simply less competition.

I'll say it again. All charter and catholic schools should be bumped up one class. It would create better competition and end the debate about those schools having an advantage.

West Lafayette (15-0) was stronger defensively than I thought in the 3A game. Memorial's 31 points per game attack was held to less than 200 total yards, a season-worst performance.

In the 4A game, Reitz was simply better offensively. Lowell gave up three TDs, but you knew they'd allow between 20 and 30 points going in. The Devils didn't score enough and they had some chances.

The 5A game may change the face of the Indiana state finals. Warren Central tied Carmel with one second to play in the fourth quarter on a TD pass that appeared on replay to be caught out of bounds.

Putting aside for a second whether the receiver was forced out of bounds and whether the referee's call was actually correct, the controversy and the fact that it was prestigious Carmel high that may have been cheated may change the rules.

Instant replay should be utilized in the state finals because it can be. The set-up is already in place in the home of the Indianapolis Colts. This may not take very long. I would not be shocked if there was instant replay at the 2010 state finals.

There were some playoff upsets as Bishop Chatard did not get through to the finals and Lowell made another run, defeating a superior Bishop Dwenger team.

In 1A and 2A, the state champions probably will return to the semistate in 2010. They had enough younger players.

It will be very difficult for Lowell to return to the semistate in 2010 because they need to find some secondary people to combat teams like Concord and Morton, who return pass-happy QBs and Bishop Dwenger, which has two Division I players returning.

In 5A, even with the controversy, the best team won. Warren Central was better than Carmel and you always want the best team to win.

One note about Lowell. You've noticed that they've been in the state title game in alternating years. What does that say about 2011?

Mr. Picker (Through the Years)
2009 (final) OVERALL: 154 of 212 = 72.6%
2008 (final) OVERALL: 145 of 193 = 75.1%
2007 (final) OVERALL: 143 of 188 = 76.0%
2006 (final) OVERALL: 166 of 217 = 76.4%
2005 (final) OVERALL: 170 of 233 = 72.9%