Region Sports Network has released their Top Ten Football Poll for Week 1 of the 2014, tabbing defending 3A state champion Andrean as the top team in the region.
“It’s rare when a team can lose one of the greats in Region football and still find themselves ranked on top of a poll the next season, but that’s exactly the case with the 59ers,” the RSN wrote in their season preview. “Despite the departure of signal-caller Matt DeSomer, the Niners still have plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball including workhorse back Trevor Berg. New QB Jake Paliga got plenty of action last season, so he’s not exactly inexperienced.”
The 59ers are followed in the poll by in-city rival Merrillville, which the RSN said added “another weapon” when Ramone Atkins moved from Gary to Merrillville.
“This will be one of the most interesting, and exciting, offenses to watch all season,” is part of the RSN’s Pirates forecast.
Lake Central, Munster and Lowell round out the top five.
“Led by their defense last year, the Indians won the first football sectional title at LC since 1999,” the RSN wrote of Lake Central. “This season it may be the offense that takes over as Lake Central features key returnees on that side of the ball, including running back Brandon Scott, wideout Antwain Davis and a pair of junior quarterbacks who got playing time last year in Colin Studer and Ethan Darter.”
In the following order: Crown Point, Hammond Morton, Hobart, Portage and Whiting round out the top 10.
“With a roster that goes 117 deep, (Crown Point) will have a depth advantage on every team they play this year.”