After reaching the Class 6A state championship game last season, Crown Point is back in the top spot ahead of Duneland Athletic Conference rivals Merrillville and Valparaiso.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Crown Point (13-1): Craig Buzea has shaped the Bulldogs into a juggernaut, with a history-making run to the Class 6A state championship game last year coming after a second straight undefeated regular season. Senior quarterback Noah Ehrlich (Miami of Ohio) is back at the helm after a record-setting debut, and senior running back Larry Ellison also returns after a record-setting season. Senior linebacker/tight end Lucas Szymborski (Ball State) moved back to Crown Point, and junior linebacker/tight end Trevor Gibbs, who has Division I offers, is a star in the making — if he’s not already one. Senior tight end Jacob Soley (Indiana State) returns, and junior offensive lineman Nolan Cicero has a handful of Division I offers. Junior defensive lineman Mark Gonzales, senior linebacker Niko Pavlou, junior defensive back Dominic Fantin and junior defensive back Griffin Van Tichelt also are among the returnees on a loaded roster.
2. Merrillville (10-3): The Pirates returned to semistate for the fourth time in five seasons, their first in 5A during that stretch, and have the ability to do it again. Senior cornerback John Peters (Western Michigan) and senior linebacker/lineman Trenton Nixon (Northern Illinois) are Division I commits. Junior running back Jac’Quarious “JQ” Johnson, senior defensive lineman Adam Camphor, senior offensive lineman Jaden Swanson, senior offensive lineman Jordan Sanders and senior linebacker Jeremiah Jordan also are back.
3. Valparaiso (9-3): The Vikings should be in the mix in 5A, with coach Bill Marshall saying “this group is very, very similar to that 2022 group” that won the state title, “with a lot of new parts receptive to learning.” Senior running back Thomas Burda should be a workhorse. Senior Cayleb Sharp is a top lineman. Senior lineman DeAndre Price, senior tight end Keegan Begley, senior wide receiver Julian Stokes, senior linebacker Tommy Ampeliotis, senior defensive back Tyse Morris and senior defensive back Tyres Morris are among the returnees. Senior Drayden Wilcox is an accomplished kicker and punter.
4. Hanover Central (11-1): A season after winning the Northwest Crossroads Conference title in their debut, the Wildcats move up to 4A, where they should remain postseason threats. Senior running back Caiden Verrett is coming off a record-setting season. Junior defensive back/wide receiver Dylan Bowen should truly emerge. Senior defensive back/receiver Rocco Bartolomeo is a top player. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Henry Maurer, senior lineman Ian Padilla and senior linebacker Kyron Turner also return. St. Rita transfer Tommy Bonner should adeptly take over at quarterback as a senior.
5. Michigan City (6-5): The Wolves built a solid foundation in Cody French’s first season as coach and could take another step. Senior defensive lineman Adrian Holley (Kansas) leads a talented group. Sophomore wide receiver Kyron Hart and junior wide receiver Zaire McKinney are Division I prospects. Senior offensive lineman Lawrence Phillips, senior defensive lineman George Branch, senior safety Michael Crawford, senior tight end Logan Morlan and junior offensive lineman Edgar Garcia all return.
6. Andrean (3-7): The 59ers should bounce back from an uncharacteristic season with a roster that includes several Division I commits. Coach Chris Skinner said they “have a young team this season with high potential.” Senior defensive back/wide receiver Jimmy Finley (Northern Illinois) is a standout. Junior offensive lineman Ben Novak has a long list of Division I offers, and senior James Metro and senior John LaMere return on the line. Senior defensive back Jayden Holmes is part of the strong secondary, and sophomore linebacker/running back Ethan Reyna should make an impact after missing significant time last season because of injury; both Holmes and Reyna have multiple Division I offers. Senior kicker/punter PJ Cusick and sophomore defensive lineman/tight end Landen Murray also are back.
7. Hobart (7-3): Former West Side coach Eric Schreiber, a onetime defensive coordinator for the Brickies, takes over. Senior running back/safety Willy Shearer and senior lineman Luke Juris should be among their leaders. Senior wide receiver/cornerback Aidan Leonard, senior cornerback Kael Schlosser, junior guard/linebacker Josh Diaz, junior linebacker/running back Max Pickett, sophomore tight end/defensive lineman Aiden Kasch and senior punter/kicker Zander Lankford all return.
8. Morton (5-5): The Governors’ list of high-end talent starts with senior wide receiver Lebron Hill (Purdue). Senior linebacker/safety Freddy Brown (Western Michigan) has put together an exceptional career. Senior quarterback Holland Harris also had Division I offers before committing to Indianapolis. They should be further bolstered by the transfer of senior running back/defensive back Dashawn Woods from Hammond Central.
9. Wheeler (6-4): The Bearcats should progress in Nick Testa’s second season as coach. Senior Bryce Compton is a premier wide receiver. Senior quarterback Caleb Klimczak will be throwing the passes again. Senior running back/linebacker Jayden Ortiz and junior wide receiver/safety Tyne Vettickal add to their firepower. Senior lineman Mitchell Krolikowski and junior lineman Braden Olson also return.
10. Boone Grove (8-3): The Wolves, who move down to 2A, are coming off their first winning season since 2019. Record-setting senior quarterback Mark Rowland enters the final season of his illustrious career. Lineman Hunter Anthony, linebacker/running back Chris Gonzalez and linebacker/offensive lineman Khaled Alzeer had success as juniors last season.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Giovani Bailey-Hannah, Hammond Central, senior, linebacker
- Dylan Bowen, Hanover Central, junior, defensive back/wide receiver
- Freddy Brown, Morton, senior, linebacker/safety
- Thomas Burda, Valparaiso, senior, running back
- Adam Camphor, Merrillville, senior, defensive lineman
- Marco Castro, Kankakee Valley, senior, running back
- Bryce Compton, Wheeler, senior, wide receiver
- Owen Edlen, Chesterton, senior, defensive lineman
- Noah Ehrlich, Crown Point, senior, quarterback
- Larry Ellison, Crown Point, senior, running back
- Jimmy Finley, Andrean, senior, defensive back/wide receiver
- Trevor Gibbs, Crown Point, junior, linebacker/tight end
- Lebron Hill, Morton, senior, wide receiver
- Adrian Holley, Michigan City, senior, defensive lineman
- Luke Juris, Hobart, senior, lineman
- Gavin Knight, Bishop Noll, senior, defensive back/wide receiver
- Guiseppe Moore, West Side, senior, quarterback/defensive back
- Trenton Nixon, Merrillville, senior, linebacker/lineman
- Ben Novak, Andrean, junior, offensive lineman
- John Peters, Merrillville, senior, cornerback
- Mark Rowland, Boone Grove, senior, quarterback
- Cayleb Sharp, Valparaiso, senior, lineman
- Ayden Silver, River Forest, senior, quarterback/defensive back
- Lucas Szymborski, Crown Point, senior, linebacker/tight end
- Caiden Verrett, Hanover Central, senior, running back
