There are times of the year that we really don't mind if they're flying by as fast as they are and that time is now. We're approaching Sectional Championship week here in the state of Indiana (see below). Baseball is winding down with the World Series drawing major attention. Week 8 of the NFL season has begun with Tampa Bay winning at Minnesota, 36-17. College football has captured all of us with #3 K-State hosting #14 Texas Tech and #5 Notre Dame hitting the road for a tough game at #8 Oklahoma.
The World Series is taking our televisions by storm as the San Francisco Giants have taken a commanding 2-0 series lead on the Detroit Tigers as they head to Comerica Park in Detroit for games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary). Pablo Sandoval and Marco Scutaro have carried the weight for the Giants at the plate, but they've been real comfortable with their clutch pitching from Barry Zito (Game 1) and Madison Bumgarner (Game 2) to give them two home wins and a two game lead in the best-of-seven World Series.
The NFL is in Week 8. The NY Giants have a 2 game lead in the NFC East at 5-2. The Chicago Bears (5-1) are surprising some people with only one loss, despite QB Jay Cutler's somewhat subpar play under center. The Atlanta Falcons remain as the only undefeated (6-0) team left in the National Football League. Matt Ryan and crew will be tested Sunday on the road when they go to Philadelphia for a key NFC matchup. The 49ers (5-2) hold just a one game lead on both Arizona (4-3) and Seattle (4-3), so the NFC West might be a tighter fight than originally thought to be. New England isn't sitting as pretty as they normally are in the AFC East. The Pats are just 4-3 and have a 1/2 game lead on Miami, only one game in the loss column and are being tested by opponents on a weekly basis. The Houston Texans (6-1) sit comfortable with a 2.5 game lead over the Indianapolis Colts (3-3) in the AFC South. Baltimore (5-2) is up two games in the AFC North on the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3), which has shocked some, but the Steelers aren't as young as they used to be. The AFC West has the Denver Broncos (3-3) and the San Diego Chargers (3-3) tied for the division lead, but I've got a feeling that Peyton Manning will eventually lead Denver to the division title.
College football is really hitting its stride with numerous Top 25 matchups on today's slate. The #2 Florida Gators (7-0) meet up with the #10 Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville at the "world's largest outdoor cocktail party" at 3:30. #14 Texas Tech (6-1) heads to the "Little Apple" to face #3 Kansas State (7-0) in a Big XII tilt. #5 Notre Dame (7-0) faces a huge road test tonight at 8pm when they battle with #8 Oklahoma (5-1) in Norman. The other big game on college football's agenda tonight is when the #11 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-0) clash in Tuscaloosa is the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0).
It's not surprising to some as to which high school football teams are still alive in the 40th Annual Indiana High School State Tournament Playoffs. After last night's sectional semifinals, we do know that we'll have two brand new teams for the Class 5A state championship this Thanksgiving weekend. Defending state champion Carmel lost last week in the first round of 5A Sectional 5 to Warren Central in three overtimes, 31-24. Last night in the sectional semifinals, defending 5A state runner-up Penn was upset by Carroll (Allen) at home, 14-13.
Heading into the sectionals, defending 4A runner-up South Bend Washington (3-8) had just one victory, but has now won two in a row and will host the Mishawaka Cavemen (8-3) at School Field in South Bend. Mount Vernon (Fortville) (10-1) is making its presence known amongst the 4A stalwalts out there. Winning 4A Sectional 13 would get the Marauders a Regional game vs. either Indianapolis Roncalli or Indianapolis Cathedral. Don't forget about #1 Columbus East and #2 Jasper coming out of Sectionals 15 and 16, respectively.
There are classic matchups across the board in Class 3A in this week's Sectional Championships. It's always been a toss-up with Mishawaka Marian (8-3) visiting South Bend St. Joe's. The Indians also hosted and beat the Knights in Week 6, 35-21. #1 Jimtown (11-0) faces a tough opponent on the road in #8 Heritage (9-2). The Jimmies have pretty much been unstoppable thus far in 2012, so what can stop them now? One of the more intriguing games for a 3A Sectional crown is Sectional 20, when (9-1) #5 Western Boone heads up to #4 Hamilton Heights (10-1). WeBo had a little trouble at Southmont on Friday, but escaped with a 12-8 victory, while the Huskies are on a roll with a 38-0 blanking of Twin Lakes. This may also be the week that we find out how "real" #3 Charlestown (11-0) is when they travel to Brownstown Central (10-1).
2A #5 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers continues its quest for a 4th consecutive 2A State Championship. If they complete this feat, they will be moving up to 3A next season. Trying not to jump-the-gun, they host a real grind-it-out team in #9 Churubusco (10-1). This will be #6 Heritage Christian's (9-2) second trip to Shenandoah (8-3). They had no trouble dominating the Raiders 51-20 in Week 5, but this is the playoffs and it's anybody's ball game. The other 2A game that grabs my attention is #10 Lawrenceburg (10-1) at #12 Paoli (9-2). Both teams are playing great football right now, but Lawrenceburg is too hot to not advance out of Sectional 31.
#8 West Central (10-1) surprised me by knocking previously unbeaten Whiting (10-1) out of the playoffs and will play at home against Winamac (8-3) in Sectional 33. #2 Lafayette Central Catholic (10-1) is in the same boat as Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, trying to win a 4th straight state title in its respective class. LCC has to advance past #4 Pioneer (10-1) to continue on that path, but playing at home will help the Knights.
I hope that #5 Notre Dame can pull off the huge upset of #8 Oklahoma tonight in Norman, Oklahoma! I also would like to see the San Francisco Giants steal Game 3 of the World Series tonight, but it'll be tough now that Detroit is at home for possibly three games.
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