OLD KEV’S FOOTBALL PICKS – WEEK 6

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

JEFFERSONVILLE – There is an old saying that goes, “You can’t believe everything that you read.”

Well, you can’t believe everything that you hear, too.

Last Friday, I listened to radio broadcasts of a few of the area football games in the region. When a list of scores were announced over the air, I was baffled by some of the reactions uttered by the local radio announcers.

When I heard that Seymour defeated Hoosier Hills Conference rival Bedford North Lawrence 21-17, one of the announcers mentioned that it was a big upset.

Boy, how things have changed since all the preseason talk about a month ago?

In the preseason, it was the veteran Owls that were considered arguably the second-best squad in the HHC behind Class 5A No. 4 Columbus East. Meanwhile, the Stars were not even considered a squad that could finish as the HHC runner-up.

Plus, it was hard for me to consider this an upset when BNL was a handful of plays away from being 2-3 right now. The Stars pulled out close wins over Terre Haute South (44-41) and New Albany (42-41 in double overtime). The Bulldogs had BNL down 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Later, I heard the score of one of the biggest games in the Mid-Southern Conference this season – North Harrison 17, Brownstown Central 14.

Then I heard the comment from one announcer who seemed absolutely shocked that the Cougars won this game and are 5-0 this season.

Even though this person is a man who I like and I have a lot of respect for what he’s done for Southern Indiana high school athletics, I wanted to securely strap this guy to a chair in front of a computer and make him stare at John Harrell’s Indiana high school football website until he goes blind to show what North Harrison has done the last few seasons.

Since the start of the 2015 season, the Cougars have compiled a 22-4 overall record. They have gone 17-2 in the Mid-Southern, which included an outright conference championship in 2015 when they went 7-0 in league play.

Even though I picked Brownstown to beat the Cougars last week, it did not surprise me that North Harrison won that game because I know it had a lot of talented players back. It would not shock me if the Cougars collect their first sectional championship this season.

Here are my picks for this week:

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Madison (1-4, 0-3 HHC) at New Albany (2-3, 1-2), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: It is pretty safe to say that the Bulldogs are one of the best three-loss teams in Indiana. They had both Class 5A No. 10 Castle and BNL on the ropes, but they could not deliver the knockout punch in each game. If New Albany found a way to win each of those shootouts, it is 4-1.

The Bulldogs should have no problem with the Cubs, whose lone win came against 1-4 Crawford County in Week 1. But New Albany needs to play sharp to prepare itself for next week’s rivalry game with Jeffersonville.

Old Kev’s pick: New Albany 41, Madison 17.

Jeffersonville (2-3) at Class 5A No. 6 Indianapolis Cathedral (1-4), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: It will be another session of the school of hard knocks for the young Red Devils on Friday night in facing one of the perennial powers in the Hoosier State. The Fighting Irish have claimed 12 state championships, which ranks second in IHSAA history behind archrival Indianapolis Chatard’s 13 titles.

This game will be one where Jeff finds out what it needs to work on down the road if it is going to compete with another Indy metropolitan power in Center Grove for the Class 6A Sectional 8 championship.

By the way, I would not pay too much attention to Cathedral’s record. The Irish’s losses were to some real formidable teams in Louisville St. Xavier, Detroit King, Pickerington Central from Ohio and Cincinnati St. X.

Old Kev’s pick: Cathedral 45, Jeff 21.

Louisville Holy Cross (3-2) at Providence (2-3), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: For the last few seasons, this is a game that I cannot figure out.

I know Holy Cross has a solid program and the Cougars have defeated the Pioneers three years in a row. But every season when I must select the winner, I think this is the game where Providence is finally going to break out and show it is for real.

I am facing the same dilemma this season. The Pioneers have won two in a row, but they were against a pair of struggling teams in Clarksville and Charlestown.

Holy Cross is kind of a mystery, maybe because the Louisville TV stations do not talk about the small Class A school as much as fellow Louisville area prep teams like St. X, Trinity, Male, Pleasure Ridge Park and DeSales.

Is Providence ready to show its potential versus the Cougars? For this particular game, I will say yes.

Old Kev’s pick: Providence 20, Holy Cross 18.

Class 5A No. 9 Floyd Central (4-1, 3-0 HHC) at Class 5A No. 4 Columbus East (4-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: The Highlanders have lots of experience. They have a great rapport with each other and they should be well-prepared in their showdown with the Olympians.

Still, I do not think that is going to be good enough. East’s HHC winning streak improves to 74.

Old Kev’s pick: Columbus East 33, Floyd Central 16.

Clarksville (0-5, 0-4 MSC) at Class 3A No. 9 Silver Creek (5-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: I rarely pick shutouts. However, with the way the Dragons’ defense has played all season, picking a blanking is suitable for this game.

Old Kev’s pick: Silver Creek 35, Clarksville 0.

Scottsburg (2-3, 2-3 MSC) at Charlestown (1-4, 1-3), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: This game will be the beginning for the youthful Pirates getting their season pointed in the right direction.

Old Kev’s pick: Charlestown 44, Scottsburg 20.

Rock Creek (2-3) at Mitchell (4-1), 7 p.m.

Old Kev says: Here is a statement you do not read very often – Mitchell is good. It is going to be a massive challenge for the Lions to get their third win in program history.

Old Kev’s pick: Mitchell 49, Rock Creek 17.

OTHER SOUTHERN INDIANA PICKS

Bedford North Lawrence 42, Jennings County 25

Seymour 30, Brownstown Central 26

Salem 38, Corydon Central 12

North Harrison 37, Eastern 7

Springs Valley 23, Crawford County 14

Greenwood 34, Paoli 17

West Washington 19, Tecumseh 16

Eastern Greene 40, Perry Central 23

Oldenburg Academy 17, Trinity Lutheran 16

Trimble County (Ky.) 24, Switzerland County 14

OLD KEV’S RECORD LAST WEEK: 10-4.

OLD KEV’S SEASON RECORD: 50-15.