The Concord Minutemen and Fairfield Falcons are receiving some statewide recognition in the Associated Press high school football polls.

Concord is No. 6-ranked in Class 4A while Fairfield is No. 9 in Class 2A.

“I told the kids the rankings are nice, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take care of business,” Concord coach Tim Dawson said. “The rankings are more important to me at the end of the season than now.”

Fairfield’s high-powered offense is ranked second among all schools in offensive average (57.0 points per game), tied for seventh in defensive average (3.5) and second in average winning margin (53.5).

“I try not to look at things like that,” Fairfield coach Bob Miller said. “It’s all relevant. Those things are more important at the end of the season. It is a nice recognition for kids that have worked hard.”



Fremont (0-2) at Fairfield (2-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Series record: Fairfield 24-10

Last year: Fairfield 64-6

The Fremont Eagles have lost to Churubusco 46-0 and Lakeland 34-0.

“I’m not sure if Fremont is a team searching for its identity on offense or not,” Miller said. “They are running several different things on offense. That makes it harder to prepare since we don’t know what we may see. The thing we have been working with the kids this week on is taking care of the little things. If we take care of those things we should be able to handle what Fremont throws at us.”

The Falcons racked up 587 total yards on offense in last Friday’s 62-7 win over Prairie Heights.

“We made big strides on offense, Miller said.

Six-three (185) senior quarterback Chase Pinion completed 11 of 17 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown.

“He had a really good game,” Miller said. “Chase is the type of kid who at times tries too hard. Last Friday he relaxed and played well.”

Six-foot (190) senior Alex Hostetler will be getting a look at offensive tackle this week.

“We’re just searching for the right combination,” the coach said.

Fairfield’s defense limited Heights to 136 yards. Two players the coach highlighted were — 6-1 (185) junior Zack Newcomer and 6-2 (180) sophomore Brad Newcomer.

“Both of them are coming along at safety,” Miller said. “Their size allows them to give us good run support, but they also have the ability to cover the pass. Both had interceptions and tackles for losses on options plays last Friday.”



Concord (2-0) at NorthWood (1-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Series record: NorthWood 27-14

Last year: Concord 26-21

Concord is heading to Andrews Field in Nappanee, a place where coach Tim Dawson has not had a lot of success during his 21 seasons leading the Minutemen.

“We’ve won the last two times we have played there, but those are the only two wins I’ve had at NorthWood,” Dawson said. “It’s a tough place to play.”

The Panthers are coming off a 26-7 win last Friday at Culver Military Academy.

“This will be the third week in a row we have seen a team with speed and power,” Dawson said. “NorthWood has (6-0, 210, junior) Coy Brown and (6-0, 165, senior) Derek Yoder that can hurt you on any give play. Plus (6-1, 185, junior quarterback) Zac Coleman improved a lot from Week 1 to Week 2.”

Coleman scored on a 25-yard run and tossed TD passes of 53 yards to 5-9 (150) senior Brandon Snogdrass and 35 to Yoder. Brown tallied the other score on a 27-yard run.

“A year ago, we did a good job of moving the ball, but the big plays were lacking,” NorthWood coach Scott Hoover said. “It was nice to get the big plays back into our offense.

“Coleman did a much better job of making his reads. On almost every running play he has the option of giving the ball to Brown, Yoder or keeping it himself. When Culver took Brown away Coleman was smart enough to see that and keep the ball himself.”

Concord has a good quarterback of its own in 6-0 (170) senior Anthony Yoder. In two games, he has completed 22 of 40 passes (55.0 percent) for 328 yards and four TDs while rushing for 120 yards on 27 carries (4.4 average).

“We have got to stop Yoder. He is probably the best athlete we’ve seen,” Hoover said. “His running concerns me. Everyone thinks you have to spread out on defense to cover Concord’s passing attack, but that leaves the running lanes open for Yoder. We are going to make a couple of guys responsible for knowing where he is at all times. We need two or three guys chasing him down.”



Northridge (1-1) at Wawasee (1-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Series record: Wawasee 18-9

Last year: Northridge 33-0

These two had opposite weeks to begin the season. Northridge defeated South Bend Riley 42-21 in Week 1 before losing 34-6 last Friday at East Noble. Wawasee lost its opener 20-0 to Whitko before rebounding with a 26-21 win last week against Garrett.

“Wawasee has a solid running game,” Northridge coach Jonathan Kirkton said. “They have a ton of kids who seem like they have  been playing for more than three years. Wawasee has a good defense. They are not fast, but the kids are well-coached and they are in the right positions. We have got to block better at the line of scrimmage. We were not very physical last week against East Noble.”

Wawasee coach Tom Wogomon said, “Northridge had success versus Riley, but struggled with East Noble. Northridge is not very big on defense, but they fly to the ball. They gave East Noble fits when they tried to run the ball. Northridge plays a 3-5 on defense and that can give any team fits since they can come at you from so many different angles.

“When we have opportunities on offense we have to take advantage of them. Against Garrett we moved the ball, but kept making mistakes that kept us out of the end zone.”

Culver Military (0-2) at West Noble (1-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Series record: CMA 6-0

Last year: CMA 55-14

The West Noble Chargers posted a 27-0 win over Eastside last Friday.

“We took a step in the right direction on offense, but still have a lot of work to do,” West Noble coach Monte Mawhorter said. “Jake Rupright (5-11, 190, senior) had the bulk of the carries and yards on offense and we need to find someone else to take some of the load.”

The coach shifted three players — 5-9 (165) junior Michael SanMiguel, 6-2 (205) senior Austin Pensinger and Rupright — to different positions.

“Sandoval moved to middle linebacker, Pensinger to outside linebacker and Rupright to safety,” Mawhorter said. “All of them had good games and I expect them to do better this week with the added experience.

CMA runs what’s called a flex bone offense that includes lots of sweeps, options and players going in motion,” Mawhorter said. “We have to play a lot of assignment football.”