The Northwest Crossroads Conference (NCC) is one of the top conferences in Northwest Indiana. Made up of six teams – Andrean, Hobart, Highland, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, and Munster – the NCC is filled with talent. With football season approaching rapidly, here is how each team ranks in the NCC.
Andrean High School finished with a smooth, 5-0 record in conference play in the 2020 season. The biggest challenge the team faced in the conference was Hobart, which finished 3-1, but the ‘59ers defeated the Brickies 35-24 last year.
Chris Skinner, head coach of the ‘59ers, has a couple goals for his team. These goals include contending for a conference title and playing football in November. He expects his younger players to step up as Andrean lost a number of talented seniors.
“The season is a grind,” Skinner said. “That's partly why football is not cut out for everyone. In order for us to be successful, we need to embrace that grind both physically and mentally, take care of our bodies, grow together as a family, and ultimately have fun playing this rewarding game of football!”
Next, there is Hobart High School. Hobart finished the regular season with an 11-3 record and 3-1 record in the NCC. The Brickies played in the 2020 IHSAA State Football Championship game in Indianapolis and finished runner-up. Head Coach Craig Osika hopes the incoming seniors help to replace the leadership he lost with his previous senior classes.
“Year in and year out, the NCC is a tough conference that requires you to play your best football every week,” said Osika.
Highland High School finished with a 4-5 record last year and a 1-3 record in conference play. The team defeated Munster during the regular season and finished their season with a lost to Lowell in the playoffs.
Kankakee Valley High School (KVHS) finished with a 6-3 winning record and were an even 2-2 in NCC play. The Kougars defeated Munster and Lowell and suffered two losses from the two best teams in the conference: Andrean and Munster. The 2021 Kougars look to improve upon their winning record.
Lowell High School finished with a 4-7 record and, equivalent to Kankakee Valley, a 2-2 record in conference play. The Red Devils defeated Highland and Munster and also won against Highland again in the playoffs. Lowell’s season ended in the playoffs with a hard-fought loss to Hobart with a final score of 10-7.
Rounding out the NCC is Munster High School. Munster looks to improve on its 0-5 record from last year. They begin conference play against KVHS this year.
While the Region is full of great football programs, some of the best programs belong to the NCC, including the state runner-up Hobart Brickies. With football season starting up, be sure to check GreatNews.Life’s websites for scores, photos, and articles from all over the Region.