Delta unranked, Eastbrook No. 2 (08/16/05)

INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in several years, the Jay County football team will not open its season against a ranked opponent. South Adams will.

The Delta Eagles, who have played the Patriots in the opening game every year since 1997, narrowly missed being selected in the state’s top 10 in the Class 4A preseason poll conducted by The Associated Press.

However, the Eastbrook Panthers, who visit South Adams Friday night, open the season as the second-rated team in Class 2A. After going 14-1 last season, they garnered with 100 rating points to finish second behind defending champions Tri-West (139).

Delta picked up 29 points to put it 12th in the poll, five behind Zionsville and Hobart, which were tied for 10th. Defending state champion Indianapolis Roncalli was first with 121 points.

South Adams will host another state-ranked opponent in a few weeks when Heritage heads to Berne Sept. 9. Heritage is eighth in the preseason poll with 47 points.

Bluffton and Garrett, which are also on the Starfires’ schedule, also picked up votes in the Class 2A poll but did not make the top 10.

Indianapolis Cathedral, which will visit Jay County Oct. 7, was second in the opening AP poll with 96 points. Cathedral lost by one point to Roncalli in last season’s sectional tournament.

Also among the ranked teams in Class 4A was Muncie Central, which was voted ninth. Central and Delta are in the eight-team sectional grouping with Jay County.[[In-content Ad]]