I like looking at the IC curve...2014 they miss the playoffs.
2015 they go 11-2, both losses to 3A champ McNamara, who had a stud MAC level running back (Western Michigan) and several other DI talents on the roster.
2016 they slaughter everyone. I only watched them play in person when they knocked out Wilmington, who scored 14 of the 28 points that IC gave up in the playoffs, and on tv for the title. Playing at home the first three games was a huge advantage, and their team speed was lethal. Rowell was not only a MAC level running back, but a 4 time all-stater with ten medals in track...Ricobene and the receivers joined him on the 4 x 100 relay team that was 4th...3A teams generally either have a primary run or pass bent...IC's ability to go 50/50 is almost impossilble to deal with at the 3A level...just not enough athletes. You can't put an extra guy in the box to deal with Rowell, nor can you drop the safety extra deep for the pass game...And you are on turf, so you have to play a step deeper to deal with their speed...On grass, muddy grass, even game. On turf, done...
Probably the best 3A team since going to 8 classes...the 16 IC team against the 14 Wilmo team would have been interesting, since Wilmo had 4 all-staters on the roster so they might have sufficient speed to catch up...and better balance on offense...Weaver was the no. 4 wing on that team...
And as a true sadist, I realize that in any other sport IC would have been bumped up last year because in any other sport the semis would have given them a trophy in 2015 for 3rd or 4th, and the title in 16 would have success factored them for 17...hmmm...
