The regular season closed on an average note as I went 15-4 (79 percent) record last week. Heading into the first round of the playoffs, my overall record is 149-44, which leaves me at 77 percent.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Elkhart Memorial (1-8) at Fort Wayne North (0-9): The Chargers dropped a 36-12 decision to F.W. North during the 1994 season. The winner hosts Concord (8-1) in next week’s semifinals. Breydan Weston had 45 yards on the ground for Elkhart Memorial in a 21-0 loss to Northridge. Jaylen Harris recorded eight tackles for the Legend in their 28-0 loss to defending Class 3A state champion Fort Wayne Concordia. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Memorial 16, F.W. North 13.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
New Prairie (8-1) at Washington (3-6) (School Field): The Cougars rolled to a 46-7 win over Washington on September 8. Chase Ketterer ran for 128 yards and one score in New Prairie’s 47-13 win over Jimtown. Jarvise Knight threw a 96-yard touchdown pass in the Panthers’ 25-7 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 45, Washington 12.
Clay (0-9) at Mishawaka (5-4): The Cavemen blanked Clay, 47-0, on September 15. Quentin Rodriguez tossed for 78 yards in the Colonials’ 70-6 loss to Elkhart Central. Sam Shively accounted for Mishawaka’s lone score with a one-yard run in a 48-7 loss to Penn. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 49, Clay 6.
Kankakee Valley (3-6) at Riley (6-3) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats clawed past Kankakee Valley, 12-8, in the 2015 playoffs. Nick Schoonveld threw for 211 yards and rushed for 83 yards in the Kougars’ 28-21 loss to Munster. James Jackson passed for 176 yards and one score and ran for 75 yards and another tally in Riley’s 48-7 win over Glenn. Matt’s pick: Riley 42, Kankakee Valley 14.
Hobart (6-3) at Saint Joseph (3-6): The Indians slipped past Hobart, 19-17, in the 2015 sectional opener. Sal Valle scampered for 99 yards in the Brickies’ 30-7 loss to Lowell. John Driscoll rambled for 63 yards and two touchdowns for Saint Joseph in a 19-14 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Hobart 30, Saint Joseph 23.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
Wawasee (3-6) at Angola (9-0): The Hornets edged Wawasee, 19-18, during the 2010 campaign. Alec Rosebrugh ran for 214 yards and one score and threw for another tally in the Warriors’ 20-0 blanking of Goshen. Chase Schnepf racked up 83 yards on the ground and three touchdowns in Angola’s 42-13 win over Eastside. Matt’s pick: Angola 43, Wawasee 10.
DeKalb (3-6) at NorthWood (6-3): This marks the first meeting between the Barons and NorthWood on the gridiron. Alec Brunson caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in DeKalb’s 35-12 loss to Leo. Brayton Yoder came up with 129 yards rushing and one score in the Panthers’ 30-6 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 44, DeKalb 8.
Northridge (9-0) at Culver Academy (8-1): The Eagles flew past Northridge, 48-29, in the 1990 season. Micah Yoder racked up 2.5 quarterback sacks for the Raiders against Elkhart Memorial. Sam English caught five passes for 75 yards and one score in Culver Academy’s 40-14 win at Bremen. Matt’s pick: Northridge 28, Culver Academy 24.
East Noble (7-2) at Plymouth (6-3): The Rockies downed East Noble, 22-18, on August 18. Dane Hile accumulated 80 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Knights’ 65-14 win over Bellmont. Braxton Bennitt had a 19-yard scoring reception for Plymouth against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: East Noble 31, Plymouth 30.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 27
Marian (5-4) at Glenn (3-6): The Knights shutout Glenn, 35-0, on August 25. Brock VanNevel hauled in an 11-yard scoring strike for Marian against Washington. Trevor Weiss recorded 61 yards on the ground for the Falcons against Riley. Matt’s pick: Marian 37, Glenn 11.
Knox (8-1) at Fairfield (1-8): The Redskins and Fairfield are playing for the first time on the football field. Jared Prater accounted for two touchdowns for Knox in a 31-6 win over Caston. Cordell Hofer had a two-yard for a score in the Falcons’ 41-6 loss to Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Knox 40, Fairfield 7.
Tippecanoe Valley (2-7) at Peru (5-4): The Bengal Tigers roared by Tippecanoe Valley, 21-17, in the 2000 tournament. Cameron Parker rushed for 76 yards in the Vikings’ 40-14 loss to North Miami. Jake Steele ran for a 53-yard touchdown in Peru’s 21-6 loss to Rochester. Matt’s pick: Peru 31, Tippecanoe Valley 12,
Jimtown (4-5) at Maconaquah (2-7): The Jimmies are making their first visit to Bunker Hill to play Maconaquah. Trey Washington scampered for 63 yards for Jimtown against New Prairie. Nolan Kelly tossed for 99 yards in the Braves’ 25-17 loss to Manchester. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 22, Maconaquah 16.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Whitko (0-9) at Central Noble (6-3): The Wildcats recorded a 28-24 victory over Central Noble in last year’s tournament. Zach Gardner raced for 152 yards and a touchdown in Whitko’s 28-22 loss to Wabash. Braxton Dial tallied a touchdown in the Cougars’ 29-13 loss to Garrett. Matt’s pick: Central Noble 32, Whitko 15.
Bremen (4-5) at Bluffton (4-5): The Lions claimed a 21-14 win against Bluffton in the 1988 campaign. Ryan Caldwell tossed for 153 yards with a touchdown for Bremen against Culver Academy. Reid Wenger had a 46-yard scoring reception for the Tigers in a 54-6 loss to Lima Central Catholic (Ohio). Matt’s pick: Bremen 25, Bluffton 20.
Manchester (4-5) at Wabash (2-7): The Squires marched past Wabash, 38-16, on September 1. Hayes Sturtsman threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns for Manchester against Maconaquah. Austin Vinopal hauled in five passes for 132 yards with a score for the Apaches against Whitko. Matt’s pick: Manchester 39, Wabash 19.
Woodlan (7-2) at Prairie Heights (1-8): The Warriors stormed their way to 60-0 win over Prairie Heights on August 25. Jack Rhoades ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns in Woodlan’s 30-21 loss to Adams Central. Lucas Waite rambled for 71 yards and a score for the Cougars in a 42-6 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Woodlan 48, Prairie Heights 6.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
South Central (4-5) at Winamac (4-5): The Satellites suffered a 27-14 loss to Winamac in the 2011 post-season. Kyle Schmack ran and threw for scores in South Central’s 28-13 loss to Boone Grove. Jeb Smith ran for 30 yards and a touchdown in the Warriors’ 36-19 loss to Triton. Matt’s pick: Winamac 33, South Central 24.
Caston (1-8) at Triton (6-3): The Trojans racked up a 50-13 victory over Caston on September 1. Tayt Cowell ran seven times for 81 yards and a touchdown for the Comets against Knox. Delano Shumpert caught four passes for 86 yards with a score for Triton against Winamac. Matt’s pick: Triton 47, Caston 10.
West Central (0-9) at Culver (5-4): The Cavaliers were a 48-0 winner over West Central on September 8. Dalton Sizemore had 27 yards on the ground with a touchdown in the Trojans’ 26-14 loss to North White. Ryan Tompos scampered for 65 yards and a score in Culver’s 17-10 loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Culver 46, West Central 6.
North Judson (2-7) at LaVille (5-4): The Lancers earned a 33-0 win over North Judson on October 6. Caden Peretti raced for 93 yards in the Bluejays’ 42-0 loss to Pioneer. Braxton Sauer had 55 yards rushing and a touchdown for LaVille against Culver. Matt’s pick: LaVille 38, North Judson 13.
