Things didn’t go very well as I went 15-7 (68 percent) last week. My overall record is now 54-20, which leaves me at 73 percent. All games are Friday.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (0-3) at Mishawaka (1-2): The Cavemen won a pair contest Adams in 2016 by scores of 42-13 and 43-14. Jayden Miller ran seven yards for a score in the Eagles’ 36-19 loss to Riley. Chris Harness had a two-point conversion run in Mishawaka’s 42-15 loss to Chicago Marist. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 33, Adams 13.
Birmingham Brother Rice (Mich.) (1-1) at Elkhart Central (2-1): The Warriors marched past Elkhart Central, 41-17, last season. Mariano Valenti threw for 112 yards in Brother Rice’s 38-0 loss to Penn. Ricky Rocha rambled for 107 yards, including a 46-yard score, in the Blazers’ 28-7 loss to Monroe (Mich.). Matt’s pick: Brother Rice 22, Elkhart Central 16.
Bremen (1-2) at Triton (3-0): The Lions blanked Triton, 42-0, a year ago. Ryan Caldwell tossed for 142 yards in Bremen’s 21-6 loss to Glenn. Drew Stichter had five catches for 65 yards and two scores in the Trojans’ 50-13 win over Caston. Matt’s pick: Triton 31, Bremen 24.
Glenn (2-1, 1-1 NIC) at Jimtown (1-2, 1-0 NIC): The Jimmies rolled to a 33-3 win against Glenn a season ago. Zach Neiswender found the end zone twice for the Falcons against Bremen. Nic Fann tallied a 38-yard touchdown catch in Jimtown’s 31-14 loss at Angola. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 21, Glenn 13.
Marian (3-0, 1-0 NIC) at Riley (2-1, 1-0 NIC) (Jackson Field): The Knights crowned Riley, 44-0, last year. Julian Keultjes returned from an injury to run nine times for 52 yards in Marian’s 14-13 win over Saint Joseph. Jalen Jennings hauled in five receptions for 136 yards and a score for the Wildcats against Adams. Matt’s pick: Marian 37, Riley 20.
New Prairie (2-1, 0-0 NIC) at Washington (2-1, 0-1 NIC) (School Field): The Cougars clawed past Washington, 49-7, in their last meeting. Chris Mays tallied 152 yards on the ground on just six carries in New Prairie’s 42-3 win at Andrean. Devonta Hall returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 41-0 blanking of Clay. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 34, Washington 18.
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (Mich.) (0-2) at Penn (2-1): The defending Michigan Division 3 state champion Eaglets suffered a 10-7 loss to Penn last season. A 21-0 setback to East Kentwood was the first time Orchard Lake had been shutout since 2013. Zach Usenick caught a 22-yard touchdown pass for the Kingsmen against Brother Rice. Matt’s pick: Penn 24, Orchard Lake 21.
Saint Joseph (0-3) at Clay (0-3): The Indians rolled to a 44-6 win against Clay a season ago. Ashton Ruszkowski scored from a yard out in Saint Joe’s contest against Marian. Ashton Smith had a 34-yard reception for the Colonials against Washington. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 40, Clay 12.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (3-0, 2-0 NLC) at Wawasee (1-2, 0-1 NLC): The Minutemen held on for a 49-40 win over Wawasee last year. Ethan Cain scampered for 72 yards and a score in Concord’s 15-12 upset of top-ranked (Class 4A) NorthWood. Jacob Hand caught a 15-yard pass for a touchdown and returned a punt 75 yards for another tally in the Warriors’ 37-12 loss at Northridge. Matt’s pick: Concord 27, Wawasee 10.
Goshen (1-2, 1-0 NLC) at NorthWood (2-1, 0-1 NLC): The Panthers claimed a 35-12 victory at Goshen a year ago. Dominick Swinney tied a school-record with three interceptions in the RedHawks’ 24-8 triumph over Elkhart Memorial. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 42, Goshen 15.
Northridge (3-0, 1-0 NLC) at Plymouth (3-0, 1-0 NLC): The Raiders earned a 22-14 win against Plymouth last season. Nick Hooley passed for two scores and ran for third tally for Northridge against Wawasee. Benji Nixon found the end zone twice in the Rockies’ 42-7 triumph at Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 30, Northridge 19.
Warsaw (1-2, 0-1 NLC) at Elkhart Memorial (0-3, 0-2 NLC): The Tigers roared past Elkhart Memorial, 49-6, a season ago. Braden Weaver recorded eight tackles for Warsaw against Plymouth. Tyler Lehner had the lone touchdown for the Chargers against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 23, Elkhart Memorial 14.
HOOSIER NORTH CONFERENCE
Culver (2-1) at West Central (0-3): The Cavaliers charged past West Central, 41-8, in their last matchup. Ryan Tompos threw for 71 yards and a score in Culver’s 27-10 loss to Knox. Dalton Sizemore rambled for 127 yards in the Trojans’ 39-22 loss to Tri-County. Matt’s pick: Culver 28, West Central 11.
North Judson (1-2, 1-1 HNC) at Knox (3-0, 2-0 HNC): The Redskins were a 39-0 winner at North Judson in 2016. The Bluejays allowed 35 points in the second quarter of their 69-14 loss to Rensselaer Central. Dawson Patrick scampered for 127 yards and four touchdowns in Knox’s win at Culver. Matt’s pick: Knox 43, North Judson 10.
Pioneer (3-0, 2-0 HNC) at Caston (1-2, 0-2 HNC): The Panthers smashed Caston, 62-0, last season. Miles Vontobel had a pair of touchdowns in Pioneer’s 41-0 win at LaVille. Blake Albright had a one-yard scoring run in the Comets loss at Triton. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 49, Caston 6.
Winamac (1-2, 0-2 HNC) at LaVille (1-2, 0-2 HNC): The Lancers posted a 28-6 win at Winamac a year ago. Harley Pugh rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Warriors’ 23-7 win at North White. Kolby Watts had 15 yards on the ground for LaVille against Pioneer. Matt’s pick: Winamac 14, LaVille 12.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (1-2, 0-1 DAC) at Lake Central (1-2. 0-1 DAC): The Bulldogs came away with two wins against Lake Central last season by counts of 17-3 and 10-6. Ethan Potosky had 10 tackles in Crown Point’s 34-26 loss to Merrillville. Zach Bundalo threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the Indians’ 40-14 loss to Portage. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 25, Lake Central 22.
LaPorte (1-2, 0-1 DAC) at Chesterton (2-1, 0-1 DAC): The Slicers won twice against Chesterton a season ago by scores of 49-14 and 17-7. Nate Lorenz’s 109 yards rushing was not enough for LaPorte in a 17-6 loss to Valparaiso. Andrew Zimmerman romped for 65 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ 35-14 loss at Michigan City. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 35, Chesterton 16.
Michigan City (2-1, 1-0 DAC) at Valparaiso (3-0, 1-0 DAC): The Vikings crushed Michigan City, 29-0, a year ago. Daelon Wren scampered for 126 yards and two scores for the Wolves against Chesterton. Jesse Harper ran for 92 yards and caught a pass for a score in Valparaiso’s win at LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 29, Valparaiso 27.
Portage (1-2, 1-0 DAC) at Merrillville (1-2, 1-0 DAC): The Indians are out to make amends for two losses to Merrillville last year by scores of 20-14 and 22-21. Jalen Smith tallied 75 yards rushing and a touchdown for Portage against Lake Central. Justin Rhodes raced for a pair of scores in the Pirates’ win at Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Portage 38, Merrillville 36.
INDEPENDENTS
Culver Academy (3-0) at Western (1-2): The Eagles soared past Western, 36-0, last year. Carson Bellman romped for 55 yards and a score in Culver Academy’s 44-0 blanking of Indianapolis Arlington. Tyler Knepley accumulated 319 yards on the ground and four touchdowns in the Panthers’ 42-28 loss to West Lafayette. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 39, Western 33.
