It was another average performance as I went 18-7 (75 percent) last week. This leaves my overall record at 39-13, which is good for 75 percent. All games are Friday.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Chicago Marist (Ill.) (1-0) at Mishawaka (1-1): The Cavemen posted a 21-7 win over Marist in 2010. Billy Skalitzky exploded for a 66-yard touchdown run in the RedHawks’ 23-14 win over Brother Rice. Isaiah Evans tossed an 11-yard scoring pass in Mishawaka’s 31-7 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 27, Marist 20.
Glenn (1-1, 0-1 NIC) at Bremen (1-1, 0-1 NIC): The Lions roared to a 35-7 victory at Glenn last year. Nate Blodgett racked up 15 tackles for the Falcons in their 35-0 loss to Marian. Ryan Caldwell tossed for 112 yards and a touchdown in Bremen’s 36-29 to Riley. Matt’s pick: Bremen 33, Glenn 24.
Jimtown (1-1) at Angola (2-0): The Jimmies are taking on Angola for the first time on the gridiron. Brandon Trosper accounted for Jimtown’s lone touchdown with a four-yard run in a 9-7 win over Washington. Chance Roddy passed for 319 yards and three scores in the Hornets’ 41-35 victory at Leo. Matt’s pick: Angola 30, Jimtown 16.
Monroe (Mich.) (0-1) at Elkhart Central (2-0): The Trojans and Elkhart Central are playing football for the first time. Jordan Doster had four catches for 16 yards in Monroe’s 53-13 loss to Livonia Churchill. Kaleb Hardin’s interception sealed up the Blazers’ 17-14 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 40, Monroe 19.
New Prairie (1-1) at Andrean (2-0): The Cougars earned a pair of wins over Andrean in 2016 by scores of 38-28 and 28-14. Nick Wilson ran for 147 yards and four touchdowns and passed for another score in New Prairie’s 73-0 triumph over Clay. Zach Merrill threw for 160 yards and two scores in the 59ers’ 58-21 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Andrean 31, New Prairie 28.
Penn (1-1) at Birmingham Rice (Mich.) (1-0): The Kingsmen slipped past Birmingham Rice, 10-7, a season ago. Paul Moala’s blocked field preserved Penn’s 7-0 win over Merrillville. Jack Morin had a one-yard dive into the end zone for the Warriors in their 26-7 win over Detroit Jesuit. Matt’s pick: Birmingham Rice 20, Penn 13.
Riley (1-1) at Adams (0-2) (School Field): The Eagles soared to a 37-21 win against Riley a season ago. Anthony Collier rambled for 141 yards and a score and caught a pass for another touchdown for the Wildcats against Riley. Eric Williams caught a seven-yard scoring pass in Adams’ 30-6 loss to Notre Dame (Ill.). Matt’s pick: Riley 35, Adams 34.
Saint Joseph (0-2) at Marian (2-0): The Knights crowned Saint Joe, 42-0, last year. Tim Flanagan has a one-yard touchdown run in the Indians’ 27-10 loss at Northridge. John Brach’s trio of scoring runs lifted Marian past Glenn. Matt’s pick: Marian 32, Saint Joseph 22.
Washington (1-1) at Clay (0-1): The Panthers clawed their way to 21-12 win over Clay a year ago. Cade Wallberg hauled in a 71-yard touchdown pass for Washington against Jimtown. Quintin Gordon managed seven yards rushing for the Colonials against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Washington 29, Clay 10.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Elkhart Memorial (0-2, 0-1 NLC) at Goshen (0-2): The RedHawks earned a 35-14 win over Elkhart Memorial in their last meeting. Austin Arbaugh scampered 64 yards for a score in the Chargers’ 38-14 loss at Concord. Liam Morales ran for 122 yards and a touchdown for Goshen against Elkhart Central. Matt’s pick: Goshen 23, Elkhart Memorial 12.
NorthWood (2-0) at Concord (2-0, 1-0 NLC): The Panthers pounced past Concord, 50-32, a season ago. DeAndre Smart caught a pair of touchdowns passes in NorthWood’s 42-0 blanking of Fairfield. Ethan Cain passed for 81 yards and ran for a score for the Minutemen against Concord. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 36, Concord 21.
Plymouth (2-0) at Warsaw (1-1): The Rockies rolled to a 17-10 win against Warsaw in 2016. Jeremy Drudge booted four extra-points and also intercepted a pass in Plymouth’s 50-13 win over Hammond Morton. Blake Bolland ran for 130 yards and two scores in the Tigers’ 28-7 loss at East Noble. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 25, Warsaw 14.
Wawasee (1-1) at Northridge (2-0): The Warriors were a 21-20 winner over Northridge in two overtimes last season during the regular season, while the Raiders returned the favor with a 21-20 victory against Wawasee in the postseason. Aaron Evans scampered 65 yards for a score in Wawasee’s 31-14 loss at West Noble. Nick Hooley ran and passed for touchdowns in Northridge’s win over Saint Joe. Matt’s pick: Northridge 34, Wawasee 17.
HOOSIER NORTH CONFERENCE
Caston (1-1, 0-1 HNC) at Triton (2-0, 1-0 HNC): The Comets opened the 2016 campaign with a 6-0 win over Triton, while the Trojans blanked Caston, 50-0, in the playoffs. Brady Hartman’s two-yard romp was one of the few bright spots for Caston in a 38-22 loss at North Judson. James Snyder tossed three touchdown passes in Triton’s 22-14 win against LaVille. Matt’s pick: Triton 42, Caston 16.
Knox (2-0, 1-0 HNC) at Culver (2-0, 1-0 HNC): The Redskins blanked Culver, 24-0, a season ago. Knox tallied 34 unanswered points to start the game in its 41-8 victory over West Central. Zac Ditmire ran for 61 yards and a score in the Cavaliers’ 15-0 blanking of South Central. Matt’s pick: Knox 38, Culver 13.
Pioneer (2-0, 1-0 HNC) at LaVille (1-1, 0-1 HNC): The Panthers cruised to a 42-14 win over LaVille last year. Jack Kizer completed 10-of-13 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns in Pioneer’s 61-0 triumph over Winamac. Kolby Watts rambled for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Lancers’ loss at Triton. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 44, LaVille 19.
Rensselaer Central (2-0) at North Judson (1-1): The Bombers blasted past North Judson, 59-6, a year ago. Jylen Gilbert tossed for 210 yards and three scores in Rensselaer’s 45-6 win over North Newton. Fletcher Greer scampered for 118 yards and four touchdowns for the Bluejays against Caston. Matt’s pick: Rensselaer Central 37, North Judson 12.
Winamac (0-2) at North White (0-2): The Warriors marched past North White, 49-14, during the 2014 campaign. Gabe Townsend ran three times for 23 yards for Winamac against Pioneer. Tyler Hook ran for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 47-18 loss to Frontier. Matt’s pick: Winamac 15, North White 10.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (2-0 at Michigan City (1-1): The Wolves blanked Chesterton, 20-0, a season ago. Louie Razo scampered for 93 yards and two scores in the Trojans’ 33-21 win over Munster. Daelon Wren rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown in Michigan City’s 63-21 loss at Homewood Flossmoor. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 39, Chesterton 31.
Merrillville (0-2) at Crown Point (1-1): The Pirates marched to a 41-28 win over Crown Point last fall. Cameron Wright threw for 85 yards for Merrillville against Penn. Scott Mills rambled for 110 yards and a score in the Bulldogs’ 35-6 win over Highland. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 24, Merrillville 23.
Portage (0-2) at Lake Central (1-1): The Indians edged Lake Central, 36-33, last season. Greg Milledge caught four passes for 72 yards in Portage’s 20-7 loss to Lowell. Josh Williams had 71 yards on the ground for the Indians in their 41-0 loss to Lincoln-Way Central. Matt’s pick: Portage 28, Lake Central 27.
Valparaiso (2-0) at LaPorte (1-1): The Slicers got by Valparaiso, 39-38, a year ago. Jesse Harper scampered for 56 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings against Mishawaka. Detrick Merriweather ran for 74 yards and a score in LaPorte’s 34-23 loss at Hobart. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 41, LaPorte 35.
