Things went okay as I posted a 20-6 (77 percent) mark last week. My overall record now stands at 43-10, which leaves me at 81 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
NORTH DIVISION
Andrean (1-1) at New Prairie (2-0): The Cougars crushed Andrean, 42-3, a year ago. Zach Merrill threw for 200 yards and a touchdown in the 59ers’ 24-0 win over Hanover Central. Taylor Adams came up with two fumble recoveries for New Prairie in its 55-0 win at Clay. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 43, Andrean 23.
Birmingham Rice (Michigan) (1-0) at Penn (2-0): The Kingsmen blanked Birmingham Rice, 38-0, a season ago. James Donaldson had a one-yard scoring run in the Warriors’ 28-0 blanking of Detroit Jesuit. George Ohlson hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass in Penn’s 28-16 win at Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Penn 32, Birmingham Rice 21.
Elkhart Central (2-0) at Monroe (Michigan) (1-0): The Trojans cruised to a 28-7 win over Elkhart Central. Sunrise Price had an 84-yard scoring reception in the Blazers’ 52-7 win over Goshen. Maleik Linton threw for two touchdowns and ran two scores in Monroe’s 36-18 victory over Airport. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 31, Monroe 30.
Marian (2-0) at Saint Joseph (2-0): The Knights edged Saint Joseph, 14-13, in their last meeting. Michael Schnippel came up with a fumble recovery for Marian in its 28-7 win over Glenn. Teddy Maggin recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for Saint Joe in its 10-0 blanking of Northridge. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 28, Marian 26.
Mishawaka (2-0) at Chicago Marist (Illinois) (0-1): The RedHawks rolled to a 42-15 win over Mishawaka in 2017. Sam Shively found the end zone twice for the Cavemen in a 29-20 win over Valparaiso. Mike Market tossed for 162 yards with a touchdown and ran for 92 yards and a score for Marist in a 20-16 loss to Brother Rice (Illinois). Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 27, Chicago Marist 23.
SOUTH DIVISION
Adams (1-1) at Riley (1-1) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats roared past Adams, 36-19, last season. Amber Abner converted three extra-points for the Eagles in their 33-6 win over Lowell (Michigan). Jalen Jennings had eight catches for 105 yards in Riley’s 42-12 loss at Bremen. Matt’s pick: Adams 40, Riley 35.
Angola (2-0) at Jimtown (1-1): The Hornets swarmed Jimtown, 31-14, last year. Jarrett Gibson was 7-of-12 for 101 yards and a touchdown in Angola’s 26-0 win over Leo. Clay Campbell threw for 107 yards and two scores in the Jimmies’ 35-0 victory over Washington. Matt’s pick: Angola 26, Jimtown 16.
Bremen (2-0, 1-0 NIC) at Glenn (0-2, 0-1 NIC): The Falcons flew past Bremen, 21-6, a season ago. Alex Stouder ran for two touchdowns for the Lions against Bremen. Nathan Creed came up with a quarterback sack for Glenn against Marian. Matt’s pick: Bremen 36, Glenn 13.
Clay (0-2) at Hammond (0-2): The Colonials and Hammond are meeting for the first time on the gridiron. Quentin Rodriguez went 8-of-18 for 71 yards for Clay against New Prairie. Noah Bailey had 110 yards rushing for the Wildcats in a 48-0 loss to Washington. Matt’s pick: Hammond 9, Clay 6.
Kankakee Valley (0-2) at Washington (1-1) (School Field): The Kougars eliminated Washington from the 2007 playoffs with a 20-18 victory. Wade Williams had a five-yard touchdown run for Kankakee Valley in a 23-9 loss to Wheeler. Jayson Johnson caught three passes for 28 yards for the Panthers against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Washington 33, Kankakee Valley 10.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (1-1, 1-0 NLC) at NorthWood (2-0): The Panthers came up on the short end of a 15-12 decision to Concord last season. Julius James racked up five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown for the Minutemen in a 31-27 win at Elkhart Memorial. Jaden Miller raced for 74 yards and two scores in NorthWood’s 71-0 blanking of Fairfield. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 31, Concord 19.
Goshen (1-1) at Elkhart Memorial (0-2, 0-1 NLC): The RedHawks were a 24-8 winner over Elkhart Memorial last year. Mason Schrock came up with a 27-yard reception for Goshen against Elkhart Central. Lewis D’Arjon returned an interception 32 yards for a score for the Chargers against Concord. Matt’s pick: Goshen 18, Elkhart Memorial 15.
Northridge (1-1) at Wawasee (0-2): The Raiders claimed a 37-12 victory against Wawasee a season ago. Julius Graber accumulated 81 yards of offense for Northridge against Saint Joseph. Before leaving with an injury, Keyan Peete came up with five tackles for the Warriors in a 22-7 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 22, Wawasee 11.
Warsaw (2-0) at Plymouth (1-1): The Rockies crushed Warsaw, 42-7, a year ago. Blake marsh tallied a pair of interceptions for the Tigers in their 17-10 win against East Noble. Ivan Winkle returned a fumble eight yard for a touchdown in Plymouth’s 35-19 win at Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 21, Warsaw 20.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (1-1) at Merrillville (1-1): The Pirates earned their lone victory in 2017 with a 34-26 decision over Crown Point, while the Bulldogs posted a 23-14 win over Merrillville in the Class 6A sectional semifinals. Ethan Potosky racked up eight tackle for Crown Points in its 14-10 win over Highland. Armani Glass hauled in two touchdown passes for Merrillville against Penn. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 29, Merrillville 25.
Lake Central (2-0) at Portage (1-1): The Red Indians trampled Lake Central, 50-14, in their previous matchup. Keysean Wigley finished with three catches for 57 yards and a score in the Blue Indians’ 44-13 win over Hammond Morton. Troy Carrington scooped up a fumble in Portage’s 7-3 upset of top-ranked (Class 4A) Lowell. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 30, Portage 28.
LaPorte (0-2) at Valparaiso (0-2): The Vikings clubbed LaPorte, 17-6, a season ago. Noah Perez ended up with 10 tackles in the Slicers’ 21-20 loss to Hobart. Antonio Osorio tallied nine catches for 65 yards and a touchdown for Valparaiso against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 24, LaPorte 17.
Michigan City (2-0) at Chesterton (1-1): The Wolves posted a 35-14 win over Chesterton last year. Zennon Wilhelm had three receptions for 73 yards and a score in Michigan City’s 33-30 overtime setback to Homewood Flossmoor (Illinois). Bryce Pickering accounted for 117 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the Trojans’ 31-0 triumph over Munster. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 34, Chesterton 22.
HOOSIER NORTH CONFERENCE
Culver (0-2, 0-1 HNC) at Knox (1-1, 1-0 HNC): The Redskins downed Culver, 27-10, a year ago. Zac Ditmire ran 19 times for 152 yards and a score in the Cavaliers’ 35-32 loss to South Central. Jared Prater came up with a 50-yard scoring reception in Knox’s 12-7 loss to Rochester. Matt’s pick: Knox 37, Culver 12.
Delphi (2-0) at North Judson (2-0): The Oracles came away with a 17-14 win against North Judson in the 200o campaign. Aaron Webb scampered 14 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns in Delphi’s 47-14 win over Carroll (Flora). Seth Barnett needed just five carries to tally 160 yards and three touchdowns in the Bluejays’ 56-6 win over Caston. Matt’s pick: Delphi 44, North Judson 38.
LaVille (1-1. 1-0 HNC) at Pioneer (2-0, 1-0 HNC): The defending Class 1A state champion Panthers blanked LaVille twice in 2017 by counts of 41-0 and 38-0. Andrew Dill scampered 14 times for 133 yards and a score in the Lancers’ 19-0 blanking of Triton. Derek Wireman had 12 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns in Pioneer’s 76-0 victory over Winamac. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 49, LaVille 7.
North White (0-2) at Winamac (0-2): The Vikings are looking to avenge a 23-7 loss to Winamac a season ago. Brayden Bushman ran 18 times for 131 yards in North White’s 24-20 loss to Frontier. Dylan Fox registered eight tackles for the Warriors against Pioneer. Matt’s pick: Winamac 19, North White 16.
Triton (1-1, 0-1 HNC) at Caston (0-2, 0-1 HNC): The Trojans marched past Caston, 50-13, last year. Kaden Atkins ended up with two catches for 19 yards for Triton against LaVille. Blake Albright raced 15 times for 37 yards and a touchdown for the Comets against North Judson. Matt’s pick: Triton 45, Caston 9.
INDEPENDENT
Culver Academy (2-0) at Hobart (2-0): The Eagles and Hobart are playing football for the first time. Kenneth Ezeadiugwu scored a pair of touchdowns in Culver Academy’s 51-0 victory over Tippecanoe Valley. Sal Valle recorded 17 tackles for the Brickies against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Hobart 23, Culver Academy 18.
