LaPorte’s 12-0 blanking of Portage was my lone blemish as I went 15-1 (94 percent) for the second straight week. Heading into the playoffs. my overall record is 127-27, which leaves me at 82 percent for the season.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hobart (7-2) at New Prairie (7-2): The Cougars claimed the 2022 sectional crown with a 49-28 win at Hobart. Max Pickett scampered 17 times for 187 yards with five scores in the Brickies’ 48-0 win over Highland. Hayden Scott managed nine tackles in New Prairie’s 16-8 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Hobart 25, New Prairie 24.
Gary West (6-3) at Kankakee Valley (4-5): The Kougars downed Gary West, 35-12, in the 1999 sectional quarterfinals. Omarion Youghbor raced 16 times for 179 yards with two touchdowns in the Cougars’ 30-28 win over Calumet New Tech. Marco Castro accumulated 30 rushes for 320 yards with two scores in Kankakee Valley’s 28-24 loss to Munster. Matt’s pick: Kankakee Valley 32, Gary West 30.
East Chicago Central (1-8) at Highland (3-6): The Trojans opened last year’s playoffs with a 55-0 blanking of East Chicago Central. The Cardinals’ 46-2 loss to Hammond Morton marked the sixth time they have been limited to eight or fewer points. Nick Johnson recorded 16 tackles for Highland against Hobart. Matt’s pick: Highland 38, East Chicago Central 3.
Culver Academy (3-6) at Lowell (4-5): The Red Devils posted a 27-14 win over Culver Academy in last season sectional opener. Foster Stockton came up with three catches for 33 yards in the Eagles’ 42-7 loss to No. 3 (Class 3A) Guerin Catholic. Colton Scott raced 16 times for 132 yards with a score in Lowell’s 16-14 win over Andrean. Matt’s pick: Lowell 23, Culver Academy 10.
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Washington (2-7) at Plymouth (2-7): The Rockies were a 46-24 winner over Washington in the 2014 sectional quarterfinals. Torrey Wilson hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the Panthers’ 53-20 loss to Glenn. Brady Coffin accounted for seven tackles in Plymouth’s 46-6 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 34, Washington 15.
NorthWood (7-2) at Saint Joseph (4-5): The Panthers eliminated Saint Joseph, 52-24, a season ago in the sectional semifinals. Landon Perry finished with 19 carries for 124 yards in NorthWood’s 22-0 win over Goshen. Gerry Jones converted a 26-yard field goal in Saint Joe’s 16-10 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 44, Saint Joseph 17.
Riley (8-1) at Wawasee (1-8): Dominick Jolley carried the ball 26 times for 183 yards with a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 24-12 win over Jimtown. Jayden Stahl ended with nine tackles in the Warriors’ 41-22 loss to No. 9 (Class 5A) Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Riley 43, Wawasee 11.
Northridge (7-2) at Logansport (4-5): The No. 8 Raiders managed a 34-24 win over Logansport a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Brayden Clark was 14-of-31 for 135 yards and ran three times for 24 yards in Northridge’s 24-10 loss at Warsaw. Chrisanthony Del Valle tallied 23 carries for 133 yards with three scores in the Berries’ 34-27 win over Anderson. Matt’s pick: Northridge 30, Logansport 16.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Jimtown (4-5) at Fairfield (5-4): The Jimmies cruised past Fairfield. 42-6, in the 2014 sectional opener. Ty Zartman recorded 28 carries for 145 yards with two touchdowns for Jimtown against Riley. Blake Metzger finished with 16 carries for 168 yards with two scores in the Falcons’ 33-0 win over Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 29, Fairfield 18.
Clay (3-6) at Glenn (5-4): The Falcons soared past Clay, 40-0, last year. Liam Wolf went 16-of-27 for 150 yards with a touchdown in the Colonials’ 24-12 win over Bremen’s junior varsity team. Chase Miller was 8-of-20 for 109 yards with two touchdowns, ran 12 times for 56 yards with two scores, intercepted a pass, and recorded a 60-yard punt for the Falcons against Washington. Matt’s pick: Glenn 42, Clay 9.
Knox (9-0) at Lakeland (6-3): The No. 9 Redskins rolled by Lakeland, 65-28, in last season’s sectional quarterfinals. Myles McLaughlin accounted for two scores in Knox’s 50-0 win at Caston. Kenyan Arroyo racked up six receptions for 130 yards with a touchdown in the Lakers’ 32-14 loss against No. 8 (Class 2A) Bluffton. Matt’s pick: Knox 40, Lakeland 19.
Marian (5-4) at West Noble (9-0): The Chargers marched past Marian, 26-14, a season ago in the sectional opener. Jack Diroll came up with five receptions for 82 yards for the Knights against Saint Joseph. Seth Pruitt registered seven rushes for 54 yards with four touchdowns in the Chargers’ 48-7 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: West Noble 31, Marian 29.
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Bremen (4-5) at Hammond Bishop Noll (2-7): The winner hosts Wheeler (6-3) in next week’s semifinal round. Silas Laidig was 14-of-29 for 196 yards in the Lions’ 51-16 loss to No. 3 (Class 3A) Tippecanoe Valley. Elijah Boone netted 31 yards on the ground on 13 attempts in the Warriors’ 45-0 loss to Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Bremen 45, Bishop Noll 6.
Andrean (3-6) at LaVille (8-1): The 59ers recorded a 28-6 win over No. 5 LaVille a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Scott Ballentine went 14-of-26 for 140 yards with two touchdowns and ran nine times for 38 yards for Andrean against Lowell. Cody Allen carried the ball 14 times for 146 yards with three scores in the Lancers’ 52-0 win over Culver. Matt’s pick: LaVille 22, Andrean 14.
Lake Station (2-7) at Whiting (3-6): The Oilers blanked Lake Station, 44-0, during the 2018 campaign. David Parker racked up 13 rushes for 108 yards with a touchdown in the Fighting Eagles’ 62-6 loss to River Forest. Gabe Eggers managed 17 carries for 168 yards with a score in Whiting’s 30-8 win over South Central. Matts’ pick: Whiting 41, Lake Station 8.
