Things did not go so well a week ago as I went 16-7 (70 percent). Here is hoping it is better the second time around for me.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Fort Wayne South (0-1) at Saint Joseph (0-1): The Huskies cruised to a 41-3 win at Fort Wayne South a year ago. Josiah Malone ran for a pair of touchdowns in the Archers’ 28-21 loss to Marion. Cle Kimbrough hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in Saint Joseph’s 21-20 loss at Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 32, Fort Wayne South 16.
Logansport (1-0) at Adams (0-1) (Everwise School Field): The Eagles edged Logansport, 23-22, a season ago. Elliot Baldini scampered 15 times for 75 yards with three scores in the Berries’ 49-7 win at Peru. Anthony Gubi was 11-of-17 for 167 yards with a touchdown in Adams’ 36-14 loss to Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Logansport 40, Adams 20.
Marian (0-1) at Culver Academy (1-0): The Knights slipped past Culver Academy, 21-14, last year. Brian Osman accounted for 86 yards on the ground with a touchdown on 12 attempts in Marian’s 41-24 loss to Mishawaka. Trey Schumacher returned an interception 32 yards for a score for the Eagles against Adams. Matt’s pick: Marian 34, Culver Academy 30.
New Prairie (1-0) at Goshen (0-1): The No. 3 (Class 4A) Cougars clawed by Goshen, 29-10, last season. Zac Henrich registered 26 carries for 167 yards with a score in New Prairie’s 33-14 win over LaPorte. Carter Diaz completed 10-of-15 for 204 yards with two touchdowns in the RedHawks’ 55-17 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 42, Goshen 14.
Northridge (0-1) at Elkhart (0-1): The Raiders managed a 35-29 win over Elkhart during the 2023 campaign. Derek Sherwood and Northridge were held scoreless in the fourth quarter in a 32-20 loss to Fort Wayne North. Connor Dow tallied a one-yard touchdown run in the Lions’ 13-12 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 25, Northridge 23.
Penn (1-0) at Mishawaka (1-0): The No. 10 (Class 6A) Kingsmen crowned No. 4 (Class 4A) Mishawaka, 28-7, a year ago. Quinn Watson came up with the game-winning quarterback sack in Penn’s 49-42 win over Valparaiso. Carson Francis found the end zone for the Cavemen against Marian. Matt’s pick: Penn 37, Mishawaka 22.
Riley (1-0) at Fort Wayne Wayne (1-0): Muri Jackson racked up 13 tackles with five for loss and recorded a pair of safeties in the Wildcats’ 35-0 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Harold Mack ran seven times for 90 yards with a touchdown, caught three passes for 27 yards with a score, and completed a 57-yard pass in the Generals’ 40-34 win over Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Wayne 39, Riley 33.
New Albany (0-1) vs. Washington (0-1) (5:30 p.m., Saturday at Sheridan): Henry Dixon booted a pair of field goals in the Bulldogs’ 47-6 loss to Franklin. Jaylen Johnson forced a fumble in the Panthers’ 28-24 loss to Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Washington 23, New Albany 16.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Columbia City (1-0) at Plymouth (1-0): The Eagles soared to a 42-14 win against Plymouth last season. Grayson Bradberry went 9-of-13 for 183 yards with three scores in Columbia City’s 42-0 blanking of Churubusco. Finnigan Holm scampered 22 times for 130 yards with a touchdown in the Rockies’ 53-20 win over Twin Lakes. Matt’s pick: Columbia City 43, Plymouth 29.
Concord (1-0) at Jimtown (0-1): The Minutemen marched past Jimtown, 27-10, in their last meeting. Bo Brunner accounted for a 48-yard scoring run for Concord against Elkhart. Xander Hummel managed a six-yard touchdown run for the Jimmies in their 34-12 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Concord 31, Jimtown 13.
Portage (1-0) at NorthWood (1-0): The No. 7 (Class 4A) Panthers roared to a 49-7 win at Portage last year. Daequon Fields exploded for 30 carries for 205 yards with three scores in the Indians’ 41-17 win over Hammond Morton. Jeff Eash hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass for NorthWood against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 36, Portage 16.
Warsaw (1-0) at Warren Central (1-0): Quinton Brock raced for 114 yards with a score in the No. 4 (Class 5A) Tigers’ 20-7 win over Michigan City. Anthony Dennison was 6-of-14 for 140 yards with a touchdown in the No. 4 (Class 6A) Warriors’ 15-0 win over defending Class 5A state champion Fort Wayne Snider. Matt’s pick: Warren Central 31, Warsaw 17.
West Noble (1-0) at Wawasee (0-1): The Chargers squeezed past Wawasee, 20-12, a season ago. Seth Pruitt accounted for 15 rushes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in West Noble’s 55-7 win over Central Noble. Cameron Senter completed an 11-yard pass and ran 14 times for 49 yards in the Warriors’ 44-0 loss at Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: West Noble 44, Wawasee 10.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE
Edwardsburg (Michigan) (0-0) at Glenn (1-0): Grady Ostrander is one of the leaders in the backfield for the Eddies (5-5). Brayden Benwell scampered for 134 yards with touchdown and threw a 51-yard pass for another score in the Falcons’ 27-17 win over Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Glenn 26, Edwardsburg 24.
North Judson (1-0) at LaVille (0-1): The No. 2 (Class 1A) Bluejays are looking to make amends for a 23-20 loss to LaVille last year. Brock Benson scored a pair of touchdowns in North Judson’s 42-21 win over Knox. Xzavien Lafave managed a 24-yard scoring reception in the Lancers’ 27-6 loss to Triton. Matt’s pick: North Judson 24, LaVille 12.
Pioneer (1-0) at Knox (0-1): The No. 7 (Class 3A) Redskins rolled to a 50-8 win against Pioneer last season. Micah Rans rambled 18 times for 95 yards with touchdowns and returned a punt 68 yards for another tally in the Panthers’ 42-14 win over Lewis Cass. Cain Weber caught a touchdown pass for Knox against North Judson. Matt’s pick: Knox 33, Pioneer 18,
Rochester (1-0) at Tippecanoe Valley (1-0): The Zebras suffered a 39-8 loss to No. 8 (Class 3A) Tippecanoe Valley a year ago. Zakk Parks took an interception back 46 yards for a score in Rochester’s 47-0 win over Wabash. Owen Omondi caught a 47-yard touchdown pass for the Vikings against Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 30, Rochester 26.
Triton (1-0) at Bremen (0-1): The Lions recorded a 28-21 win against No. 6 (Class 1A) Triton in their last matchup. Jayden Overmyer carried the ball 20 times for 134 yards and three scores for the Trojans against LaVille. Carson Anderson raced 40 yards with Bremen’s lone score in a 42-6 loss at East Noble. Matt’s pick: Triton 27, Bremen 15.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Andrean (0-1) at Valparaiso (0-1): The No. 5 (Class 5A) Vikings posted a 55-18 win over Andrean last season. Brady Elish went 21-of-33 for 191 in the 59ers’ 27-0 loss at Merrillville. yards Julian Stokes tallied six receptions for 153 yards with three touchdowns and ran 10 yards for another tally for Valparaiso against Penn. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 40, Andrean 16.
Arizona College Prep (0-0) at Crown Point (1-0): Alec Grant ended up with 86 carries for 422 yards with five touchdowns for the Knights (8-4). Tommy Guadagno notched a one-yard scoring run in the No. 2 (Class 6A) Bulldogs’ 44-7 win over Lowell. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 37, Arizona College Prep 34.
Chesterton (1-0) at Hammond Morton (0-1): Andrew Govera totaled 119 yards on the ground with a touchdown in the Trojans’ 27-9 win over Hobart. Lebron Hill grabbed four passes for 85 yards with two scores for the Governors against Portage. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 30, Hammond Morton 19.
Lafayette Jeff (1-0) at Michigan City (0-1): The Wolves were a 36-30 winner over Lafayette Jeff a season ago. Keyen Crowder went 26-of-36 for 263 yards with five scores in the Bronchos’ 41-28 win over Avon. Jamin Harvell recorded a 64-yard touchdown reception for Michigan City against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 31, Michigan City 29.
Lake Central (1-0) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (Michigan) (0-0): Jimmy Johnsen and the Indians mustered 14 points in the second and third quarter in their 38-0 blanking of Munster. Jami Williams had more than 700 receiving yards for the Cougars (13-1), who claimed the 2023 MHSAA Division 5 state title with a 21-7 win over Corunna. Matt’s pick: Grand Rapids 41, Lake Central 18.
Lowell (0-1) at LaPorte (0-1): The Red Devils claimed a 26-7 win against LaPorte last season. Caden Thompson amassed 11 rushes for 35 yards with a score for Lowell against Crown Point. Jack Borelli came up with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery for the Slicers against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Lowell 21, LaPorte 17.
Merrillville (1-0) at Hobart (0-1): The top-ranked (Class 5A) Pirates earned a 31-12 win over Hobart a year ago. Cameron Jordan totaled six rushes for 62 yards with a score for Merrillville against Andrean. Aidan Leonard grabbed a 53-yard touchdown reception for the Brickies against Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 35. Hobart 18.