My good fortune continued as I went 24-0 (100 percent) last week. My overall record is now 175-31, which has now me at 85 percent.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Crown Point (10-0) at Penn (8-2): The No. 2 and defending state runner-up Bulldogs edged Penn, 34-33, in last year’s regional final. Jaedon Parker ran six times for 63 yards and two touchdowns in the Kingsmen’s 35-7 win over Lake Central. Trevor Gibbs caught four passes for 90 yards with a score in Crown Point’s 35-0 win over Portage. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 33, Penn 14.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Fort Wayne Snider (8-2) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (8-2): The No. 10 Chargers posted a 30-6 win over defending Class 5A state champion Fort Wayne Snider on September 20. Brandon Logan returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 14-7 win at No. 6 Elkhart. William Jeffries scampered 20 times for 176 yards with three scores in Carroll’s 48-18 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Fort Wayne) 30, Fort Wayne Snider 24.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 3
Zionsville (4-6) at Westfield (9-1): The No. 3 Shamrocks claimed a 28-10 victory against Zionsville on September 6. Zachary Trent completed 24-of-42 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and ran seven times for 45 yards in the Eagles’ 29-28 win over Carmel. Carsen Melvin went 5-of-9 for 106 yards with two scores in Westfield’s 49-0 blanking of Harrison (West Lafayette). Matt’s pick: Westfield 40, Zionsville 12.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 4
Fishers (6-4) at Hamilton Southeastern (7-3): The Tigers downed No. 9 Hamilton Southeastern, 37-35, on September 13. Ryan Thembulembu raced 22 times for 102 yards with a score and caught a 10-yard pass in Fishers’ 31-21 win over Noblesville. Brennan Baker tallied 17 carries for 138 yards in the Royals’ 20-14 win over Homestead, Matt’s pick: Hamilton Southeastern 21, Fishers 16.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Merrillville (9-1) at Hammond Morton (5-4): The No. 3 Pirates celebrated a sectional crown last year with a 42-18 win over Hammond Morton. Antoine Jenkins returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown as well as a fumble 35 yards for a score in Merrillville’s 63-6 win over Hammond Central. Dashaun Woods came up with a pair of 21-yard touchdown runs in the Governors’ 35-20 win over Munster. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 44, Hammond Morton 13.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Chesterton (6-4) at Valparaiso (7-3): The Trojans suffered a heartbreaking 22-21 overtime loss to No, 7 Valparaiso on September 20. C.J. Perez was 6-of-13 for 129 yards with a touchdown and ran 12 times for 29 yards with two scores in Chesterton’s 28-21 overtime win over Michigan City. Kellen Hosek went 21-of-25 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another score in the Vikings’ 35-7 win over LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 22, Chesterton 18.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Warsaw (7-3) at Concord (10-0): The top-ranked Minutemen rallied for a 28-24 win over No. 9 Warsaw on September 20. Michael Schenck ran four times for 35 yards in the Tigers’ 52-7 win over Goshen. Bo Brunner completed 7-of-13 for 67 yards and carried the ball 12 times for 94 yards with two scores in Concord’s 38-21 win over Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: Concord 31, Warsaw 26.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 12
Kokomo (5-4) at Lafayette Jeff (10-0): The No. 2 Bronchos posted a 38-23 win over Kokomo on September 20. Brixton Morris raced 28 times for 146 yards with three touchdowns in the Wildkats’ 28-21 win over McCutcheon. Omar Williams hauled in seven passes for 105 yards with two scores in Lafayette Jeff’s 62-7 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 41, Kokomo 17.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hanover Central (9-2) at New Prairie (8-3): Tommy Bonner went 15-of-15 for 289 yards with a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 42-14 win over Kankakee Valley. Reed Robinson ran 24 times for 94 yards with a score and the game-winning two-point conversion in the Cougars’ 15-14 win at Hobart. Matt’s pick: Hanover Central 20, New Prairie 19.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Mishawaka (9-2) at NorthWood (6-5): The No. 6 Cavemen clubbed defending state runner-up NorthWood, 35-19, on September 13. Kadyn O’Neal totaled seven rushes for 53 yards with a score in Mishawaka’s 41-14 win over Plymouth. Luke Keim completed 10-of-12 for 117 yards with two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 20-13 overtime win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 39, NorthWood 21,
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
East Noble (10-1) at Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (6-5): The Saints earned a sectional crown in 2013 with a 33-13 win over No. 2 East Noble. Rylee Biddle went 5-of-10 for 57 yards with a touchdown, ran 12 times for 37 yards with two scores, recorded eight tackles, and intercepted a pass in the Knights’ 21-0 win over No. 10 Leo. AJ Shefferly managed seven carries for 37 yards with two scores in Bishop Dwenger’s 25-6 win over Fort Wayne South. Matt’s pick: East Noble 25, Bishop Dwenger 23.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 20
Huntington North (8-3) at Lebanon (9-2): Tony Decker threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for three scores in the Vikings’ 45-6 win over Marion. Jeremiah Howard rambled 16 times for 148 yards with two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 35-28 win over No. 9 Logansport. Matt’s pick: Lebonon 33, Huntington North 22.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Marian (6-5) at Knox (8-3): The Knights crowned Knox, 35-12, during the 2020 campaign. Mitch Fimbel went 11-of-15 for 267 yards with two scores and ran seven times for 27 yards in Marian’s 34-26 win over Jimtown. Jake Conroy registered 11 carries for 218 yards with three touchdowns and caught a 52-yard pass for another tally in the Redskins’ 66-28 win over Griffith. Matt’s pick: Knox 43, Marian 24.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Garrett (11-0) at West Noble (10-1): The No. 4 Railroaders sidelined No, 10 West Noble, 17-6, on September 27. Alex Guzman recorded seven rushes for 111 yards with a score in Garrett’s 42-13 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Trey Shisler completed all four of his passes for 129 yards with a touchdown in the Chargers’ 56-22 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Garrett 21, West Noble 13.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 27
Maconaquah (11-0) at West Lafayette (8-3): The Red Devils picked up a sectional title in 1987 with a 43-23 win over No. 8 Maconaquah. Aiden Robinson was 23-of-31 for 241 yards with four scores in the Braves’ 43-14 win over Twin Lakes. Dawson Martin rambled 25 times for 299 yards with three touchdowns in West Lafayette’s 42-14 win over Northwestern. Matt’s pick: West Lafayette 27, Maconaquah 21.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 28
Mississinewa (11-0) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (7-4): Ah’lijah Monday accumulated 30 carries for 112 yards with a touchdown in the No. 2 Indians’ 21-7 win over Delta. Jacob Feiger racked up 64 yards on the ground with two scores on 11 carries in the defending Class 2A state champion Knights’ 41-6 win over Jay County. Matt’s pick: Mississinewa 25, Bishop Luers 23.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Bremen (7-4) at Andrean (7-4): The 59ers cruised to a 56-13 win over Bremen to capture the 2022 sectional title. Luke Kincaid hauled in four passes for 90 yards with a touchdown in the Lions’ 38-7 win over Rensselaer Central. Ethan Reyna ran 14 times for 124 yards with a score in Andrean’s 19-0 blanking of Wheeler. Matt’s pick: Andrean 40, Bremen 15.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Lafayette Central Catholic (10-0) at North Montgomery (5-6): Mason Meister accounted for 112 yards and two touchdowns on 21 attempts in the top-ranked Knights’ 28-20 win over Western Boone. Kelby Harwood came up with 10 receptions for 174 yards with three scores in the Chargers’ 48-47 win over Lewis Cass. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 48, North Montgomery 11.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 35
Adams Central (10-1) at Eastside (6-5): The No. 4 and three-time defending Class 1A state runner-up Flying Jets blanked Eastside, 43-0, on August 30. Matt Heiser racked up 131 yards on the ground with three scores in Adams Central’s 35-8 win over Churubusco. Job Richman totaled 31 carries for 165 yards with three touchdowns and completed 3-of-9 for 45 yards in the Blazers’ 45-26 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: Adams Central 46, Eastside 10.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 36
Eastern (Greentown) (7-4) at Tipton (7-4): The Comets soared to a 42-0 win over Tipton in last season’s sectional semifinals. Gibson Eagle went 15-of-21 for 210 yards with two touchdowns in Eastern’s 28-24 win over Rochester. Calvin Condict raced 24 times for 117 yards with a score in the Blue Devils’ 21-0 win over Alexandria. Matt’s pick: Tipton 28, Eastern (Greentown) 24.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
LaVille (6-5) at North Judson (11-0): The top-ranked Bluejays flew past LaVille, 32-8, on August 30. Collin Czarnecki went 6-of-9 for 183 yards with two scores in the Lancers’ 49-0 win against North Newton. Jesiah McDaniel came up with six carries for 58 yards with two touchdowns in North Judson’s 58-0 win over Culver. Matt’s pick: North Judson 51, LaVille 8.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 42
Taylor (6-5) at Pioneer (8-3): Jalyn Wooten completed 9-of-14 for 113 yards with a touchdown and ran 23 times for 100 yards with a touchdown in the Titans’ 32-6 win over Tri-County. Micah Rans exploded for 322 yards and five scores on 19 carries in the Panthers’ 49-7 win over No. 2 Carroll (Flora). Matt’s pick: Pioneer 52, Taylor 6.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 43
Triton (8-3) at North Miami (9-2): The No. 10 Warriors slipped past Triton, 21-13, on October 18. Vincent Prater came up with two scores on the ground in the Trojans’ 61-6 win over Southern Wells. Ryan Meredith tallied nine rushes for 98 yards with two touchdowns in North Miami’s 35-7 win over Fremont. Matt’s pick: Triton 19, North Miami 13.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 44
South Adams (6-5) at Madison-Grant (10-1): The Starfires soared to a 44-18 win over No. 5 Madison-Grant in the 2021 sectional quarterfinals. Tytus Lehman went 16-of-28 for 297 yards with four touchdowns in South Adams’ 43-32 win over Tri. OJ Blackwell found the end zone twice in the Argylls’ 45-14 win over Hagerstown. Matt’s pick: Madison-Grant 35, South Adams 26.
