The 2025 campaign got off to a rough start as I went 14-10 (58 percent) last week. Here’s hoping things are better the second time around.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (1-0) at Logansport (1-0): The Berries were a 35-6 winner over Adams last season. Amani McKeel totaled 10 carries for 50 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 35-7 win over Culver Academy. Quincy Jackson hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass in Logansport’s 48-0 win over Peru. Matt’s pick: Logansport 39, Adams 14.
Culver Academy (1-0) at Marian (0-1): The Knights held on for a 28-24 win at Culver Academy a year ago. The Eagles were limited to 187 total yards and outscored 29-0 in the second half against Adams. Vinny Gruber registered 20 rushes for 62 yards in Marian’s 35-7 loss to No. 3 (Class 4A) Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Marian 32, Culver Academy 16.
Elkhart (0-1) at Northridge (0-1): The Lions roared to a 21-6 win over Northridge last year. Chase Bussard racked up 17 tackles and caused a pair of fumbles in Elkhart’s 35-29 loss to No. 7 (Class 5A) Concord. Adam Sloop ended with 13 carries for 49 yards in the Raiders’ 21-7 loss to Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 31, Northridge 19.
Fort Wayne Wayne (0-1) at Riley (1-0) (Jackson Field): The Generals marched past Riley, 28-7, during the 2012 campaign. Jayce White went 15-of-28 for 83 yards and ran four times for 28 yards in Wayne’s 42-0 loss to No. 4 (Class 4A) East Noble. On their way to a 35-0 win, the Wildcats outscored Hammond Bishop Noll, 26-0, in the second half. Matt’s pick: Riley 27, Fort Wayne Wayne 18.
Goshen (0-1) at Washington (1-0) (Everwise School Field): The Panthers are hoping to make up for a 42-3 loss to Goshen in the 1999 Class 4A sectional semifinals. Carter Diaz went 17-of-21 for 195 yards with three scores and carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards in the RedHawks’ 30-23 loss to Fairfield. Elijah Young completed 12-of-27 for 169 yards with three touchdowns and ran five times for 27 yards in Washington’s 31-0 win at Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Washington 33, Goshen 30.
Mishawaka (1-0) at Penn (1-0): The No. 3 (Class 4A) Cavemen clubbed No. 9 (Class 6A) Penn, 27-7, a season ago. Kadyn O’Neal tallied 12 carries for 82 yards with a score for Mishawaka against Marian. Jeremiah Mitchell ended with three catches for 81 yards with a touchdown in the Kingsmen’s 21-13 win at Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 24, Penn 20.
NorthWood (0-1) at New Prairie (0-1): The Panthers picked up a Class 4A regional crown in 2023 with a 38-14 win against New Prairie. Brady Weaver scampered eight times for 35 yards with a touchdown in NorthWood’s 27-24 loss to Columbia City. Sully Kress came up with four receptions for 145 yards with a score in the Cougars’ 32-14 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 26, New Prairie 23.
Saint Joseph (1-0) at Fort Wayne South (0-1): The Huskies posted a 21-9 win against Fort Wayne South a year ago. Antwone Ross amassed a pair of scores in Saint Joseph’s 36-6 win over Lakeland. The Archers were outscored 20-7 in the fourth quarter in a 48-42 loss to Marion. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 44, Fort Wayne South 14.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Jimtown (0-1) at Concord (1-0): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Minutemen cruised to a 49-28 victory at Jimtown last year. Owen Glass romped two yards into the end zone in the Jimmies’ 10-9 loss to Wawasee. Chase Thompson caught a 35-yard touchdown pass for Concord against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Concord 42, Jimtown 17.
Plymouth (0-1) at Columbia City (1-0): The Rockies are looking to make amends for a 42-13 loss to Columbia City a season ago. Grady Metsker caught a 24-yard pass and completed a 31-yard pass in Plymouth’s 20-3 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Corbin McIntosh contributed 15 rushes for 61 yards with a score for the Eagles against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Columbia City 38, Plymouth 12.
Warren Central (0-1) at Warsaw (1-0): The Warriors blanked No. 7 (Class 5A) Warsaw, 34-0, in their last meeting. Terrell Harris recorded 14 tackles in Warren Central’s 24-6 loss to No. 2 (Class 6A) Center Grove. Parker Sweet came up with the game-saving interception in the closing seconds of the Tigers’ 38-30 win over Fort Wayne Snider. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 32, Warren Central 26.
Wawasee (1-0) at West Noble (1-0): The Chargers rolled to a 55-6 win against Wawasee during the 2024 season. Johnny Zachary returned a punt 20 yards for a touchdown for the Warriors against Jimtown. Trey Shisler was 7-of-16 for 102 yards with two scores in West Noble’s 35-8 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: West Noble 34, Wawasee 10.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE
Bremen (0-1) at Triton (0-1): The Lions clawed their way to a 21-3 win over Triton last season. Brayden Pearish managed a four-yard touchdown run in Bremen’s 36-7 loss to Churubusco. Colton Reynolds totaled 11 tackles and caused a fumble in the Trojans’ 28-0 loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Triton 13, Bremen 8.
Fairfield (1-0) at Glenn (1-0): The Falcons soared to a 25-8 win against Fairfield in the 2023 Class 3A sectional semifinals. Warren Kaufman accounted for 116 yards and three scores on 19 carries for Fairfield against Goshen. Ayden White picked off a pair of passes in Glenn’s 43-0 blanking of Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Glenn 35, Fairfield 32.
Knox (1-0) at Pioneer (1-0): The No. 6 (Class 3A) Redskins crushed No. 10 (Class 1A) Pioneer, 57-6, a year ago. Cain Weber raced six times for 82 yards with a touchdown and caught a 50-yard pass for another score in Knox’s 38-6 win over No. 9 (Class 1A) North Judson. Shiloh Rine ended with six rushes for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 28-0 win over Lewis Cass. Matt’s pick: Knox 41, Pioneer 23.
LaVille (1-0) at North Judson (0-1): The No. 9 Bluejays captured a 2024 Class 1A sectional crown with a 44-18 decision over LaVille. Lawrence Wood rambled 16 times for 76 yards with a touchdown for the Lancers against Triton. Zander Nowak caught a touchdown pass for North Judson against Knox. Matt’s pick: North Judson 21, LaVille 17.
Tippecanoe Valley (1-0) at Rochester (1-0): The Vikings earned a 22-12 win over Rochester in last year’s “Bell” game. Grady Moriarty accumulated 14 carries for 79 yards for Tippecanoe Valley against Plymouth. Kale Shotts racked up eight rushes for 125 yards with three touchdowns in the Zebras’ 42-0 win over Southwood. Matt’s pick: Rochester 38, Tippecanoe Valley 24.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (1-0) at Indianapolis Pike (0-1): Brayden Schutt ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the No. 4 (Class 6A) Bulldogs’ 38-7 win against Lowell. Josh Murray caught a pass for a score for the Red Devils against Zionsville. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 43, Pike 11,
Grand Rapids Catholic (Michigan) (7-5) at Lake Central (1-0): The Indians suffered a 17-10 setback to Grand Rapids Catholic a year ago. The Cougars dropped a 42-35 decision to MHSAA Division 5 state runner-up Frankenmuth in last year’s semifinal round. Cameron Reddick scampered for 204 yards and four scores and also added eight tackles in Lake Central’s 45-28 win against Munster. Matt’s pick: Grand Rapids Catholic 20, Lake Central 14.
Hammond Morton (1-0) at Chesterton (0-1): The Trojans marched past Hammond Morton, 36-23, last season. Amari Price went 8-of-10 for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the Governors’ 35-7 win over Portage. Hunter Boyd was 19-of-33 for 122 yards in Chesterton’s 20-3 loss to Hobart. Matt’s pick: Hammond Morton 29, Chesterton 26,
Hobart (1-0) at Portage (0-1): The Indians opened the 2004 campaign with a 24-7 win over Hobart. Bryce Tolliver added seven catches for 68 yards with a score for the Brickies against Chesterton. Kodie Young ran two yards for a touchdown for Portage against Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Hobart 40, Portage 9.
LaPorte (1-0) at Lowell (0-1): The Red Devils claimed a 28-6 win at LaPorte a season ago. Reed Robinson finished with 267 yards on the ground with three scores and also returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown for the Slicers against New Prairie. Roan Vasko chipped in eight tackles for Lowell against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 28, Lowell 26.
Loyola Academy (Illinois) (12-2) at Merrillville (1-0): Henry Newton’s 47 tackles helped the Ramblers to their third straight Class 8A state championship. Stanley Freeman registered nine tackles with three for loss and a quarterback sack in the No. 3 (Class 5A) Pirates’ 41-14 win over No. 7 (Class 2A) Andrean. Matt’s pick: Loyola Academy 37, Merrillville 35.
Michigan City (1-0) at Lafayette Jeff (0-1): The Wolves dropped a 17-13 contest to No. 10 (Class 5A) Lafayette Jeff last year. Zaire McKinney came up with two receptions for 103 yards with a score in Michigan City’s 31-0 win over Hanover Central. Bryce Vanostran notched eight catches for 129 yards in the Bronchos’ 35-28 loss to top-ranked (Class 4A) Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 25, Michigan City 20.
Valparaiso (0-1) at Chicago Brother Rice (6-4): Quarterback C.J. Gray is one of the leaders for the Crusaders. Evan Courtney recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown for the Vikings against Penn. Matt’s pick: Brother Rice 17, Valparaiso 13.
