I made some progress by going 18-7 (72 percent) this past week. Heading into the third go-around, my overall mark is now 32-17, which is good for 65 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (1-1) at Marian (1-1): The Knights crowned Adams, 41-8, last season. Jacob Wahlen totaled eight tackles and an interception in the Eagles’ 54-6 loss to Logansport. Lucas Marr went 5-of-6 for 96 yards and ran eight times for 47 yards with two touchdowns in Marian’s 21-14 win over Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Marian 30, Adams 12.
Elkhart (1-1) at Washington (1-1) (Everwise School Field): The Panthers suffered a 69-0 loss to Elkhart a year ago. Amareon Kemery registered eight tackles in the Lions’ 17-7 win at Northridge. Tehran Parker scampered 10 times for 48 yards in Washington’s 38-21 loss to Goshen. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 40, Washington 16.
New Prairie (0-2) at Saint Joseph (1-1): The Huskies were a 7-0 winner at New Prairie a season ago. Colter Smith managed 10 rushes for 59 yards and 13 tackles in the Cougars’ 51-14 loss to NorthWood. Evan Balint came up with a fumble recovery in Saint Joseph’s 26-0 win at Fort Wayne South. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 23, New Prairie 13.
Riley (2-0) at Penn (2-0): The No. 8 (Class 6A) Kingsmen cruised to a 35-7 win over Riley last year. Tyrese Jones racked up a 16-yard touchdown catch in the Wildcats’ 33-6 win over Fort Wayne South. Chase Buckwheat registered a four-yard reception for a score in Penn’s 28-22 win over Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Penn 42, Riley 6.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (2-0) at Mishawaka (1-1): The No. 5 (Class 5A) Minutemen slipped past No. 5 (Class 4A) Mishawaka in their last matchup. Zack Myers contributed 12 tackles in Concord’s 41-13 win over Jimtown. Alex Demaegd finished with 11 tackles for the Cavemen against Penn. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 33, Concord 31.
NorthWood (1-1) at Wawasee (1-1): The Panthers cruised to a 49-14 win over Wawasee last season. Deondray Monroe caught six passes for 99 yards with a score against New Prairie. Kaden Andrew mustered an 85-yard touchdown catch in the Warriors’ 35-19 loss to No. 10 (Class 3A) West Noble. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 37, Wawasee 10.
Plymouth (0-2) at Northridge (0-2): The Rockies are looking to make amends for a 13-7 loss to Northridge last year. Ben Shively was 8-of-11 for 60 yards and carried the ball 10 times for 56 yards with a touchdown in Plymouth’s 35-13 loss to No. 7 (Class 4A) Columbia City. Keivontre Copeland caught eight passes for 64 yards with a score for the Raiders against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Northridge 14, Plymouth 12,
Warsaw (1-1) at Goshen (1-1): The No. 8 (Class 5A) Tigers eliminated Goshen from the 2024 Class 5A playoffs with a 52-7 triumph. Daylon Fitzpatrick accounted for one of Warsaw’s touchdowns in a 28-14 loss to Warren Central. Colton Rapp managed two catches for 61 yards with a touchdown for the RedHawks against Washington. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 41, Goshen 11,
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE
Boone Grove (1-1) at Bremen (0-2): The Wolves and Bremen are making their first appearance together on the gridiron. Sal Montes carried the ball 18 times for 264 yards with four touchdowns and went 1-of-3 for 42 yards in Boone Grove’s 27-23 win over South Central. Derek Miller rolled up seven tackles in the Lions’ 14-0 loss to Triton. Matt’s pick: Bremen 18, Boone Grove 15.
Central Noble (0-2) at LaVille (1-1): The Lancers blanked Central Noble, 27-0, during the 2024 campaign. Treyton Fletcher was 16-of-30 for 184 yards in the Cougars’ 31-8 loss to Woodlan. Braedyn Foster registered 17 tackles in LaVille’s 21-14 loss to No. 7 (Class 1A) North Judson. Matt’s pick: LaVille 38, Central Noble 8,
Culver Academy (0-2) at Knox (2-0): The Eagles rallied for a 47-46 win over No. 5 (Class 3A) Knox a year ago. Culver Academy came up 14 points in the fourth quarter against Marian. Easton Minix added seven tackles in the Redskins’ 38-20 win over Pioneer. Matt’s pick: Knox 43, Culver Academy 15.
Fairfield (2-0) at Jimtown (0-2): The Jimmies posted a 35-0 win at Fairfield a season ago. Warren Kaufman ran 43 times for 234 yards with four touchdowns in the Falcons’ 38-20 win over Glenn. Owen Glass raced 28 times for 128 yards for Jimtown against Concord. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 21, Fairfield 19,
Glenn (1-1) at Rensselaer Central (2-0): The Falcons claimed a Class 2A sectional crown in 2001 with a 20-14 decision over Rensselaer Central. Blake Wright registered 11 tackles, a quarterback sack, and a 19-yard reception for Glenn against Fairfield. Logan Metzger raced four times for 52 yards with a score in the Bombers’ 52-6 win over North Newton. Matt’s pick: Rensselaer Central 36, Glenn 22,
Tippecanoe Valley (2-0) at Hamilton Heights (0-2): This marks the first get together between the Vikings and Hamilton Heights. Diego Gonsalez totaled 16 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries in Tippecanoe Valley’s 7-2 win at Rochester. Drew Woodruff completed 13-of-31 for 181 yards with a score in the Huskies’ 28-13 loss to No. 6 (Class 2A) Triton Central. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 28, Hamilton Heights 24.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (1-1) at Michigan City (1-1): The Trojans needed overtime to escape with a 28-21 win over Michigan City in the 2024 Class 5A sectional semifinals. Mace Redman’s 33-yard field goal was the difference in Chesterton’s 20-19 win over Hammond Morton. Meek Laurent ended with seven catches for 81 yards with a touchdown in the Wolves’ 46-29 loss to No. 9 (Class 5A) Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 35, Chesterton 32.
Merrillville (1-1) at Crown Point (2-0): The No. 4 (Class 6A) Bulldogs rolled to a 46-13 win over No. 6 (Class 5A) Merrillville a season ago. Michael Hill was 19-of-35 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and ran seven times for 44 yards in the Pirates’ 21-14 loss to Loyola Academy (Illinois). Oscar Biasi came up with an interception in Crown Point’s 21-0 win at Indianapolis Pike. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 17, Merrillville 13.
Portage (0-2) at Lake Central (1-1): The Indians held on for a 23-21 win against Portage a year ago. Amontae Quarles scampered 61 yards for a touchdown in the Indians’ 52-21 loss to Hobart. Brian Rzyski returned an interception for a score in Lake Central’s 30-7 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 25, Portage 14.
Valparaiso (0-2) at LaPorte (1-1): The Vikings marched past LaPorte, 42-7, last season. Gage Finlay amassed 18 carries for 95 yards with a score in Valparaiso’s 43-19 loss to Chicago Brother Rice. Lucas DelRio racked up 11 tackles in the Slicers’ 34-6 loss to Lowell. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 33, LaPorte 20.
