I stumbled a little by going 11-4 (73 percent) this past week. Nearing the midway point of the regular season, my overall mark is now 59-23, which keeps me at 72 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Elkhart (3-1, 2-0 NIC) at New Prairie (0-4, 0-2 NIC): The Lions tamed New Prairie, 17-14, a year ago. Kros Jones racked up 10 tackles in Elkhart’s 39-22 win over Riley. Lucas Halderman totaled nine rushes for 128 yards with a touchdown in the Cougars’ 35-34 loss to Adams. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 34, New Prairie 14.
Penn (4-0, 2-0 NIC) at Marian (2-2, 1-1 NIC): The No. 6 (Class 6A) Kingsmen crowned Marian, 24-7, last season. Chase Buckwheat ran five yards for a score in Penn’s 62-0 win over Washington. Parker Mrozinski finished with 12 tackles in the Knights’ 31-0 loss at Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Penn 42, Marian 10.
Saint Joseph (4-0, 2-0 NIC) at Adams (2-2, 1-1 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The No. 10 (Class 4A) Huskies were a 24-12 winner over Adams last year. Franco Biffle came up with 10 carries for 81 yards with three touchdowns for Saint Joseph against Marian. Amani McKeel had 12 rushes for 104 yards with two scores and caught a five-yard pass for the Eagles against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 38, Adams 15.
Washington (1-3, 0-2 NIC) at Riley (2-2, 0-2 NIC) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats clawed past Washington, 27-20, a season ago. Xzavion Walker had five receptions for 15 yards for the Panthers against Penn. Cayden Hurtsel caught a 13-yard pass for a score for Riley against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Riley 41, Washington 39.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (3-1, 1-1 NLC) at Warsaw (3-1, 2-0 NLC): The No. 6 Tigers claimed a Class 5A sectional crown in 2024 with a 31-28 win at No. 8 Concord. Reese Breveard scampered 16 times for 96 yards with two touchdowns, caught five passes for 44 yards, and recorded nine tackles in the Minutemen’s 21-14 win over Northridge. Brody Duncan accounted for a pair of touchdowns in Warsaw’s 41-7 decision over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 35, Concord 34.
Goshen (1-3, 0-2 NLC) at Mishawaka (3-1, 2-0 NLC): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Cavemen rolled to a 49-10 win against Goshen in their last meeting. Jack Krider mustered 10 tackles in the RedHawks’ 44-7 loss to Plymouth. Colten Handley hauled in three passes for 60 yards with a touchdown in Mishawaka’s 26-25 win over NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 45, Goshen 12.
Northridge (0-4, 0-2 NLC) at NorthWood (2-2, 1-1 NLC): The Panthers edged Northridge, 17-16, last year. Colt Granberg registered 12 tackles and a fumble recovery for the Raiders against Concord. Ethan Miller finished with four rushes for 12 yards with three scores and five receptions for 24 yards for NorthWood against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 33, Northridge 16.
Plymouth (2-2, 2-0 NLC) at Wawasee (1-3, 0-2 NLC): The Rockies blanked Wawasee, 30-0, a season ago. Ethan O’Leary tallied five tackles and an interception for Plymouth against Goshen. Mark Haynes was 4-of-8 for 48 yards and carried the ball 14 times for 34 yards for the Warriors against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 39, Wawasee 9.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE
Jimtown (1-3, 0-1 INSC) at Bremen (2-2, 1-0 INSC): The Jimmies cruised to a 36-7 win over Bremen a year ago. Junior Casas drilled a 30-yard field goal and an extra-point in Jimtown’s 14-10 loss to Glenn. Logan Frederickson chipped in six tackles with two for loss and a quarterback sack in the Lions’ 7-6 win at LaVille. Matt’s pick: Bremen 26, Jimtown 22.
Knox (4-0, 1-0 INSC) at Glenn (2-2, 1-0 INSC): The No. 5 (Class 3A) Redskins posted a 26-7 win over Glenn last season. Cain Weber added six rushes for 14 yards, two catches for 53 yards, three tackles, and a quarterback sack in Knox’s 36-21 win over Tippecanoe Valley. Archer Rust went 6-of-9 for 109 yards and carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards with a touchdown for the Falcons against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Knox 44, Glenn 11.
LaVille (2-2, 0-1 INSC) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-2, 0-1 INSC): The Vikings managed a 32-21 win against LaVille during the 2024 campaign. Noah Menis accounted for three catches for 45 yards with a score as well as 16 tackles for the Lancers against Bremen. Owen Omondi totaled five carries for 46 yards, one reception for 10 yards, and 17 tackles for Tippecanoe Valley against Knox. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 16, LaVille 14.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (4-0, 2-0 DAC) at Portage (0-4, 0-2 DAC): The No. 3 (Class 6A) Bulldogs opened the 2024 post-season with a 35-0 win over Portage. Griffin Van Tichelt returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in Crown Point’s 42-0 blanking of Lake Central. With their 44-23 loss, the Indians have now dropped eight straight contests to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 49, Portage 7.
Lake Central (2-2, 1-1 DAC) at LaPorte (1-3, 0-2 DAC): The Indians came away with a 24-12 win over LaPorte last year. In its loss to Crown Point, Lake Central was shutout for the first time since October 1, 2021 (21-0 to Chesterton). Jack Borrelli ended up with 12 tackles and an interception in the Slicers’ 34-14 loss to Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 19, LaPorte 18.
Merrillville (2-2, 1-1 DAC) at Michigan City (3-1, 2-0 DAC): The No. 9 (Class 5A) Pirates slipped by Michigan City, 14-12, a season ago. Michael Hill went 15-of-27 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and ran seven times for 39 yards with two scores in Merrillville’s 44-23 win over Portage. Zay Gipson contributed 10 tackles with two for loss in the Wolves’ 27-21 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 30, Michigan City 27.
Valparaiso (1-3, 1-1 DAC) at Chesterton (2-2, 1-1 DAC): The Vikings captured a Class 5A sectional title last season with a 28-21 win over Chesterton. Jimmy Parisi managed eight catches for 115 yards with two scores for Valparaiso against Michigan City. Hunter Boyd was 8-of-12 for 113 yards with two scores for the Trojans against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 23, Valparaiso 22.
