The post-season began on a high as I went 21-2 (91 percent) last week. Heading into the post-season, my overall record is now 149-34, which has me at 81 percent.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Lake Central (3-6) at Crown Point (9-0): The No. 2 Bulldogs blanked Lake Central, 42-0, on September 12. Cam Reddick tossed for 154 yards with two touchdowns and ran for 81 yards in the Indians’ 21-14 win at Valparaiso. Matt Gurnic accounted for 20 carries for 191 yards and two scores in Crown Point’s 42-28 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 51, Lake Central 6.
Penn (9-0) at Portage (0-9): The No. 5 Kingsmen clubbed Portage, 31-6, during the 2022 campaign. Blake Ewald contributed six rushes for 35 yards with a touchdown in Penn’s 38-6 win over Saint Joseph. Kodie Young completed 6-of-14 for 82 yards with a score and carried the ball twice for 26 yards in the Indians’ 35-22 loss to LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Penn 43, Portage 3.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (6-3) at Elkhart (6-3): Eli Neuhouser racked up 17 tackles and an interception in the No. 10 Chargers’ 35-10 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Josiah Gladden accounted for 12 tackles in the Lions’ 21-0 blanking of Adams. Matt’s pick: Carroll 21, Elkhart 19.
Fort Wayne Snider (3-6) at Fort Wayne Northrop (7-2): The Bruins posted a 35-14 win over Fort Wayne Snider on October 3. Bri’Shawn Johnson caught a pair of touchdown passes, including the game-winning 36-yard strike, as the Panthers rallied for a 24-20 win over Fort Wayne North. David Callison went 14-of-22 for 197 yards with three touchdowns and ran four times for 24 yards with another scores in Northrop’s 47-14 win over Fort Wayne Wayne. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Northrop 30, Fort Wayne Snider 28.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Munster (3-6) at Hammond Central (0-9): The Mustangs galloped past Hammond Central, 23-0, in the 2021 sectional semifinals. Xavier Rodriquez rambled four yards for a score in Munster’s 17-14 win at Kankakee Valley. Jimmy West totaled 10 rushes for 42 yards and a pair of tackles in the Wolves’ 42-0 loss to Hanover Central. Matt’s pick: Munster 25, Hammond Central 6.
Merrillville (7-2) at Hammond Morton (6-3): The No. 5 Pirates claimed a sectional crown last year with a 55-14 win over Hammond Morton. JQ Johnson scampered 14 times for 60 yards with a touchdown in Merrillville’s 42-7 win over Chesterton. Corderro Bennett Jr. finished with three receptions for 80 yards with three scores in the Governors’ 58-6 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 46, Hammond Morton 7.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Michigan City (6-3) at Valparaiso (2-7): The No. 12 Wolves slipped by Valparaiso, 27-21, on September 12. Jeremy Thurman had four catches for 43 yards with a score and ran three times for 18 yards for Michigan City against Crown Point. Chase Lovig caught five passes for 80 yards for the Vikings against Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 35, Valparaiso 15.
LaPorte (3-6) at Chesterton (5-4): The Slicers are looking to make amends for a 34-14 loss to Chesterton on September 12. Khalen Matzke hauled in five passes for 111 yards with two touchdowns for LaPorte against Portage. Louis Raffin had three receptions for 93 yards with a score and ran three times for eight yards for the Trojans against Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 34, LaPorte 9.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Warsaw (6-3) vs. Concord (8-1) (Everwise Freed Field): The No. 6 Minutemen cruised to 38-7 victory over Warsaw on September 19. Michael Schenck totaled 46 yards on the ground with a touchdown in the Tigers’ 34-19 win over Northridge. Zack Myers racked up 11 tackles in Concord’s 45-14 win over Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Concord 28, Warsaw 23.
Fort Wayne North (5-4) at Goshen (2-7): The RedHawks racked up a 49-7 win over Fort Wayne North in the 2016 sectional semifinals. Jalen Jackson came up with seven tackles, including two for loss, and an interception for the Legends against Snider. Jazic Clevenger had three rushes for 18 yards and four tackles in Goshen’s 49-24 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne North 42, Goshen 17.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 12
Lafayette Jeff (8-1) at McCutcheon (2-7): The No. 2 Bronchos rolled to a 41-0 win over McCutcheon on September 5. Marquis Adkins scampered 14 times for 121 yards with two scores in Lafayette Jeff’s 55-22 win over Muncie Central. Karson Smith went 15-of-32 for 240 yards with two touchdowns in the Mavericks’ 23-13 loss to No. 6 (Class 2A) Indianapolis Lutheran. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 48, McCutcheon 8.
Kokomo (3-6) at Adams (4-5) (Everwise School Field): Luke Callaway finished 16-of-22 for 252 yards with five touchdowns in the Wildkats’ 50-14 win over Richmond. Jarvis Saurel-Banner ended with eight tackles for the Eagles against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Kokomo 36, Adams 31.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Lowell (8-2) at East Chicago Central (4-6): The No. 12 Red Devils claimed the 2015 sectional crown with a 34-16 win over East Chicago Central. Lincoln Schneider amassed 20 tackles in Lowell’s 56-21 win over Hanover Central. Lewis Campbell registered two catches for 82 yards with a score in the Cardinals’ 58-56 triple-overtime win against Highland. Matt’s pick: Lowell 44, East Chicago Central 12.
Hobart (8-2) at Kankakee Valley (2-8): The Brickies crushed Kankakee Valley, 40-7, on September 12. Josh Diaz mustered 13 tackles in Hobart’s 50-14 win over New Prairie. Jaidyn Anderson recorded 48 carries for 187 yards with two touchdowns in the Kougars’ 15-6 win at Gary West. Matt’s pick: Hobart 38, Kankakee Valley 11.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Plymouth (4-6) at Mishawaka (9-1): The No. 2 Cavemen blanked Plymouth, 28-0, on October 10. Jose Fernando tallied four catches for 68 yards with a score in the Rockies’ 44-23 win over Washington. Drew Ginter contributed 10 tackles with two for loss and a fumble recovery in Mishawaka’s 28-14 win over NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 40, Plymouth 10.
Northridge (3-7) at Saint Joseph (9-1): The Raiders rolled to 37-21 win over No. 7 Saint Joseph during the 2021 campaign. Austin Horn carried the ball 10 times for 66 yards and caught five passes for 44 yards with a score in Northridge’s 35-26 win over Wawasee. Conor Gallagher snatched a 52-yard touchdown pass and ran once for 15 yards in the Huskies’ 35-0 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 37, Northridge 14.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Calumet (6-4) at Marian (2-8): The Knights crowned Calumet, 35-6, in last year’s sectional quarterfinals. Bryce Brandon rambled 25 times for 210 yards with four scores in the Warriors’ 42-23 win over Glenn. Vinny Gruber raced 14 times for 75 yards with two touchdowns and caught a 43-yard pass for another score in Marian’s 56-14 win over River Forest. Matt’s pick: Marian 33, Calumet 19.
Griffith (9-1) at Knox (10-0): The No. 4 Redskins clobbered No. 8 Griffith, 66-28, in the 2024 sectional semifinals. Desmond Neyland romped for 170 yards with three scores in the Panthers’ 62-8 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Keyston Dickson mustered five tackles and a quarterback sack in Knox’s 50-21 win at Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Knox 47, Griffith 20.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Lakeland (6-4) at Garrett (5-5): The Railroaders steamrolled Lakeland, 28-7, on September 12. Dylan Bateman rushed 12 times for 63 yards with a touchdown and added six tackles and a quarterback sack in the Lakers’ 32-0 blanking of Woodlan. Carter Fielden ended with 20 carries for 87 yards and the lone score in Garrett’s 7-0 win over Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Garrett 19, Lakeland 15.
Angola (5-5) at West Noble (8-2): The No. 12 Chargers marched past Angola, 28-14, on September 12. Eric Neilson chipped in 12 tackles in the Hornets’ 21-6 win over No. 7 Tippecanoe Valley. Brayden Limerick ended with two catches for 49 yards with a score and a pair of tackles in West Noble’s 42-0 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Matt’s pick: West Noble 22, Angola 18.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Andrean (8-1) at Wheeler (8-1): The No. 5 59ers blanked No. 11 Wheeler, 19-0, in last season’s sectional semifinals. Brady Stovall contributed 22 rushes for 77 yards in Andrean’s 19-3 win at Lowell. CJ Chaffer came up 17 tackles, a quarterback sack, and two fumble recoveries in the Bearcats’ 70-7 win over Lake Station. Matt’s pick: Andrean 34, Wheeler 13.
Rensselaer Central (8-2) at Bremen (6-4): The Lions roared to a 38-7 win over Rensselaer Central a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Jaden Johnson added a 12-yard touchdown run, two tackles, and a fumble recovery in the Bombers’ 57-0 win over Boone Grove. Hunter Cannon carried the ball three times for 67 yards with a score and intercepted a pass in Bremen’s 34-0 win at Whiting. Matt’s pick: Rensselaer Central 23, Bremen 16.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
LaVille (6-4) at North Judson (8-2): The No. 7 Bluejays edged LaVille, 21-14, on August 29. Lawrence Wood finished with 14 rushes for 47 yards in the Lancers’ 35-0 win over Culver. Zander Nowak caught a 23-yard pass for a score in North Judson’s 59-6 win over South Central. Matt’s pick: North Judson 45, LaVille 15.
Bowman Academy (6-4) at West Central (9-1): Quentavious Fly ran for a touchdown and a two-point conversion, caught a pass for another score, and recovered a fumble in the Eagles’ 36-30 win over North Newton. Nathan Peter chipped in two carries for 52 yards with a touchdown in the No. 10 Trojans’ 74-12 win over South Newton. Matt’s pick: West Central 50, Bowman Academy 20.
