BY FRANK KIELKIPOWSKI
The remaining Region teams did exceptionally well in the regional championships played across four different classifications. Here’s a look back at what happened, plus a look ahead at Friday night’s semistate games where the winner earns a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to play in the state finals
TOP 10 (Bolded teams still active)
- Crown Point (12-0)
- Merrillville (11-1)
- Valparaiso (8-4)
- North Judson (13-0)
- Chesterton (6-5)
- Andrean (9-4)
- Hanover Central (9-3)
- Portage (4-6)
- Wheeler (8-3)
- Griffith (9-2)
REGIONAL REVIEW
CLASS 6A
Crown Point 38, Carroll (Fort Wayne) 21: Larry Ellison ran for 248 yards and scored twice as the No.2 Bulldogs turned a 24-13 lead into a 38-13 cushion in the second half to capture their second consecutive regional title and third overall.
CLASS 5A
Merrillville 48, Valparaiso 14: JQ Johnson ran for 233 yards on 27 carries and scored twice as the No. 3 Pirates amassed 424 of their 515 total yards on the ground on their way to their second victory over No. 7 Valparaiso and their second straight regional championship. Thomas Burda rushed for 109 yards in his final game for the Vikings.
CLASS 2A
Andrean 20, Lafayette Central Catholic 17: Javier McCoy accounted for 32 rushes for 176 yards and all three touchdowns as the Niners knocked off the previous unbeaten and top-ranked Knights (11-1) in Lafayette for their third regional title in four years.
CLASS 1A
North Judson 70, Taylor 6: Kole Wilcox had a monster night, rushing for 154 yards with six touchdowns on just 11 carries, and added a 29-yard scoring reception as well as the top-ranked Bluejays rolled to their fourth consecutive regional championship
SEMISTATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS 6A
Crown Point (12-0) at Westfield (11-1): The Bulldogs get a rematch with the squad they defeated 38-31 in two overtimes at home a year ago to earn their first trip to the state finals. This time, they have to go on the road against the No. 3 Shamrocks, whose lone loss was a 17-13 setback to No. 4 Brownsburg (11-1), who will be playing Center Grove (8-4) in the southern semistate game.
CLASS 5A
Merrillville (11-1) at Warsaw (9-3): This is a historic meeting on many fronts as Merrillville boss Brad Seiss goes against his alma mater to try and earn the Pirates their first state finals appearance since 1976. The Tigers are making history of their own as they compete in their first semistate after claining their first regional crown (44-27 over No. 2 Lafayette Jeff). Merrillville is 0-9 all-time in semistate games, including a 28-0 setback at eventual state champion Fort Wayne Snider a year ago.
CLASS 2A
Adams Central (12-1) at Andrean (9-4): The No. 4 and three-time defending Class 1A state runner-up Flying Jets embark on their first trip to Lake County and Father Eckert Field in an attempt to make their fourth straight visit to Lucas Oil Stadium. They could meet three-time defending Class 1A Indianapolis Lutheran (12-1) again, while the Niners are in pursuit of their third trip to the title affair in the last four seasons.
CLASS 1A
South Adams (8-5) at North Judson (13-0): The Bluejays are hoping their fourth time in the charm after coming up short in their previous three trips to the Final Four against Adams Central, which is playing in the Class 2A affair. North Judson is going for its first trip to the state finals since 1986, while South Adams dropped a heartbreaking 41-40 contest to Covenant Christian in the 2020 state title affair.
