BY FRANK KIELPIKOWSKI
The vast majority of the non-conference games have now concluded, so we move on to conference play in the Region. It was a rough go for the Duneland Athletic Conference a week ago, but the Northwest Crossroads Conference bounced back a bit. Here’s a look at the new top 10 as well as what happened last week and a look ahead to week three.
- Crown Point (2-0)
- Merrillville (1-1)
- Andrean (1-1)
- Hobart (2-0)
- Valparaiso (0-2)
- Griffith (2-0)
- Morton (1-1)
- Chesterton (1-1)
- Michigan City (1-1)
- Wheeler (2-0)
WEEK TWO RESULTS
DUNELAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Chesterton 20, Hammond Morton 19: Mace Redman’s 33-yard field goal with under five minutes left ended up being the difference for the Trojans.
Chicago Brother Rice 43, Valparaiso 19: Tied 7-7 after one quarter, the Vikings were outscored 21-0 in the second quarter and never recovered.
Crown Point 21, Indianapolis Pike 0: Braylen Schutt ran for 155 yards and scored all three touchdowns as the Bulldogs won their 29th straight regular season game.
Grand Rapids Catholic (Michigan) 30, Lake Central 7: The Indians dug themselves a 20-0 halftime deficit and were unable to battle back.
Hobart 52, Portage 21: Alexs Tatum threw for 208 yards with three scores and ran for another score as the Brickies improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2018.
Lafayette Jeff 46, Michigan City 29: Trinaston Hart completed 21-of-29 passes for 233 yards and three scores for the Wolves, but it wasn’t enough as host Lafayette Jeff built a 34-7 halftime cushion.
Lowell 34, LaPorte 6: Brody Kalwinski ran for 120 yards with a score and threw for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help the Red Devils get back to the .500 mark.
Loyola Academy (Illinois) 21, Merrillville 14: Michael Hill threw two fourth- quarter touchdown passes for the Pirates, but Loyola pulled it out with a touchdown with 12.7 seconds left.
NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE
Andrean 13, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 0: Ethan Reyna scored twice and quarterback Brody Elish had 169 combined yards as the Niners blanked last year’s Class 3A state runner-up.
Griffith 58, Munster 20: Desmond Neylon rushed for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Panthers.
Highland 28, Whiting 13: Aaron McCormack threw for 153 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as the Trojans snapped a nine-game losing streak.
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 49 Hanover Central 7: The Trojans built a 21-0 first-quarter lead and sent Hanover Central to its second straight setback.
Wheeler 33, Kankakee Valley 7: The Bearcats cruised behind the running of Levin Murray (161 yards) and the passing of Logan Fox (13-of-16 for 213 yards with four touchdowns).
GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE
Boone Grove 27, South Central 23: The Wolves rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to even their record at 1-1.
Calumet 36, River Forest 14: Bryce Brandon ran for 140 yards and two scores as the Warriors racked up 430 total yards of offense to remain unbeaten.
Gary West Side 28, East Chicago Central 22 (OT): Marcell Dixon threw for 245 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime for the Cougars.
Hammond Bishop Noll 45, Osceola Grace 21: The Warriors got into the win column by padding a 21-7 halftime lead.
Lake Station 55, Illinois Home School 10: Oscar Alderson ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns as the Fighting Eagles piled up 502 yards of total offense to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 1990.
OTHERS
North Judson 21, LaVille 14: Grason McDaniel ran for 122 yards as the defending Class 1A state runner-u Bluejays held on to back to the .500 plateau.
T.F. South (Illinois) 42, Hammond Central 12: Jackquell Jackson’s 184 yards through the air was the lone bright spot for the Wolves (0-2).
Bowman Academy 28, Calumet Christian 16: In avenging last year’s setback, the Eagles are now 2-0 for the first time since 2017.
WEEK 3 MATCHUPS
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (1-1) at Michigan City (1-1): After getting blanked 20-0 by Michigan City during the regular season, the Trojans made amends with a 28-21 overtime triumph in the 2024 Class 5A sectional semifinals.
Merrillville (1-1) at Crown Point (2-0): There is a lot on the line between the top two teams in the Region as the host Bulldogs put their 29-game regular season and a 21-game DAC streak on the line.
Portage (0-2) at Lake Central (1-1): In the Battle of the Indians, Lake Central escaped with a tight 23-21 victory last fall.
Valparaiso (0-2) at LaPorte (1-1): The Vikings have dominated this series as Bill Marshall is a perfect 11-0 against LaPorte in his seven years in charge.
NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE
Hanover Central (0-2) at Highland (1-1): History is on the Wildcats’ side as they have won the two previous meetings over Highland by a combined score of 114-13.
Kankakee Valley (0-2) at Andrean (1-1): The 59ers have won all but one of their 23 previous meetings against Kankakee Valley, including last year’s 28-7 triumph in Wheatfield.
Munster (0-2) at Hobart (2-0): The host Brickies blanked Munster, 38-0, a year ago.
GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE
Hammond Bishop Noll (1-1) at Whiting (0-2): In this matchup at Ray Galavan Stadium, the Warriors seek their first win over Whiting since 2009.
River Forest (1-1) at Wheeler (2-0): In search of their first 3-0 start since 2015, the host Bearcats have taken 17 of the previous 21 meetings, including a 24-6 triumph last year.
OTHER CONTESTS
Boone Grove (1-1) at Bremen (0-2): The visiting Wolves look to make it two straight wins in the first meeting between these two clubs.
Bowman Academy (2-0) at Lake Station (2-0) (Saturday): The Fighting Eagles are looking to make it three wins in a row over Bowman Academy.
Chicago Shepard (Illinois) (0-1) at Hammond Morton (1-1): In the first contest on the gridiron between the two teams, the visiting Astros opened the 2025 campaign with a 37-19 loss to Lane Tech.
East Chicago Central (0-2) at Calumet (2-0): The Warriors have taken the previous four matchups with EC Central.
Gary West Side (1-0) at Hammond Central (0-2): In their first meeting between these two programs since 2022, the Cougars have won the two previous contests against Hammond Central.
Lowell (1-1) at Griffith (2-0) In this matchup between former Northwest Crossroads Conference rivals at The Boneyard, the visiting Red Devils own a slight 23-22 edge in the all-time series against Griffith.
South Central (0-2) at North Judson (1-1): The host Bluejays look to make it seven straight victories over South Central.
