MATT’S MATCHUPS – 2017 FOOTBALL – REGIONAL FINALS

by | Nov 9, 2017 | Featured, Football Blogs, Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

My aspirations of making to the 80 percent plateau took a big hit as I went 15-9 (63 percent) in last week’s sectional finals. That leaves my overall record at 195-61, which drops me to 76 percent for the season.

CLASS 6A

Penn (10-1) at Crown Point (7-4): The Kingsmen blanked Crown Point, 23-0, in last year’s regional. Caden Paquette returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown and booted three extra-points in Penn’s 40-0 shutout of Warsaw. Caden Watson recorded a pair of quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery in the Bulldogs’ 14-7 win at Portage. Penn is going for its fifth straight regional title, while Crown Point’s only crown came in 1988. Matt’s pick: Penn 31, Crown Point 6.

Carmel (7-4) at Fort Wayne Snider (11-0): The defending state champion Greyhounds were a 10-7 winner over Fort Wayne Snider in the 2009 regional. Atticus Clouse caught seven passes for 113 yards with a touchdown in Carmel’s 41-20 victory over Lafayette Jeff. Michael Haupert went 15-of-19 for 236 yards and four scores in the Panthers’ 52-14 win over Carroll (Fort Wayne). Carmel is trying for its fifth straight regional championship, while Snider is looking for its fourth in a row. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Snider 37, Carmel 20.

Ben Davis (11-0) at Fishers (7-4): The Giants are taking on Fishers for the first time on the gridiron. Johnny Adams scampered for 177 yards and a touchdown for Ben Davis in a 36-29 win over Warren Central. Matt Wolff tossed for 126 yards and two scores and ran for another tally in the Tigers’ 28-7 triumph over Indianapolis Pike. Ben Davis is going for back-to-back regional titles, while Fishers’ last championship came in 2010. Matt’s pick: Ben Davis 39, Fishers 13.

Center Grove (6-5) at Avon (9-2): The Trojans needed a pair of overtimes to escape with a 35-34 win over Avon in the 2015 semistate. Luke Eckert converted field goals of 41 and 29 yards in Center Grove’s 20-14 win against Columbus North. Sampson James raced for 186 yards with a touchdown in the Orioles’ 47-26 victory against Brownsburg. Center Grove is in pursuit of its seventh straight regional title, while Avon last celebrated in 2015. Matt’s pick: Avon 33, Center Grove 14.

CLASS 5A

Michigan City (8-3) at Concord (10-1): The Wolves and Concord are playing football for the first time. Kameron Muhammad had 14 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown in Michigan City’s 38-10 win over LaPorte. Jack Lietzan rushed for 108 yards with a score in the Minutemen’s 28-12 win at Goshen. Michigan City has never celebrated a regional title before, while Concord’s last championship occurred in 2013. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 36, Concord 34.

Kokomo (7-4) at Zionsville (7-5): The Wildkats are making their first visit to Zionsville. Kyle Wade passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in Kokomo’s 37-7 victory at McCutcheon. Chris Freeman’s 47-yard field goal with 7.1 seconds left helped the Eagles to a 26-24 victory over top-ranked New Palestine. Kokomo’s lone regional championship came in 2015, while Zionsville’s last title came in 2000. Matt’s pick: Zionsville 24, Kokomo 21.

Indianapolis Cathedral (6-5) at Bloomington South (7-5): The Irish went to overtime to claim a 27-24 win over Bloomington South in the 2014 semistate. Chon’Dre Cissell scampered 13 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Cathedral’s 42-21 win over Decatur Central. Chris Bomba hauled in seven receptions for 209 yards and three scores in the Panthers’ 56-21 win over Martinsville. Cathedral is going for its first regional since 2014, while Bloomington South is trying for its second straight crown. Matt’s pick: Cathedral 38, Bloomington South 16.

Terre Haute North (6-5) at Columbus East (11-1): The Patriots rolled to a 46-14 win over Columbus East in the 1988 campaign. Shawn Hapenny had 36 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns and returned an interception 48 yards for another tally in Terre Haute North’s 34-10 win over Terre Haute South. Jamon Hogan tallied 18 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Olympians’ 42-14 win over Floyd Central. Terre Haute North’s only regional title came in 2013, while Columbus East is going for seven in a row. Matt’s pick: Columbus East 40, Terre Haute North 12.

CLASS 4A

New Prairie (11-1) at Lowell (12-0): The Cougars escaped with a 28-27 win against Lowell in the 2014 regional final. Chris Mays came up with New Prairie’s final score with a five-yard run in a 42-7 win over Saint Joseph. Ethan Igras threw for 141 yards and one score and rushed for 87 yards and another touchdown in the Red Devils’ 42-7 win over Griffith. New Prairie’s last regional championship came in 2014, while Lowell is trying for its second straight title. Matt’s pick: Lowell 29, New Prairie 26.

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (9-3) at Angola (12-0): The Saints cruised to a 45-7 win over Angola in the 2013 sectional semifinals.  Chip Clark rambled for 93 yards and three scores in Bishop Dwenger’s 41-20 victory against Fort Wayne Wayne.  Luke Honer’s blocked field goal attempt helped the Hornets to a 31-30 overtime victory against Culver Academy. Bishop Dwenger is trying for its first regional championship since 2015, while Angola’s lone regional title came in 1992. Matt’s pick: Angola 20, Bishop Dwenger 17.

Mississinewa (10-2) at Greenwood (10-2): The Indians and Greenwood are getting together for the first time on the football field. Cade Campbell romped for 274 yards in Mississinewa’s 41-39 win over Western for its first sectional since 1988. Nick Willham accumulated 206 yards rushing and three scores for the Woodmen in their 59-32 win over Mooresville. Mississinewa won its last regional in 1985, while Greenwood is going for its first since 1990. Matt’s pick: Greenwood 41, Mississinewa 37.

Evansville Central (11-1) at East Central (9-3): This will be the first contest on the gridiron between the Bears and East Central. Tor’Jon Evans raced 19 times for 206 yards and three scores in Evansville Central’s 28-0 victory over Evansville Bosse. Alex Maxwell tallied 22 carries for 175 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans’ 24-0 shutout of Silver Creek. Evansville Central is trying to claim its first regional crown, while East Central is going for its third consecutive title. Matt’s pick: Evansville Central 34, East Central 19.

CLASS 3A

West Lafayette (11-1) at Brebeuf Jesuit (8-4): The Red Devils posted a 35-13 win over Brebeuf during the 2000 campaign. Sage Hood recorded 20 carries for 202 yards and five touchdowns in West Lafayette’s 56-10 triumph over Andrean. Derrick Ozobu tossed for 151 yards and three scores in the Braves’ 48-14 decision over Southmont. West Lafayette is trying for its first regional championship since 2015, while Brebeuf’s lone title came in 2013. Matt’s pick: West Lafayette 42, Brebeuf Jesuit 22.

Marian (8-4) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (8-4): The Knights crowned Marian, 34-6, in the 1990 season. Zack Whitfield rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Knights’ 21-7 win over Jimtown. Tyreeon Hambright accounted for 89 yards on the ground and two scores in Bishop Luers’ 20-14 win over defending state champion Fort Wayne Concordia. Marian is going for its first regional title since 2015, while Bishop Luers’ last crown was in 2014. Matt’s pick: Marian 25, Bishop Luers 23.

Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (7-5) at Danville (12-0): The Warriors earned a sectional crown a season ago with a 40-35 win over Bishop Chatard. Tony Harrison scored four touchdowns for the Trojans in their 56-27 win over defending Class 2A state champion Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter. Ben Stevens hauled in four passes for 112 yards and a score in Danville’s 44-0 blanking of Greencastle. Bishop Chatard is looking for its first regional crown since 2015, while Danville’s last title occurred in 2000. Matt’s pick: Danville 30, Bishop Chatard 26.

Lawrenceburg (11-1) at Evansville Memorial (11-1) (Saturday): The Tigers edged Lawrenceburg, 29-28, in the 1992 regional final. Hunter Privett had 23 touches for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 35-29 win against North Harrison. Branson Combs caught 10 passes for 130 yards in Evansville Memorial’s 26-17 win at Gibson Southern. Lawrenceburg is trying for back-to-back regional championships, while Evansville Memorial has not celebrated a title since 2009. Matt’s pick: Evansville Memorial 32, Lawrenceburg 28.

CLASS 2A

Woodlan (10-2) at North Newton (8-4): The Warriors and North Newton will play on the football field for the first time. Ahlan Howard racked up three catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Woodlan’s 44-19 win over Central Noble. Colin Wagner ran 21 times for 242 yards and three scores as the Spartans earned their first sectional crown since 1993 with a 38-15 triumph over Boone Grove. Woodlan’s last regional championship came in 2015, while North Newton is going for its first title. Matt’s pick: Woodlan 49, North Newton 18.

Eastbrook (12-0) at Lapel (9-3): The Panthers and Lapel are meeting for the first time. Mason Hale recorded 20 tackles for Eastbrook in a 28-7 win over Lewis Cass. Justin Engle had three receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 34-20 win over Shenandoah. Eastbrook is going for its second regional title in a row, while Lapel is in pursuit of its first championship. Matt’s pick: Eastbrook 43, Lapel 20.

Indianapolis Scecina (11-1) at Western Boone (9-3): The Crusaders got past Western Boone, 12-8, in the 2007 season. Jack Wright came up with three tackles and an interception for Scecina in a 14-0 win over Triton Central. Joe Hendryx had a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Stars’ 46-7 triumph against Park Tudor. Scecina is looking for its first regional trophy since 2012, while Western Boone has not won one since 1998. Matt’s pick: Scecina 28, Western Boone 25.

Providence (7-5) at Southridge (10-2): The Raiders earned a regional crown in 2007 with a 35-27 win over Providence. Kaden Williams scored a pair of touchdowns, including an 80-yard kickoff return, for the Pioneers in their 41-25 win over Paoli. Tucker Schank rushed the ball 23 times for 92 yards and two scores, including the game-winner in overtime, for Southridge in a 38-31 win over Evansville Mater Dei. Providence’s last regional championship took place in 1993, while Southridge is going for its first since 2007. Matt’s pick: Southridge 44, Providence 18.

CLASS 1A

LaVille (8-4) at Pioneer (12-0): The Panthers posted a 41-0 shutout of LaVille on September 1. Riley Wagoner racked up eight tackles and an interception in the Lancers’ 10-7 win over Triton. Daniel Gregorich ran for 70 yards and a score in Pioneer’s 48-20 win over Lafayette Central Catholic. LaVille’s last regional title came in 1982, while Pioneer is trying for its second straight crown. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 47, LaVille 12.

Southwood (11-1) at Monroe Central (11-1): This will be the first meeting between the Knights and Monroe Central. Gabe Lloyd rushed for 104 yards with a touchdown in Southwood’s 50-27 win over Adams Central. Kaden Conklin recorded 10 tackles for the Golden Bears’ in their 26-7 win at Sheridan. Southwood is going for its first regional championship since 2002, while Monroe Central is looking for its first title. Matt’s pick: Southwood 45, Monroe Central 40.

Indianapolis Lutheran (10-2) at Indianapolis Arlington (9-2): The Saints and Arlington are getting together for the first time in football. Marcus McFadden caught an eight-yard touchdown pass for Lutheran in its 19-12 win over Hagerstown. Duane Cobb scampered for 129 yards and a score in the Golden Knights’ 46-6 victory over South Putnam. Lutheran is in pursuit of its second regional crown in a row, while Arlington has never celebrated a regional title before. Matt’s pick: Lutheran 46, Arlington 24.

Fountain Central (11-1) at Eastern Greene (9-3): The Mustangs will be played Eastern Greene for the first time. Tim Ellis raced for 194 yards and two touchdowns in Fountain Central’s 43-0 blanking of Attica. Levi Southern came up with 11 tackles for the Thunderbirds in their 33-14 victory against North Central (Farmersburg). Fountain Central has not won a region championship since 2010, while Eastern Greene is going for its first crown. Matt’s pick: Eastern Greene 35, Fountain Central 34.

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