The regular season closed on a positive note as I went 16-3 (84 percent) a week ago. Going into the sectional openers, my overall record is now 148-46, which bumps me up to 76 percent for the year.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Fort Wayne North (2-7) at Elkhart Central (4-5): The winner will host Goshen in the semifinal round. The Blazers needed overtime to earn a 20-17 win over Fort Wayne North in 1991. Auntral Franklin had two catches for 76 yards and a touchdown for the Legends in a 21-10 loss to Fort Wayne Concordia. Vincent Ambrose registered 19 tackles for Elkhart Central in a 49-0 loss at New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 31, Fort Wayne North 15.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
New Prairie (6-3) at Washington (3-6) (TCU School Field): The Cougars blanked Washington, 56-0, in last year’s sectional opener. Daniel Tyler ran seven times for 70 yards and a score for New Prairie against Elkhart Central. Devonta Hall came up with an interception for the Panthers in their 41-0 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 43, Washington 12.
Saint Joseph (5-4) at Kankakee Valley (2-7): This is the first meeting on the gridiron between the Indians and Kankakee Valley on the gridiron. John Paul Lewis had a three-yard scoring run for Saint Joseph in a 36-12 win over Adams. Nathan Swafford carried the ball 21 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns for the Kougars in a 20-13 loss to Munster. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 33, Kankakee Valley 13.
Clay (0-8) at Riley (5-4) (Jackson Field): The Colonials suffered a 45-10 loss to Riley on September 21. Adam Siglawski tallied nine carries for 14 yards in Clay’s 41-0 loss at Jimtown. Senator Brown threw for 142 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score in the Wildcats’ 40-6 triumph over Glenn. Matt’s pick: Riley 46, Clay 9.
Mishawaka (8-1) at Hobart (7-2): On the way to a state runner-up finish in 2012, the No. 2 Cavemen downed Hobart, 49-28, in the sectional semifinals. C.J. Fisher came up with the game-winning quarterback sack in Mishawaka’s 49-42 overtime win over No. 9 (Class 6A) Penn. Zach Vode hauled in a 54-yard touchdown reception for the Brickies in their 27-7 loss at Lowell. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 28, Hobart 16.
SECTIONAL 19
Plymouth (6-3) at NorthWood (9-0): The top-ranked Panthers clinched the outright Northern Lakes Conference crown on October 12 with a 56-8 victory at Plymouth. Blake Reed scampered 14 times for 60 yards for the Rockies against NorthWood. Jason Borkholder registered a fumble recovery and a quarterback sack for NorthWood against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 40, Plymouth 21.
East Noble (8-1) at DeKalb (5-4): The Knights crowned DeKalb, 35-7, on September 7. Kaiden Hershberger rambled 19 times for 121 yards and a touchdown in East Noble’s 44-12 win over Bellmont. Jon Bell racked up 13 carries for 54 yards for the Barons in a 7-0 loss to Leo. Matt’s pick: East Noble 30, DeKalb 10.
Northridge (4-5) at Wawasee (1-8): The Raiders marched past Wawasee, 27-6, on August 31. Aiden Berger tallied two catches for 33 yards in Northridge’s 34-0 loss to Elkhart Memorial. Dylan Hepler had a 42-yard scoring reception for the Warriors in a 13-10 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Northridge 37, Wawasee 36.
Angola (9-0) at Culver Academy (6-2): The No. 5 Hornets claimed their first sectional crown since 1992 last season with 31-30 overtime triumph at Culver Academy. Chase Schnepf had a 75-yard kickoff return for a score in Angola’s 48-7 win over Eastside. Max Miller rambled nine yards for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 17-0 win over Bremen. Matt’s pick: Angola 22, Culver Academy 20.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 27
Tippecanoe Valley (5-4) at Peru (0-9): The Bengal Tigers claimed a 33-14 win against Tippecanoe Valley in the 2017 sectional opener. Alex Morrison recorded 10 rushes for 32 yards and two scores in the Vikings’ 21-20 loss to No. 3 (Class 1A) Southwood. Dakota Scarlett raced six times for 37 yards in Peru’s 66-7 loss to Manchester. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 44, Peru 6.
Glenn (1-8) at Maconquah (7-2): The Falcons soared to a 62-10 win over Maconaquah in the 2007 sectional semifinals. Zach Neiswender romped nine yards for a score for Glenn against Riley. Carter Little ran 17 times for 148 yards with a touchdown and also intercepted a pass in the Braves’ 28-8 win over Rochester. Matt’s pick: Maconaquah 38, Glenn 11.
Knox (6-3) at Jimtown (5-4): The Jimmies blanked Knox, 55-0, during the 2014 season. Dawson Patrick racked up four carries for 59 yards and three touchdowns in the Redskins’ 61-6 win over Caston. Ethan Devol contributed five rushes for 60 yards and two scores for Jimtown against Clay. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 32, Knox 23.
Marian (5-4) at Fairfield (0-8): The Knights began the 2014 campaign with a 33-7 victory over Fairfield. Paul Cline had a two-yard touchdown run for Marian against Washington. Cory Lantz accounted for 18 carries for 80 yards and a score in the Falcons’ 62-8 loss to Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Marian 47, Fairfield 8.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Woodlan (4-5) at Bremen (7-2): The Lions earned the 2014 sectional title with a 35-14 win against defending state runner-up Woodlan. Danny Hershberger racked up 10 stops for the Warriors in a 31-3 loss to No. 2 (Class 1A) Adams Central. Colin Kerr notched an interception for Bremen against Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Bremen 34, Woodlan 24.
Wabash (2-7) at Central Noble (6-3): This will be the first time the Apaches and Central Noble battle on the football field. Jared Holley was 6-of-15 for 108 yards with a score and ran for another touchdown in the Apaches’ 28-14 win over Whitko. Nick Rawles racked up 255 yards on the ground with two touchdowns in Central Noble’s 20-13 win over Garrett. Matt’s pick: Central Noble 26, Wabash 18.
Bluffton (5-4) at Manchester (3-6): The Tigers were a 36-21 winner over Manchester on August 24. Everett Johnson tallied 134 yards rushing with two scores for Bluffton against Lakeland. Delton Moore rambled 24 times for 296 yards and three touchdowns for the Squires against Peru. Matt’s pick: Bluffton 39, Manchester 37.
Whitko (1-8) at Prairie Heights (1-8): The Wildcats registered a 45-0 win over Prairie Heights in the 2015 sectional opener. Cade Berg had 33 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns for Whitko against Wabash. Ethan Hoover went 7-of-19 for 119 yards and two scores in the Panthers’ 51-20 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Whitko 18, Prairie Heights 15.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
Triton (6-3) at Culver (2-7): The Trojans claimed a 35-21 win over Culver on September 14. James Snyder was 6-of-11 for 162 yards and two scores in Triton’s 36-20 win over Winamac. Jalen King scampered 76 yards for a touchdown in the Cavaliers’ 53-12 loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Triton 41, Culver 17.
Winamac (4-5) at Caston (0-9): The Warriors cruised to a 61-16 win over Caston on October 5. Jeb Smith caught a 50-yard pass for a touchdown for Winamac against Triton. Gavin Hickle registered six tackles for the Comets against Knox. Matt’s pick: Winamac 50, Caston 12.
North Judson (4-5) at LaVille (6-3): The Lancers blanked North Judson, 27-0, on October 5. Chuckie Wilcox had a 15-yard run for the Bluejays in their 36-0 loss to top-ranked and defending state champion Pioneer. Kolby Watts accounted for two touchdowns for LaVille against Culver. Matt’s pick: LaVille 35, North Judson 16.
South Central (2-7) at West Central (4-5): The Satellites opened the 2016 playoffs with a 28-0 victory over West Central. Kyle Schmack found the end zone twice for South Central in a 49-14 loss to Boone Grove. Dalton Sizemore recorded 19 carries for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ 38-10 win over North White. Matt’s pick: West Central 29, South Central 28.
