The third time wasn’t the charm for me as I went 15-8 (65 percent) last week. This leaves my overall record at 58-18, which drops me to 76 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
NORTH DIVISION
Elkhart Central (2-1) at Benton Harbor (1-1): This marks the first meeting between the No. 8 (Class 5A) Blazers and Benton Harbor on the football field. Mark Brownlee raced for 108 yards and a score in Elkhart Central’s 19-16 loss at Monroe (Michigan). Larry Hooks returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the Michigan-based Tigers’ 41-13 loss to Grand Rapids South Christian. Matt’s pick: Elkhart Central 21, Benton Harbor 18.
Mishawaka (2-1) at Adams (2-1) (School Field): The No. 3 (Class 4A) Cavemen needed overtime to come away with a 42-36 win over Adams last season. Derrick Dawson recorded 12 tackles for Mishawaka in its 27-24 loss to Chicago Marist. Jaydin Miller ran for two touchdowns and caught two passes for scores in the Eagles’ 46-12 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 35, Adams 30.
New Prairie (2-1) at Saint Joseph (3-0): The No. 10 Cougars claimed a Class 4A sectional crown with a 42-7 victory against No. 9 Saint Joe a season ago. Jacob Tuttle hauled in a 16-yard touchdown reception in New Prairie’s 44-28 loss to Andrean. Noah Hickey snatched an interception in the Indians’ 7-6 win over No. 8 (Class 3A) Marian. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 31, New Prairie 28.
Penn (2-1) at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (0-2): The No. 6 (Class 6A) Kingsmen posted a 36-14 win over Orchard Lake last year. Ron Powlus tossed for 116 yards and a touchdown for Penn in a 13-7 loss to Birmingham Rice (Michigan). Grant Henson ran for two scores for the Michigan-based Eaglets in a 63-44 loss to East Kentwood. Matt’s pick: Penn 23, Orchard Lake 20.
SOUTH DIVISION
Jimtown (1-2, 1-0 NIC) at Glenn (0-3, 0-2 NIC): The Jimmies earned a 28-14 win over Glenn last year. Ethan Devol tallied 11 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns in Jimtown’s 31-14 loss to No. 6 (Class 4A) Angola. Mikey Lawler scampered 18 yards for a score in the Falcons’ 49-14 loss to No. 8 (Class 2A) Bremen. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 34, Glenn 12.
Riley (1-2, 0-1 NIC) at Marian (2-1, 2-0 NIC): The Knights were a 16-6 winner over Riley a year ago. Senator Brown was 14-of-25 for 245 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats against Adams. Tyler DeBoe ran two yards for a score for Marian against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Marian 24, Riley 16.
Triton (2-1) at Bremen (3-0): The Lions roared past Triton, 25-10, in their last meeting. Hunter McIntyre racked up seven rushes for 126 yards and a score for the Trojans in a 57-6 victory at Caston. Collin Kerr caught a touchdown pass and booted seven extra-points for Bremen against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Bremen 33, Triton 21.
Washington (1-2. 0-1 NIC) at Clay (0-2, 0-1 NIC): The Colonials suffered a 41-0 loss to Washington last season. Jarvise Knight threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score in the Panthers’ 23-20 loss to Kankakee Valley. Clay had last week’s contest at Hammond cancelled because of inclement weather. Matt’s pick: Washington 36, Clay 6.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Elkhart Memorial (1-2, 1-1 NLC) at Warsaw (2-1, 0-1 NLC): The Tigers clawed past Elkhart Memorial, 17-6, last year. Ivan Soeun scampered 26 times for 188 yards and three scores in the Chargers’ 49-24 win over Goshen. Kane Dawson ran 25 times for 71 yards in Warsaw’s 32-29 overtime loss at Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 26, Elkhart Memorial 15.
NorthWood (3-0, 1-0 NLC) at Goshen (1-2, 0-1 NLC): The No. 2 (Class 4A) Panthers roared to a 19-10 victory over Goshen a season ago. Jason Sanchez connected on a 25-yard field goal and three extra-points in NorthWood’s 29-20 win over Concord. Daveyon Sandford ran for two scores and caught a pass for another tally against Elkhart Memorial. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 40, Goshen 14.
Plymouth (2-1, 1-0 NLC) at Northridge (2-1, 1-0 NLC): The Raiders blanked Plymouth, 12-0, a year ago. Joe Barron tossed for 151 yards with a touchdown and ran for another score for the Rockies against Warsaw. Julius Graber racked up 250 all-purpose yards with a pair of touchdowns in Northridge’s 27-6 win at Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 30, Northridge 27.
Wawasee (0-3, 0-1 NLC) at Concord (1-2, 1-1 NLC): The Warriors dropped a 51-29 decision to Concord in 2017. Gabe Moore recorded four catches for 42 yards for Wawasee against Northridge. Amarion Moore caught a 10-yard touchdown pass for the Minutemen against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Concord 37, Wawasee 10.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (1-2, 0-1 DAC) at LaPorte (0-3, 0-1 DAC): The Slicers slipped by Chesterton, 20-18, in their last matchup. Chris VanEekeren drilled a 43-yard field goal in the Trojans’ 28-10 loss to Michigan City. Caleb Kuzdas ran 15 times for 59 yards in LaPorte’s 38-8 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 22, Chesterton 19.
Lake Central (2-1, 0-1 DAC) at Crown Point (1-2, 0-1 DAC): The Bulldogs blanked Lake Central, 45-0, a season ago. Sir Felix Garcia raced 25 times for 94 yards in the Indians’ 18-10 loss to Portage. Will Pettit was 15-of-29 for 182 yards and two touchdowns in Crown Point’s 26-21 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 25, Crown Point 23.
Merrillville (2-1, 1-0 DAC) at Portage (2-1, 1-0 DAC): The Indians edged Merrillville, 28-21, last year. Darius Schultz carried the ball 27 times for 87 yards and two scores for the Pirates against Crown Point. Zack Warchus scampered 21 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns for Portage against Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Portage 17, Merrillville 10.
Valparaiso (1-2, 1-0 DAC) at Michigan City (2-1, 1-0 DAC): The No. 3 (Class 5A) Wolves are hoping to make amends for a 17-14 loss at Valparaiso last season. Max Bukur racked up 15 tackles for the Vikings against LaPorte. Michael Bradford tallied 18 rushes for 95 yards for Michigan City against Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 36, Valparaiso 21.
HOOSIER NORTH CONFERENCE
Caston (0-3, 0-2 HNC) at Pioneer (3-0, 2-0 HNC): The defending Class 1A state champion Panthers rolled to a 52-0 win over Caston a year ago. Sam Smith had 15 rushes for 53 yards and a score for the Comets against Triton. Daniel Gregorich ran for two touchdowns in Pioneer’s 66-19 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 54, Caston 8.
Knox (2-1, 2-0 HNC) at North Judson (2-1, 2-0 HNC): The Redskins escaped with a 14-7 win over North Judson in 2017. Josh Alexander booted a 28-yard field goal for Knox in a 36-6 win over Culver. Fletcher Greer rambled 23 times for 91 yards in the Bluejays’ 21-20 loss to Delphi. Matt’s pick: North Judson 28, Knox 26.
LaVille (1-2, 1-1 HNC) at Winamac (1-2, 0-2 HNC): The Lancers marched past Winamac, 28-12, last year. Nathan Nicolas-Peterson caught a five-yard touchdown pass for LaVille against Pioneer. Russell Compton completed all three of his passes for 102 yards with two scores in the Warriors’ 56-0 blanking of North White. Matt’s pick: LaVille 38, Winamac 19.
West Central (2-1) at Culver (0-3): The Trojans came up on the short end of a 48-0 decision to Culver last season. Dalton Sizemore raced 29 times for 126 yards with a score in West Central’s 34-24 loss to Tri-County. Tucker Fisher came up with six tackles for the Cavaliers against Knox. Matt’s pick: West Central 40, Culver 14.
