Some improvement was made after going 14-5 (74 percent) last week. Heading into the one-third mark of the regular season, my overall record is 25-10, which is good for 71 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (2-0) at Riley (0-2) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats edged Adams, 20-19, a year ago. James Williams came up with a fumble recovery in the Eagles’ 50-0 blanking of Woodlan. Chris Krause scampered 74 yards for a score in Riley’s 24-14 loss to Glenn. Matt’s pick: Adams 41, Riley 16.
Bremen (2-0) at Marian (2-0): The No. 2 (Class 3A) Knights blanked Bremen, 49-0, last season. Blake Dingus ran for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 41-6 win over Washington. Malcolm Anderson carried the ball 14 times for 128 yards and three scores in Marian’s 35-12 win over Knox. Matt’s pick: Marian 38, Bremen 10.
Clay (1-1) at Munster (0-2): The Colonials and Munster are meeting for the first time on the football field. Jamari Herring had a 94-yard touchdown pass in Clay’s 43-6 loss to Goshen. Zach Lenaburg registered nine tackles in the Mustangs’ 49-16 loss to Hanover Central. Matt’s pick: Munster 10, Clay 9.
Elkhart (1-0) at Columbus East (1-1): The Lions are taking on Columbus East for the first time on the gridiron. Tyren Mason accounted for a pair of scores in Elkhart’s 35-28 win over Mishawaka. Mark McDonald raced 12 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Olympians’ 35-31 win over Columbus North. Matt’s pick: Columbus East 31, Elkhart 15.
Indianapolis Cathedral (2-0) at Penn (1-1): The top-ranked (Class 5A) Irish are making their first trip to Penn’s TCU Freed Field. Jake Langdon had 110 yards on the ground with a touchdown in Cathedral’s 44-28 win at No. 6 (Class 6A) Carmel. Nick Favilla threw a touchdown pass and caught a pass for another tally in the Kingsmen’s 35-14 win at LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Indianapolis Cathedral 32, Penn 14.
Kankakee Valley (2-0) at Washington (0-2) (TCU School Field): The Panthers held on for a 14-7 win at Kankakee Valley a season ago. Ryan Tinnel had a 55-yard scoring reception in the Kougars’ 45-7 win over Wheeler. Jeremy Johnson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass for Washington against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Kankakee Valley 34, Washington 7.
Osceola Grace (0-2) at Jimtown (0-1): The Eagles are playing Jimtown for the first time. Isaiah Wolf passed for 143 yards and score in Osceola Grace’s 57-6 loss to Fairfield. Landon Buchanan scampered 84 yards and six yards for touchdowns in the Jimmies’ 29-23 overtime loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 49, Osceola Grace 6.
New Prairie (2-0) at Andrean (1-1): The No. 6 (Class 4A) Cougars roared past No. 3 (Class 2A) Andrean, 33-10, last year. Ian Skornog accounted for three scores in New Prairie’s 26-7 win at Culver Academy. Drayk Bowen racked up seven tackles in the 59ers’ 28-0 blanking of Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Andrean 29, New Prairie 26.
Saint Joseph (0-2) at Glenn (2-0): The Indians blanked Glenn, 35-0, in the 2008 Class 3A sectional opener. Matt Eck tossed for 122 yards in Saint Joe’s 42-0 loss to Northridge. Sam Thomas converted a 32-yard field goal for the Falcons against Riley. Matt’s pick: Glenn 21, Saint Joseph 13.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (1-0) at NorthWood (0-1): The Minutemen earned a 24-14 win over NorthWood in their previous meeting. Jack D’Arcy hauled in a 41-yard pass for a score against Jimtown. Ethan Evers had a five-yard scoring romp in the Panthers’ 15-14 loss to No. 3 (Class 4A) East Noble. Matt’s pick: Concord 25, NorthWood 22.
Northridge (1-0) at Wawasee (2-0): The Raiders rolled to a 27-0 victory over Wawasee in the 2019 campaign. Dom Crowder ran for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for Northridge against Saint Joseph. Adam Beer registered a 40-yard touchdown catch in the Warriors’ 31-0 win over West Noble. Matt’s pick: Northridge 33, Wawasee 20.
Warsaw (1-1) at Plymouth (0-2): The Rockies slipped past Warsaw, 24-19, a year ago. Patrick Zollinger came up with a 34-yard scoring reception in the Tigers’ 42-21 loss to Michigan City. Ivan Winkle had a touchdown catch and run in Plymouth’s 34-18 loss at Kokomo. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 36, Plymouth 23.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (1-1) at Merrillville (2-0): The No. 4 (Class 6A) Pirates posted a pair of wins against Crown Point last year by scores of 27-24 in overtime during the regular season and 10-9 in the sectional final. Matt Walters exploded for 321 yards rushing and four scores in the Bulldogs’ 31-0 blanking of Highland. Jo Jo Johnson found the end zone twice in Merrillville’s 23-7 win at No. 4 (Class 4A) Hobart. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 40, Crown Point 10.
Lake Central (1-1) at Portage (1-1): The Indians of Lake Central downed Portage, 30-21, a season ago. Luke Neidy passed for 116 yards for Lake Central against Andrean. Devan Howard caught nine passes for 138 yards and two scores in the Indians’ 37-19 loss at Lowell. Matt’s pick: Portage 20, Lake Central 14.
LaPorte (0-2) at Valparaiso (1-0): The No, 3 (Class 5A) Vikings blanked LaPorte, 35-0, during the regular season and 45-0 in last season’s sectional final. Jack McGuire tossed a 29 yard touchdown pass for the Slicers against Penn. Liam Shepherd connected on the game-winning 37-yard field goal in Valparaiso’s 17-16 victory over Penn. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 42, LaPorte 12.
Michigan City (2-0) at Chesterton (0-2): The No. 6 (Class 5A) Wolves clawed their way to a 21-7 win against Chesterton last year. Esau Haynes had a pair of touchdown catches for Michigan City against Warsaw. Chris Mullen had 90 yards through the air with a score in the Trojans’ 20-16 loss at No. 1 Pioneer. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 35, Chesterton 16.