Things didn’t go as well as I went 17-7 (71 percent) last week. Heading into the final two weeks, my overall record is now 183-44; which has me at 81 percent for the season. All games on Friday unless indicated.
CLASS 6A
Merrillville (12-0) at Westfield (11-1): The No. 2 Shamrocks claimed a 41-23 victory over No. 3 Merrillville in last year’s semistate. Angel Nelson went 11-of-16 for 210 yards with two touchdowns in the Pirates’’ 39-7 win over Penn. Gabe Aramboles caught five passes for 117 yards in Westfield’s 37-14 win over No. 6 Carroll (Fort Wayne). Matt’s pick: Merrillville 34, Westfield 31.
Indianapolis Ben Davis (7-5) at Center Grove (12-0): The Giants suffered a 45-21 loss to top-ranked Center Grove on September 10. J’Uan Swanson was 16-of-28 for 295 yards with a touchdown and ran four times for 56 yards and another score in Ben Davis’ 32-14 win against No. 5 Brownsburg. Eli Hohlt had three receptions for 63 yards in the Trojans’ 29-19 win at No. 9 Lawrence North. Matt’s pick: Center Grove 38, Indianapolis Ben Davis 20.
CLASS 5A
Zionsville (8-5) at Michigan City (9-3): Gage Bankert rambled 41 times for 242 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the Eagles’ 35-14 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Jaden Hurt came up with 13 carries for 65 yards in the No. 10 Wolves’ 31-28 double-overtime win over No. 4 Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 36, Zionsville 33.
New Albany (9-3) at Indianapolis Cathedral (12-1): Kyondre Winford raced eight times for 48 yards with a score in the Bulldogs’ 33-14 win over No. 8 Bloomington South. Seth Mencer scampered 18 times for 133 yards with a touchdown for the top-ranked Irish in their 23-7 win over New Palestine. Matt’s pick: Indianapolis Cathedral 42. New Albany 14.
CLASS 4A
Northridge (9-4) at New Prairie (11-2): The Cougars clawed past Northridge, 28-10, in the 2014 semistate. Ridge Howard ran 15 times for 34 yards with a touchdown in the Raiders’ 25-7 win against Mississinewa. Brock Sinka came up with 19 rushes for 57 yards with a score in New Prairie’s 28-14 win at Lowell. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 23, Northridge 13.
Mount Vernon (Fortville) (12-1) at Evansville Memorial (11-2): The No. 8 Tigers cruised to a 28-3 win over No. 4 Mount Vernon (Fortville) in the 2019 semistate. George Burhenn tallied five carries for 115 yards in the Marauders’ 27-21 win over No. 1 Indianapolis Roncalli. Xavier Tyler hauled in three passes for 10 yards with a touchdown in Evansville Memorial’s 17-14 win over No. 5 East Central. Matt’s pick: Mount Vernon (Fortville) 24, Evansville Memorial 17.
CLASS 3A
Brebeuf Jesuit (11-2) at Marian (10-3): The No. 3 Braves blanked Marian, 17-0, in the 2017 semostate. Bryce LaSane was 5-of-11 for 82 yards with two touchdowns in the Knights; 33-6 win over Hanover Central. Anthony Annee came up with two catches for 80 yards with a score in Brebeuf Jesuit’s 38-9 win over No. 8 Norwell. Matt’s pick: Brebeuf Jesuit 24, Marian 18.
Gibson Southern (12-1) at Tri-West (11-2) (Saturday): Brayden Malone hauled in nine passes for 80 yards with a score in the No. 2 Titans’ 31-29 win over No. 5 Lawrenceburg. Davon Brown tallied 14 carries for 85 yards in the No. 10 Bruins’ 28-7 win at Owen Valley. Matt’s pick: Gibson Southern 41, Tri-West 23.
CLASS 2A
Andrean (10-3) at Eastside (13-0): Scott Ballentine went 7-of-13 for 103 yards in the No. 8 59ers’ 35-8 win over LaVille. Gavin Wallace recorded two receptions for 22 yards in the No. 4 Blazers’ 21-14 win over No. 1 Eastbrook. Matt’s pick: Eastside 25, Andrean 22.
Evansville Mater Dei (11-2) at Indianapolis Scecina (10-3): The No. 7 Wildcats slipped by Indianapolis Scecina, 14-13, in the 1994 semistate. Joey Pierre accounted for 21 rushes for 233 yards with two touchdowns in Mater Dei’s 35-7 win over Triton Central. Luke Soultz returned an interception for a score in the Crusaders’ 34-13 win at Lafayette Central Catholic. Matt’s pick: Evansville Memorial 30, Indianapolis Scecina 28.
CLASS 1A
Adams Central (12-1) at North Judson (9-3): The Bluejays needed overtime to post a 17-14 win over No. 3 Adams Central in the 1986 semistate. Ryan Black registered 11 rushes for 62 yards with a score in the Flying Jets’ 41-0 blanking of No. 7 South Adams. Brock Benson romped 10 times for 68 yards with two touchdowns in North Judson’s 35-6 win over Carroll (Flora). Matt’s pick: Adams Central 37, North Judson 16.
Tri (11-2) at Indianapolis Lutheran (13-0): The top-ranked Saints cruised to a 63-8 win over Tri in the 2016 sectional semifinals. Mason Wilson carried the ball 13 times for 71 yards with a touchdown in the Titans’ 18-14 win over North Central (Farmersburg). Joe Davis rambled 21 times for 146 yards with a score in Indianapolis Lutheran’s 42-6 win over No. 5 Parke Heritage. Matt’s pick: Indianapolis Lutheran 44, Tri 10.
