The regular season ended on a sour note as I went 9-5 (64 percent) last week. Heading into the post-season, my overall mark is 116-30, which leaves me at 79 percent for the season.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Lowell (6-3) at Culver Academy (2-7): Owen Thiele ran 27 times for 109 yards with two touchdowns in the Red Devils’ 28-13 win over No. 5 and defending Class 2A state champion Andrean. Michael McColgan went 9-of-29 for 112 yards in the Eagles’ 42-0 loss to Guerin Catholic. Matt’s pick: Lowell 41, Culver Academy 12.
Kankakee Valley (4-5) at New Prairie (8-1): The No. 6 Cougars cruised to a 67-3 win over Kankakee Valley in the 2014 sectional semifinals. Marco Castro raced 31 times for 123 yards with three scores in the Kougars’ 40-34 loss to Highland. Nathan Andrysiak recorded nine tackles in New Prairie’s 35-7 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 42, Kankakee Valley 13.
Gary West (7-2) at Hobart (6-3): The Brickies blanked Gary West, 70-0, in the 2020 sectional semifinals. Guiseppe Moore was 6-of-8 for 116 yards and ran three times for 21 yards with a score in the Cougars’ 42-0 win over Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. Noah Ehrlich went 7-of-13 for 101 yards in Hobart’s 35-0 win over Munster. Matt’s pick: Hobart 35, Gary West 14.
Highland (3-6) at East Chicago Central (2-7): The Trojans slipped past East Chicago Central, 24-21, in the 2019 sectional opener. Blake Vanek completed 8-of-17 for 166 yards with three touchdowns for Highland against Kankakee Valley. The Cardinals allowed more than 600 yards of offense in their 58-12 loss to Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Highland 22, East Chicago Central 9.
SECTIONAL 18
Wawasee (1-8) at Logansport (7-2): The Warriors earned a trip to the 2004 state title game with a 49-19 win over Logansport in the northern semistate. Mason Shoemaker was 25-of-33 for 239 yards with 239 yards with a score in Wawasee’s 54-21 loss to No. 4 (Class 5A) Mishawaka. Luiz Ortiz scampered 15 times for 66 yards with a touchdown in the Berries’ 26-21 win over Anderson. Matt’s pick: Logansport 40, Wawasee 10.
Northridge (5-4) at Riley (5-4) (Jackson Field): The Raiders rolled to a 37-7 win over Riley during the 2014 campaign. Jay Mitschelen came up with a fumble recovery in Northridge’s 35-21 loss to Warsaw. Robert Nabieu scampered seven yards for a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 19-7 loss at Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Northridge 28, Riley 23.
NorthWood (9-0) at Washington (2-7) (TCU School Field): NiTareon Tuggle caught five passes for 88 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the No. 3 Panthers’ 42-6 win over Goshen. Hakim Smith and the Panthers advanced inside Glenn’s 20-yard line just once in a 36-0 loss. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 51, Washington 7.
Saint Joseph (3-6) at Plymouth (0-9): The Rockies earned a 28-12 win against Saint Joseph in the 2019 sectional semifinals. Brady Langager found the end zone twice, including the game-winning four-yard run in the Indians’ 28-21 overtime decision over Marian. Kaden Milliser tallied 12 carries for 60 yards in Plymouth’s 52-0 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 33, Plymouth 11.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Marian (2-7) at West Noble (7-2): The Knights crowed West Noble, 42-20, in the 2019 sectional semifinals. Kyle Dennison came up with a blocked punt for Marian against Saint Joseph. Seth Pruitt registered 14 carries for 215 yards with four scores in the Chargers’ 51-13 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: West Noble 31, Marian 29.
Lakeland (3-6) at Knox (6-3): Levi Cook managed two receptions for 33 yards in the Lakers’ 28-7 loss to Bluffton. Baylor Huff returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the Redskins’ 55-0 win over Caston. Matt’s pick: Knox 39, Lakeland 15.
Clay (0-9) at Jimtown (7-2): The Jimmies recorded a 69-6 win over Clay on September 23. Ethan Bendit was limited to 23 yards on the ground in the Colonials’ 40-0 loss to Bremen. Connor Watts’ two-yard scoring run lifted Jimtown past Riley. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 50, Clay 6.
Fairfield (5-4) at Glenn (5-4): The Falcons were a 35-0 winner against Fairfield in the 2004 Class 2A sectional semifinals. Carter Kitson raced 13 times for 50 yards with a touchdown in the Falcons’ 35-14 loss to Churubusco, Mason Kobalt recorded 21 carries for 98 yards with two scores for Glenn against Washington. Matt’s pick: Glenn 30, Fairfield 19.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Whiting (4-4) at LaVille (9-0): The winner hosts defending state champion Andrean (6-3) in next week’s sectional semifinals. The Oilers posted a 29-17 win over No. 2 LaVille in the 2013 sectional opener. Nick Davenport went 14-of-23 for 237 yards in Whiting’s 17-8 win over Boone Grove. Owen Smith accounted for six rushes for 105 yards with a score in the Lancers’ 42-0 win at Culver. Matt’s pick: LaVille 44, Whiting 15.
Wheeler (3-6) at Bremen (5-4): The Lions roared to a 35-21 win over Wheeler in the 2011 regional final. Caden Brann romped 29 times for 180 yards with two touchdowns in the Bearcats’ 35-15 loss to Griffith. Tyrus Grqverson caught a 15-yard pass for a score for Bremen against Clay. Matt’s pick: Bremen 32, Wheeler 16.
Hammond Bishop Noll (0-8) at Lake Station (3-6): The Fighting Eagles soared to a 48-7 win over Bishop Noll on September 16. Gavin Knight mustered just two yards rushing in the Warriors’ 41-0 loss to Osceola Grace. Maurion Turks was 10-of-24 for 189 yards and ran for a score in Lake Station’s 28-12 loss to Fremont. Matt’s pick: Lake Station 19, Bishop Noll 8.
