It turned out to be an average performance as I went 12-4 (75 percent) last week. Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. my overall record is now 97-25, which leaves me at 80 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (1-6) at Jimtown (3-4): The Jimmies held on for a 35-28 win over Adams last season. Phoenyx Clark went 18-of-33 for 157 yards in the Eagles’ 34-0 loss to Elkhart. Ty Zartman tallied three touchdowns in Jimtown’s 35-0 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 39, Adams 11.
Bremen (4-3, 1-2 NIC) at Riley (6-1, 3-0) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats cruised to a 40-15 win against Bremen a year ago. Austin Young carried the ball 18 times for 111 yards with a score in the Lions’ 34-0 win over Prairie Heights. Payton Baird caught seven passes for 104 yards in Riley’s 35-12 loss against No. 10 (Class 4A) New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Riley 33, Bremen 23.
Culver Academy (3-4) at Saint Joseph (3-4): The Eagles claimed a 7-3 win against Saint Joseph during the 2021 campaign. Tay Rodriguez ran 10 times for 106 yards with two scores in Culver Academy’s 42-0 win over Woodlan. Brayson Hurley had five receptions for 30 yards in Saint Joe’s 28-0 loss to No. 9 (Class 6A) Penn. Matt’s pick: Saunt Joseph 19, Culver Academy 17.
Elkhart (3-4, 2-1 NIC) at Marian (3-4, 1-2 NIC): The Lions roared past Marian, 35-0, last year. Alfonzo Newbern scampered 51 yards for a touchdown for Elkhart against Adams. Brian Osman rambled 13 times for 100 yards and two scores in the Knights’ 39-14 win at Angola. Matt’s pick: Marian 30, Elkhart 28,
Glenn (JV) at Clay (1-6): The Colonials dropped a 49-6 decision to Glenn during the 2022 season. Liam Wolf tossed four touchdown passes in Clay’s 54-0 blanking of North Newton. Matt’s pick: Glenn 20, Clay 12.
Penn (6-1, 3-0 NIC) at New Prairie (6-1, 3-0 NIC): The No. 9 (Class 6A) Kingsmen blanked No. 10 (Class 4A) New Prairie, 21-0, a season ago. Elijah Coker came up with three catches for 29 yards for Penn against Saint Joseph. Aidan Zeigler managed eight tackles for the Cougars against Riley. Matt’s pick: Penn 21, New Prairie 13.
Tippecanoe Valley (7-0) at Glenn (4-3) Saturday): Nathan Parker accumulated 40 carries for 236 yards and three touchdowns in the No. 5 (Class 3A) Vikings’ 35=13 win at West Lafayette. Chase Miller was 11-of-18 for 112 yards with a touchdown and ran nine times for 48 yards and another tally in the Falcons’ 31-27 loss to No. 5 (Class 2A) LaVille. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 40, Glenn 22.
Washington (2-5) at Hamilton Heights (7-0): Chris Ramirez registered a fumble recovery for the Panthers against Jimtown. Tyler Champion hauled in four passes for 118 yards with two scores in the No. 4 (Class 3A) Huskies’ 43-0 win over Tipton. Matt’s pick: Hamilton Heights 42, Washington 7.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (4-3, 2-3 NLC) at Mishawaka (5-2, 4-1 NLC): The No. 10 (Class 5A) Cavemen earned a Class 5A sectional crown in 2022 with a 38-17 win over Concord. Bo Brunner carried the ball seven times for 107 yards with a touchdown and went 5-of-10 for 67 yards in the Minutemen’s 21-14 loss to No.4 (Class 5A) Northridge. Trey Thomas came up with an interception in Mishawaka’s 43-42 overtime loss at NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 34, Concord 18.
NorthWood (5-2, 3-2 NLC) at Wawasee (1-6, 1-4 NLC): The Panthers clawed past Wawasee, 57-0, a season ago. Landon Perry accumulated 15 carries for 72 yards for NorthWood against Mishawaka. Mason Shoemaker completed 23-of-42 for 192 yards with a score in the Warriors’ 22-15 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 36, Wawasee 10.
Plymouth (2-5, 1-4 NLC) at Northridge (6-1, 4-1 NLC): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Raiders claimed a 49-0 win over Plymouth last season. Finnigan Holm tallied 20 rushes for 110 yards with a touchdown in the Rockies’ 24-21 loss to Goshen. Brady Scholl went 12-of-19 for 117 yards and a score for Northridge against Concord. Matt’s pick: Northridge 41, Plymouth 14.
Warsaw (6-1, 4-1 NLC) at Goshen (1-6, 1-4 NLC): The Tigers posted a 43-7 win against Goshen last year. Reed Zollinger rambled 27 times for 168 yards with a score for Warsaw against Wawasee. Drew Elliott raced for 170 yards with a touchdown and racked up 11 tackles for the RedHawks against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 43, Goshen 9.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (7-0, 5-0 DAC) at Chesterton (2-5, 2-3 DAC): The No. 4 (Class 6A) Bulldogs came away with a 41-21 win over Chesterton last season. Landen Delich finished with six receptions for 119 yards with a score in Crown Point’s 42-0 blanking of LaPorte. Cameron Chadwick caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in the Trojans’ 20-14 loss to Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 44, Chesterton 19.
Merrillville (5-2, 3-2 DAC) at Lake Central (4-3, 3-2 DAC): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Pirates downed Lake Central, 24-10, a season ago. Dontae Pope threw for 199 yards with two scores in Merrillville’s 26-24 loss to Valparaiso. LJ Richardson found the end zone twice for the Indians against Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 45, Lake Central 18.
Michigan City (4-3, 3-2 DAC) at LaPorte (1-6, 0-5 DAC): The Wolves came up on the short end of a 21-12 decision to LaPorte a year ago. Zaire McKinney managed three catches for 22 yards with a score in Michigan City’s 21-8 win against Portage. Jack Borrelli ended with nine tackles for the Slicers against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 35, LaPorte 6.
Valparaiso (5-2, 4-1 DAC) at Portage (0-7, 0-5 DAC): The No. 4 (Class 5A) Vikings managed a 31-0 win over Portage last year. Thomas Burda registered 26 carries for 135 yards with two touchdowns for Valparaiso against Merrillville. Josiah Mabon tallied a six-yard scoring run for the Indians against Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 37, Portage 16.
