My upward progress continued as I posted a 16-2 (89 percent) mark a week ago. My overall record is now 47-13, which has me at 78 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Bremen (2-1) at Triton (2-1): The Trojans marched past Bremen, 51-10, a season ago. Reece Greene had four receptions for 136 yards with a score in the Lions’ 35-0 win against South Central. Dante Workman caught five passes for 118 yards in Triton’s 30-14 win against Caston. Matt’s pick: Bremen 30, Triton 27.
Elkhart (1-2) at Massillon Washington (Ohio) (3-0): Connor Dow rambled 18 times for 166 yards with three scores in the Lions’ 48-38 win over Hammond Morton. Jalen Slaughter was 6-of-9 for 84 yards with two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 51-10 win over Mansfield. Matt’s pick: Massillon 41, Elkhart 12.
Glenn (2-1, 0-1 NIC) at Jimtown (1-2): The Jimmies claimed a pair of wins over Glenn last year by scores of 20-12 and 28-7. Chase Miller ran for 166 yards with three touchdowns and also throw the game-winning 18-yard touchdown pass in the Falcons’ 30-24 win at Angola. Gabe Glass had a three-yard scoring run in Jimtown’s 75-7 win over Osceola Grace. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 28, Glenn 24.
Hammond Morton (1-2) at Penn (2-1): Holland Harris went 14-of-26 for 241 yards with a touchdown and ran nine times for 54 yards with two scores for the Governors against Elkhart. Vince Horner returned a punt 35 yards for a touchdown in the Kingsmen’s 35-6 loss to No. 5 (Class 6A) Indianapolis Cathedral. Matt’s pick: Penn 45, Hammond Morton 15.
Marian (1-2) at New Prairie (2-1): The defending Class 4A state runner-up Cougars managed a 34-14 win against Marian a season ago. Bryce LaSane completed 13-of-31 for 170 yards with a score and ran 16 times for 155 yards with a touchdown in the Knights’ 44-31 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) Brebeuf Jesuit. Reece Lapczynski caught three passes for 116 yards with three scores in New Prairie’s 47-6 win over Lowell. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 39, Marian 16.
Riley (3-0, 1-0 NIC) at Clay (0-3): The Wildcats recorded a 42-0 win over Clay last season. Dominick Jolley carried the ball 22 times for 133 yards with a touchdown in Riley’s 22-12 win over Adams. Tyrese Jones recorded six tackles and a fumble recovery in the Colonials’ 52-6 loss to Chicago Christian. Matt’s pick: Riley 49, Clay 6.
Saint Joseph (2-1) at Adams (1-2) (Everwise School Field): Saint Joe held on for a 21-14 victory against Adams last year. Jack Keegan recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in Saint Joseph’s 51-0 win against Washington. Quincy Tootoo came up with three catches for 41 yards for the Eagles against Riley. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 23. Adams 13.
Washington (0-3) at Calumet (1-2): Jaydon Lineberry racked up a pair of interceptions for the Panthers against Saint Joseph. Javon Lawrence was 5-of-6 for 143 yards with two touchdowns in the Warriors’ 52-8 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Calumet 43, Washington 7.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (2-1, 0-1 NLC) at Warsaw (3-0, 1-0 NLC): The Tigers blanked Concord, 19-0, last year. Char’rese Breveard recorded eight tackles in the Minutemen’s 45-14 loss to NorthWood. Lucas Ransbottom tallied 133 yards on the ground with a touchdown and 55 receiving yards in Warsaw’s 41-7 win at Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 34, Concord 19.
Goshen (0-3, 0-1 NLC) at Mishawaka (2-1. 1-0 NLC): The No. 8 (Class 5A) Cavemen cruised to a 37-6 win over Goshen last season. Drew Elliott carried the ball 16 times for 184 yards with two scores in the RedHawks’ 34-21 loss to Wawasee. Novell Miller romped for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in Mishawaka’s 37-16 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 44, Goshen 14.
Northridge (2-1, 0-1 NLC) at NorthWood (3-0, 1-0 NLC): The Raiders earned a Class 4A sectional crown a year ago with a 34-17 win over No. 4 (Class 4A) NorthWood. Brayden Clark was 13-of-19 for 104 yards with a touchdown and ran six times for 37 yards and another tally for Northridge against Mishawaka. Jojo Edmond caught eight passes for 136 yards with a score and ran five times for 64 yards with two touchdowns for the Panthers against Concord. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 38, Northridge 17.
Plymouth (1-2, 0-1 NLC) at Wawasee (1-2, 1-0 NLC): The Warriors posted a 45-26 win over Plymouth a season ago. Exzander Ramirez was 18-of-25 for 187 yards and ran 18 times for 52 yards and a touchdown for the Rockies against Warsaw. Hunter Tinkey came up with 12 rushes for 100 yards with a score for Wawasee against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 25, Plymouth 22.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (3-0, 1-0 DAC) at Lake Central (2-1, 1-0 DAC): The No.8 (Class 6A) Bulldogs downed Lake Central, 35-10, in their previous meeting. Larry Ellison accumulated 24 carries for 185 yards with four touchdowns in Crown Point’s 39-6 win over Merrillville. Chase Kwiatkowski was 13-of-28 for 265 yards with three scores in the Indians’ 21-20 win against Portage. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 40, Lake Central 19.
LaPorte (1-2, 0-1 DAC) at Chesterton (0-3. 0-1 DAC): The Slicers slipped past Chesterton, 24-21, during the 2022 campaign. RJ Carnes mustered seven tackles in LaPorte’s 49-0 loss to Valparaiso. Garrett Lewis’ touchdown catch was one of the few highlights in the Trojans’ 28-6 loss to Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 22, LaPorte 10.
Michigan City (2-1, 1-0 DAC) at Valparaiso (2-1, 1-0 DAC): The No 3 and defending Class 5A state champion Vikings rolled to a 35-14 win over Michigan City last year. Tyler Bush went 12-of-20 for 214 yards with three touchdowns for the Wolves against Chesterton. Travis Davis came up with 18 rushes for 108 yards with two touchdowns against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 36, Michigan City 26.
Portage (0-3, 0-1 DAC) at Merrillville (2-1, 0-1 DAC): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Pirates were a 35-13 winner over Portage a year ago. Kodie Young was 9-of-20 for 114 yards with three touchdowns for the Indians against Lake Central. Xamere Martin caught four passes for 43 yards with a score for Merrillville against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 47, Portage 9.
