It proved to be another productive week as I posted another 13-2 (87 percent) record. With just three weeks left in the regular season. my overall record is now 85-21, which has me now at 80 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Elkhart (2-4, 1-1 NIC) at Adams (1-5, 0-3 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The Lions earned a 35-3 win over Adams a year ago. Connor Dow carried the ball 15 times for 167 yards with two touchdowns in Elkhart’s 26-17 win over Saint Joseph. Christian Bryce had four rushes for 23 yards as well as six tackles in the Eagles’ 49-0 loss to New Prairie. Matr’s pick: Elkhart 33, Adams 12.
LaVille (5-1) at Glenn (4-2): The No. 7 (Class 2A) Lancers claimed a 42-6 win over Glenn a season ago. Lucas Plummer was 14-of-25 for 154 yards with a score and ran 18 times for 96 yards in LaVille’s 21-13 loss to Knox. Mason Kobelt raced 16 times for 112 yards with a touchdown in the Falcons’ 42-0 win over Bremen. Matt’s pick: LaVille 20, Glenn 18.
Marian (2-4) at Angola (0-6): The Hornets blanked Marian, 28-0, last season. Chase Bays recorded a seven-yard reception for a touchdown for the Knights against Penn. Micah Steury ran for a touchdown and threw a pass for another score in Angola’s 28-12 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Marian 29, Angola 15.
Prairie Heights (0-6) at Bremen (3-3): The Lions clawed past Prairie Heights, 38-6, last year. Mac Armstrong tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Kiegen Tschannen for the Panthers against Eastside. Reece Greene’s interception was one of the few highlights for Bremen against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Bremen 49, Prairie Heights 8.
Riley (6-0) at New Prairie (5-1): The Wildcats suffered a 42-21 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) New Prairie in their previous meeting. Austin White went 13-of-23 for 139 yards with two touchdown and ran five times for 50 yards Riley’s 26-0 blanking of Washington. Harrison Groves ended with nine tackles for the Cougars against Adams. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 31, Riley 20.
Saint Joseph (2-4, 1-2 NIC) at Penn (5-1, 2-0 NIC): The No. 10 (Class 6A) Kingsmen cruised to a 40-0 win over Saint Joseph a season ago. Alex Ortiz tossed a pair of touchdown passes for Saint Joe against Elkhart. Kellen Watson registered five catches for 94 yards with a pair of scores and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass for Penn against Marian. Matt’s pick: Penn 45, Saint Joseph 10.
Washington (2-4, 1-2 NIC) at Jimtown (2-4, 1-1 NIC): The Jimmies earned a 35-0 win against Washington in the 2022 campaign. The Panthers allowed 330 yards of offense against Riley; Bishop Williams found the end zone twice in Jimtown’s 35-14 loss to No. (Class 3A) Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 40, Washington 6.
North Newton (0-6) at Clay (0-6) (Saturday): The Spartans surrendered 33 points in the second quarter in their 65-7 loss to Frontier. Jeremy Cleveland racked up 10 tackles in the Colonials’ 14-6 loss to Jimtown junior varsity. Matt’s pick: Clay 12, North Newton 7.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Goshen (0-6, 0-4 NLC) at Plymouth (2-4, 1-3 NLC): The RedHawks slipped past Plymouth, 7-6, a season ago. Karter Marcum ended with five tackles in Goshen’s 42-0 loss t Concord. Aiden Blalock totaled three receptions for 25 yards in the Rockies’ 42-7 loss at NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 25, Goshen 11.
Mishawaka (5-1, 4-0 NLC) at NorthWood (4-2, 2-2 NLC): The Panthers managed a 14-6 win against No. 5 (Class 5A) Mishawaka last year. Novell Miller finished with 20 carries for 81 yards with two scores in the Cavemen’s 34-11 win over Warsaw. Jeffrey Eash registered nine rushes for 32 yards for NorthWood against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 32, NorthWood 24.
Northridge (5-1, 3-1 NLC) at Concord (4-2, 2-2 NLC): The No. 5 (Class 4A) Raiders edged Concord, 29-28, a year ago. Derek Sherwood rambled 30 yards for a touchdown in Northridge’s 14-7 win at Wawasee. Reece Breveard ran 10 yards for a score and returned punts of 83 and 86 yards for touchdowns for the Minutemen against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Northridge 24, Concord 20.
Wawasee (1-5, 1-3 NLC) at Warsaw (5-1, 3-1 NLC): The Tigers picked up the “W” trophy with a 38-0 win over Wawasee last season. Luke Keim was 12-of-25 for 88 yards for the Warriors against Northridge. Mason Smythe converted a 29-yard field goal for Warsaw against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 48, Wawasee 9.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Lake Central (3-3, 2-2 DAC) at Chesterton (2-4, 2-2 DAC): The Trojans squeezed by Lake Central, 14-13, last year. Xavier Williams tallied 20 rushes for 152 yards with a touchdown in the Indians’ 27-24 loss to Michigan City. Brady McCormick was 5-of-8 for 98 yards with a touchdown and ran 20 times for 104 yards with two scores in Chesterton’s 35-31 win over Portage. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 30, Lake Central 26.
LaPorte (1-5, 0-4 DAC) at Crown Point (6-0, 4-0 DAC): The Slicers are looking to make amends for a 51-10 loss to No. 4 (Class 6A) Crown Point. Ollie Kring managed six receptions for 38 yards in LaPorte’s 40-0 loss to Merrillville. Larry Ellison finished with 22 carries for 78 yards with two scores and caught three passes for 47 yards and another touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 19-14 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 44, LaPorte 3.
Merrillville (5-1, 3-1 DAC) at Valparaiso (4-2, 3-1 DAC): The No. 6 Vikings picked up a Class 5A regional crown in 2022 with a 15-14 win over No. 4 Merrillville. JQ Johnson raced 20 times for 180 yards for Merrillville against LaPorte. Scott Bradney caught a three-yard touchdown pass for Valparaiso against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 22, Valparaiso 17.
Portage (0-6, 0-4 DAC) at Michigan City (3-3, 2-2 DAC): The Wolves rolled to a 35-12 win over Portage last season. Kodie Young went 18-of-32 for 365 yards with two touchdowns for the Indians against Chesterton. Tyler Bush completed 9-of-17 for 108 yards and ran 17 times for 83 yards with three touchdowns for Michigan City against Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 41, Portage 19.
