Improvement was made as I went 17-3 (85 percent) last week. Heading into the one-third mark of the regular season, my overall record is now 31-11, which has me at 74 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Brebeuf Jesuit (1-1) at Marian (1-1): The Braves earned a trip to the 2021 Class 3A state finals with a 17-16 win over Marian in the northern semistate. Maverick Geske completed 13-of-21 for 154 yards with three touchdowns in Brebeuf Jesuit’s 34-17 win over Tri-West. Bryce LaSane was 12-of-21 for 163 yards with a score in the Knights’ 21-14 win over Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Brebeuf Jesuit 36, Marian 14.
Clay (0-2) at Chicago Christian (0-0): Liam Wolf went 9-of-24 for 70 yards with a score in the Colonials’ 53-6 loss to Boone Grove. Christian Flutman tossed three touchdown passes in the Knights’ 35-0 blanking of Chicago Sullivan. Matt’s pick: Chicago Christian 39, Clay 6.
Glenn (1-1) at Angola (0-2): Chase Miller’s two interceptions were the lone highlights in the Falcons’ 20-0 loss to Riley. Hawkins Hasselman ran for a pair of touchdowns in the Hornets’ 42-17 loss to Leo. Matt’s pick: Glenn 20, Angola 18,
Hammond Morton (1-1) at Elkhart (0-2): The Lions roared past Hammond Morton, 35-6, a season ago. Holland Harris went 7-of-27 for 205 yards with a score in the Governors’ 24-14 loss to No. 7 (Class 3A) Hanover Central. Nathan Munson ran four times for 70 yards and caught six passes for 62 yards with a touchdown in Elkhart’s 35-29 loss to No. 7 (Class 4A) Northridge. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 40, Hammond Morton 19.
Lowell (1-1) at New Prairie (1-1): The Cougars cruised to a 42-6 win over Lowell in last year’s Class 4A sectional semifinals. Colton Scott scampered 18 time for 150 yards with two touchdowns in the Red Devils’ 26-7 win over LaPorte. Reed Robinson had 10 carries for 82 yards with a score in New Prairie’s 29-10 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 30, Lowell 13.
Riley (2-0) at Adams (1-1) (Everwise School Field): The Eagles went to double overtime to post a 14-6 win over Riley a season ago. Payton Baird caught five passes for 145 yards with two touchdowns for the Wildcats against Glenn. Phoenyx Clark went 10-of-14 for 132 yards with a touchdown and ran seven times for 60 yards and another tally in Adams’ 23-22 win at Logansport. Matt’s pick: Riley 25, Adams 15.
Osceola Grace (0-1) at Jimtown (0-2): The Jimmies blanked Osceola Grace, 64-0, a year ago. Noah Pollock had two receptions for 50 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 20-8 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Brayden Fox converted a 36-yard field goal in Jimtown’s 27-10 loss to No. 9 (Class 5A) Concord. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 53, Osceola Grace 10.
Penn (2-0) at Indianapolis Cathedral (1-1): The No. 6 (Class 6A) Irish rallied for a 35-21 win over No. 8 (Class 6A) Penn last season. Elijah Coker managed five catches for 28 yards with a score in the Kingsmen’s 28-7 win over No. 10 (Class 5A) Mishawaka. Danny O’Neil was 22-of-39 for 388 yards with four touchdowns and ran 12 times for 35 yards in Cathedral’s 45-31 loss at No. 2 (Class 6A) Brownsburg. Matt’s pick: Cathedral 28, Penn 23.
South Central (1-1) at Bremen (1-1): The Lions downed South Central, 27-6, in the 1990 Class 1A sectional opener. Aaron Hogan registered 17 carries for 165 yards with four scores in the Satellites’ 44-22 win over Culver. Austin Young raced 10 times for 50 yards with a touchdown in Bremen’s 41-7 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: Bremen 22, South Central 8.
Washington (0-2) at Saint Joseph (1-1): Saint Joe claimed a Class 4A sectional crown in 2015 with a 21-13 win over Washington. Gabe Weber threw a 20-yard scoring pass for the Panthers against Bremen. Jayden Lunford recorded a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown in Saint Joseph’s 41-3 win over Fort Wayne South. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 34, Washington 7.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Mishawaka (1-1) at Northridge (2-0): The No. 10 (Class 5A) Cavemen needed two overtimes to earn a 45-39 win over No. 7 (Class 4A) Northridge a season ago. Trey Thomas registered an interception and a seven-yard catch for Mishawaka against Penn. McClain Miller had 13 carries for 50 yards with two touchdowns and hauled in four receptions for 67 yards for the Raiders against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 37, Northridge 34.
NorthWood (2-0) at Concord (2-0): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Panthers clawed their way to a 41-13 win over No. 9 (Class 5A) Concord in their previous meeting. Owen Roeder was 20-of-26 for 304 yards with five touchdowns and ran five times for 27 yards and another score in NorthWood’s 49-7 win over Portage. Derek Gomez registered a 13-yard touchdown catch for the Minutemen against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 33, Concord 21.
Warsaw (2-0) at Plymouth (1-1): The Tigers mauled Plymouth, 70-0, a year ago. Reed Zollinger ran 23 times for 118 yards in Warsaw’s 8-6 win at Chesterton. Grady Metsker had three rushes for 51 yards with a score in the Rockies’ 42-14 loss at No. 8. (Class 4A) Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 41, Plymouth 22.
Wawasee (0-2) at Goshen (0-2): The RedHawks soared to 28-18 win over Wawasee last year. Braydn Pike managed a 20-yard touchdown reception in the Warriors’ 20-12 loss to West Noble. Jace Hershberger managed nine tackles for Goshen against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Goshen 14, Wawasee 13.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (0-2) at Michigan City (1-1): The Trojans eliminated Michigan City, 28-20, in last year’s Class 5A sectional semifinals. Alex Santucci came up with a 16-yard touchdown reception for Chesterton against Warsaw. Benjamine Martin mustered two catches for 43 yards with two scores in the Wolves’ 36-30 win over Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 23, Chesterton 16.
Merrillville (2-0) at Crown Point (2-0): The No. 9 (Class 6A) Bulldogs held off No. 2 (Class 5A) Merrillville, 48-40, last season. Jeremiah Jordan racked up nine tackles in the Pirates’ 31-12 win over Hobart. Noah Ehrlich tossed for 187 yards and four scores in Crown Point’s 49-7 win against Chicago Taft. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 44, Crown Point 32.
Portage (0-2) at Lake Central (1-1): The Indians slipped past Portage, 17-14, a season ago. Troy Marshall rambled 13 times for 66 yards for the Indians against NorthWood. Jeffrey Lucas accounted for 13 tackles in Lake Central’s 28-21 loss to Providence Catholic (Illinois). Matt’s pick Lake Central 25, Portage 18.
Valparaiso (1-1) at LaPorte (1-1): The No. 5 and defending Class 5A state champions Vikings cruised to a 42-3 win over LaPorte during the 2022 regular season and the sectional semifinals. Jacob Moore came up with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown in Valparaiso’s 55-18 win at defending Class 2A state runner-up Andrean. Jack Borelli accounted for two interceptions for the Slicers against Lowell. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 45, LaPorte 15.
