The regular season closed on a high note as I went 17-0 (100 percent) last week. Heading into the post-season, my overall record is now 129-30, which has now me at 81 percent.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hanover Central (7-2) at East Chicago Central (1-8): The Wildcats cruised to a 63-6 win over East Chicago Central during the 2022 campaign. Caiden Verrett scampered 13 times for 134 yards with four touchdowns in Hanover Central’s 48-25 win over Hammond Central. The Cardinals’ 56-0 loss to Hammond Morton marked the fourth time they were held scoreless this season. Matt’s pick: Hanover Central 48, East Chicago Central 9.
Highland (1-8) at Kankakee Valley (4-5): The Kougars blanked Highland, 57-0, on October 11. Justin Slaven caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the Trojans’ 49-6 loss to Hobart. Diego Arroyo was 12-of-14 for 180 yards with a score in Kankakee Valley’s 29-13 win over Munster. Matt’s pick: Kankakee Valley 45, Highland 7.
Gary West (5-4) at New Prairie (6-3): Guiseppe Moore rambled 21 times for 191 yards with two touchdowns and went 1-of-2 for two yards in the Cougars’ 38-36 loss to Calumet. Hayden Scott came up with five carries for 43 yards with a score and five tackles in the Cougars’ 52-8 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 40, Gary West 11.
Hobart (5-4) at Lowell (4-5): The Brickies rolled to a 42-7 win over Lowell on September 27. Max Pickett ran 14 times for 110 yards with a score for Hobart against Highland. Colton Scott managed 19 carries for 128 yards with a touchdown in the Red Devils’ 27-14 loss to Andrean. Matt’s pick: Hobart 37, Lowell 10.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Wawasee (1-8) at Plymouth (5-4): The Rockies clubbed Wawasee, 30-0, on September 20. Johnny Zachary tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass and ran twice for 10 yards in the Warriors’ 46-7 loss to Mishawaka. Finn Holm ended with 12 rushes for 42 yards with a score in Plymouth’s 42-14 loss to No. 1 (Class 5A) Concord. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 39, Wawasee 8.
Mishawaka (7-2) at Northridge (3-6): The No. 6 Cavemen downed Northridge, 27-7, on September 27. Kadyn O’Neal recorded 15 carries for 90 yards with two touchdowns for Mishawaka against Wawasee. Judah Hochstetler caught four passes for 99 yards with a score in the Raiders’ 42-13 loss to No. 10 (Class 5A) Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 38, Northridge 10.
Saint Joseph (5-4) at Riley (2-6) (Jackson Field): The Huskies clawed past Riley, 29-0, on October 4. Noah Boutsomsy finished with 10 carries for 33 yards in Saint Joseph’s 27-0 loss to Penn. Karon Miller accounted for the Wildcats’ lone score with a one-yard run in a 21-7 loss to Marian. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 35, Riley 12.
Washington (0-9) at NorthWood (4-5): The Panthers earned a 56-14 win over Washington in last year’s sectional semifinals. Tehran Parker mustered a one-yard touchdown run for the Panthers against New Prairie. Braylon Monroe was 9-of-16 for 145 yards with two touchdowns and carried the ball two times for 20 yards with another score in NorthWood’s 42-0 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 50, Washington 6.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Glenn (1-7) at Jimtown (6-3): The Jimmies escaped with a 22-14 win over Glenn on September 13. With their 48-7 loss to Culver Academy, the Falcons have now been limited to eight or fewer points five times. Javen Jackson hauled in six passes for 144 yards with a pair of touchdowns in Jimtown’s 44-34 win at Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 41, Glenn 11.
Calumet (5-4) at Marian (4-5): The Knights claimed a regional crown in 2020 with a 56-0 win over Calumet. Darren Haygood racked up 15 tackles for the Warriors against Gary West. Braxton Brooks rambled 68 yards for a score against Riley. Matt’s pick: Marian 32, Calumet 14.
Knox (6-3) at River Forest (5-4): The Redskins eliminated River Forest from the 2021 playoffs with a 39-14 victory in the sectional semifinals. Cameron Duff accumulated nine carries for 106 yards in Knox’s 61-6 win over Bowman Academy. Levi Harper tallied four catches for 49 yards with two scores in the Ingots’ 55-16 win over Lake Station. Matt’s pick: Knox 47, River Forest 15.
Hammond Bishop Noll (3-6) at Griffith (8-1): The Panthers mauled Bishop Noll, 57-13, to open the 2004 season. Gavin Knight recorded seven tackles in the Warriors’ 48-6 loss to Boone Grove. Ryan Bullion threw for 168 yards with a score in Griffith’s 35-13 loss to Wheeler. Matt’s pick: Griffith 46, Bishop Noll 16.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Lakeland (5-4) at Garrett (9-0): The No. 4 Railroaders sidelined Lakeland, 41-27, on September 13. Bryar Alleshouse returned a kickoff 92 yards for a score for the Lakers against Jimtown. Camren Ruble totaled 11 carries for 111 yards with three touchdowns in Garrett’s 62-14 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Garrett 31, Lakeland 17.
Woodlan (5-4) at Tippecanoe Valley (6-3): The Warriors came away with a 14-7 win over Tippecanoe Valley during the 1981 campaign. Drew Fleek registered 15 rushes for 75 yards with a score in Woodlan’s 42-6 loss to No. 4 (Class 2A) Adams Central. Hunter Stage completed 11-of-24 for 164 yards and ran eight times for 32 yards in the Vikings’ 24-10 loss to Bremen. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 23, Woodlan 19.
West Noble (8-1) at Angola (4-5): The No. 10 Chargers posted a 35-10 win over Angola on September 13. Fernando Macias carried the ball three times for 36 yards with two scores in West Noble’s 56-0 win over Prairie Heights. Dallas Davidson recorded nine tackles and two rushes for 10 yards with a touchdown in the Hornets’ 25-7 win over Eastside. Matt’s pick: West Noble 34, Angola 13.
Fort Wayne Concordia (2-7) at Fairfield (4-5): Jack Belschner ended with three receptions for 107 yards in the Cadets’ 41-7 loss to Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. Blake Metzger raced 13 times for 94 yards with a score in the Falcons’ 42-18 win against Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Fairfield 25. Fort Wayne Concordia 22.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Bremen (5-4) at Lake Station (2-6): The winner hosts Rensselaer Central (3-6) in the sectional semifinals. The Lions roared to a 55-7 win over Lake Station in the 2022 sectional semifinals. Carson Anderson accounted for 20 carries for 101 yards with a touchdown for Bremen against Tippecanoe Valley. Anthony Slaven went 8-of-12 for 123 yards for the Fighting Eagles against River Forest. Matt’s pick: Bremen 42, Lake Station 8.
Whiting (2-7) at Andrean (5-4): The 59ers blanked Whiting, 49-0, to claim the 2021 sectional crown. Kameron Patterson returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in the Oilers’ 56-20 loss to LaVille. Brady Elish went 8-of-12 for 124 yards with two scores and ran for another touchdown for Andrean against Lowell. Matt’s pick: Andrean 39, Whiting 10.
Wheeler (7-2) at Boone Grove (6-3): The Bearcats were a 38-20 winner over Boone Grove on September 20. Bryce Compton hauled in three passes for 75 yards with two touchdowns for Wheeler against Griffith. Jack Niemand registered five receptions for 97 yards with a score for the Wolves against Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Wheeler 30, Boone Grove 20.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
South Newton (3-6) at North Judson (9-0): The top-ranked Bluejays cruised to a 42-0 win over South Newton in last season’s sectional semifinals. Lucas Bogucki carried the ball 17 times for 92 yards with a touchdown and had a 21-yard reception in the Rebels’ 48-7 loss to No. 8 Frontier. Kole Wilcox accumulated 16 carries for 123 yards with four scores and caught two passes for 75 yards in North Judson’s 60-18 win over Pioneer. Matt’s pick: North Judson 51, South Newton 14.
South Central (2-7) at Culver (1-8): The Satellites ended a seven-game losing streak with a 30-22 win over Culver on October 18. Clayton Strauch found the end zone three times for South Central against Culver. Ethan Binion rambled 23 yards for a score and intercepted a pass for the Cavaliers against South Central. Matt’s pick: South Central 22, Culver 18.
Bowman Academy (0-9) at North Newton (2-7): The Spartans crushed Bowman Academy, 53-18, on October 4. With their setback to Knox, the Eagles have now allowed 50 or more points on five occasions. As a result of its 52-8 loss at Tri-County, North Newton has now been held to less than 10 points five times. Matt’s pick: North Newton 47, Bowman Academy 19.
West Central (6-3) at LaVille (4-5): The Lancers powered past West Central, 63-16, in the 2016 season. Christian Hughes went 6-of-8 for 46 yards and ran six times for 66 yards with two scores in the Trojans’ 26-14 win over North White. Bredyn Foster managed seven tackles for LaVille against Whiting. Matt’s pick: LaVille 26, West Central 25.
