Things went a little better as I went 17-7 (71 percent) last week. Heading into the homestretch, my overall record is now 216-48, which keeps me at 82 percent.
CLASS 6A
Crown Point (12-0) at Westfield (11-1): The No. 2 and defending state runner-up Bulldogs needed double overtime to earn a 38-31 win over No, 3 Westfield in last year’s semistate. Carson Cavalcante returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown in Crown Point’s 38-21 win over No. 10 Carroll (Fort Wayne). Mikeah Webster racked up eight tackles in the Shamrocks’ 42-28 win over Fishers. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 33, Westfield 30.
Brownsburg (11-1) at Center Grove (8-4): The Trojans marched to a 38-14 win over No. 4 Brownsburg during the 1990 campaign. Shakovan Sumpterbey ran 12 times for 56 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards with a score in the Bulldogs’ 22-21 win over No. 1 Lawrence North. Trew Paxson tallied two tackles and a fumble recovery in Center Grove’s 23-15 win at No. 5 Warren Central. Matt’s pick: Center Grove 24, Brownsburg 20.
CLASS 5A
Merrillville (11-1) at Warsaw (9-3):The No. 3 Pirates claimed a 2019 Class 6A regional crown with a 42-28 win over No. 9 Warsaw. Jordan Sanders connected on 6-of-8 passes for 95 yards with a touchdown in Merrillville’s 48-14 win over No. 7 Valparaiso. Quinton Brock carried the ball three times for 28 yards with a score, threw a 15-yard pass for a score, and caught a 25-yard pass for another tally in the Tigers’ 44-27 win over No. 2 Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 35, Warsaw 31.
Decatur Central (10-2) at Bloomington South (8-4): The No. 4 and defending state runner-up Hawks downed Bloomington South, 24-12, in last season’s semistate. Brayden Smith came up with 14 tackles in Decatur Central’s 21-16 win over No. 9 and two-time defending Class 4A state champion East Central. Miles McKay finished with 10 tackles in the Panthers’ 28-21 win over No. 8 Castle. Matt’s pick: Decatur Central 27, Bloomington South 13.
CLASS 4A
East Noble (12-1) at Mishawaka (11-2): The No. 2 Knights crowned No. 6 Mishawaka, 34-29, during the 2019 season. Landon Swogger hauled in a 42-yard touchdown pass in East Noble’s 52-17 win against Huntington North. Jackson Snyder recorded six tackles with two for loss, an interception, and six rushes for 45 yards in the Cavemen’s 21-7 triumph over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: East Noble 23, Mishawaka 21.
Martinsville (12-1) at New Palestine (12-0): The top-ranked Dragons cruised to a 70-6 win over No. 3 Martinsville in the 2015 Class 5A sectional semifinals. Hunter Stroud managed three catches for 15 yards with a score in the Artesians’ 35-28 win over Evansville Reitz. Austin McMahan caught three passes for 49 yards with a touchdown in New Palestine’s 28-21 overtime win against No. 5 and two-time defending Class 3A state champion Indianapolis Bishop Chatard. Matt’s pick: New Palestine 32, Martinsville 24.
CLASS 3A
Garrett (13-0) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (9-4): The No. 4 Railroaders suffered a 54-6 loss to defending Class 2A state champion Bishop Luers in the 2014 sectional final. Brayden Nusbaum hauled in two receptions for 87 yards with a touchdown in Garrett’s 41-40 win over Knox. Dee Hogue carried the football 12 times for 46 yards with a score and registered three tackles and two interceptions in the Knights’ 31-28 win over No. 8 Maconaquah. Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 38, Garrett 28.
Batesville (9-3) at Heritage Hills (12-1): The No. 3 and defending state runner-up Patriots captured a regional crown a year ago with a 24-21 win over Batesville. Will Jaisle went 8-of-15 for 97 yards with three touchdowns and ran 15 times for 59 yards with two scores in the Bulldogs’ 41-37 win over Tri-West. Hunter Meredith scampered five times for 73 yards with a pair of touchdowns in Heritage Hills’ 50-7 win over North Harrison. Matt’s pick: Heritage Hills 43, Batesville 12.
CLASS 2A
Adams Central (12-1) at Andrean (9-4): Aaron Hirschy came up with scoring runs of 18 and 25 yards in the No. 4 and three-time defending Class 1A state runner-up Flying Jets’ 42-7 win over Eastern (Greentown). James Finley racked up five tackles and two interceptions in the 59ers’ 20-17 upset of top-ranked Lafayette Central Catholic. Matt’s pick: Adams Central 25, Andrean 22.
Linton-Stockton (11-2) at Indianapolis Lutheran (12-1): The No. 7 Miners celebrated a semistate title in 2016 with a 43-14 win over No. 3 and three-time defending state champion Indianapolis Lutheran. Corey Andrews accounted for 19 stops and an interception in Linton-Stockton’s 22-21 win over No. 2 Brownstown Central. Landyn Hazelwood made three catches for 55 yards with a score as well as seven tackles in the Saints’ 35-0 blanking of Lapel. Matt’s pick: Indianapolis Lutheran 34, Linton-Stockton 16.
CLASS 1A
South Adams (8-5) at North Judson (13-0): Nathan Plattner ended up with 17 tackles and an interception in the Starfires’ 40-21 win over No. 10 North Miami. Grason McDaniel tallied five tackles in the No. 1 Bluejays’ 70-6 win at Taylor. Matt’s pick: North Judson 48, South Adams 10.
South Putnam (11-2) at Providence (12-0): Blake Witt mustered five tackles and a pair of interceptions in the No. 6 Eagles’ 60-19 win over Sheridan. Nick Stoner totaled three receptions for 104 yards with a score in the No. 3 Pioneers’ 28-10 win over Milan. Matt’s pick: Providence 31, South Putnam 28.
