Things went a little better as I went 13-2 (87 percent) last week. My overall record is now 112-30, which has me at 79 percent for the season
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (2-6, 2-4 NIC) at Elkhart (6-1, 6-0 NIC): The No. 7 (Class 6A) Lions roared past Adams, 34-0, a season ago. Anthony Gubi went 6-of-14 for 124 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 7-6 win over Riley. Zach Anderson caught two passes for 97 yards with a score in Elkhart’s 26-0 win over Marian. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 39, Adams 7.
New Prairie (5-3, 3-3 NIC) at Washington (0-8, 0-6 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The Cougars clawed by Washington, 56-7, in the 2018 Class 4A sectional quarterfinals. Reed Robinson tallied 27 carries for 122 yards with a touchdown and went 5-of-12 for 78 yards in New Prairie’s 24-7 loss to Penn. The Panthers were guilty of three turnovers in their 49-0 loss to Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 49, Washington 6.
Riley (2-5, 1-5 NIC) at Marian (3-5, 3-3 NIC): The Knights crowned Riley, 48-14, during the 2019 campaign. Karon Miller rambled three yards for a touchdown for the Wildcats against Adams. Brian Osman ran 14 times for 79 yards and had a five-yard reception for Marian against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Marian 33, Riley 12.
Saint Joseph (5-3, 4-2 NIC) at Penn (6-2. 5-1 NIC): The Kingsmen blanked Saint Joseph, 28-0, last year. Koehn Turner came up with a six-yard touchdown run for Penn against New Prairie. Franco Biffle accounted for a pair of scores for the Huskies against Washington. Matt’s pick: Penn 37, Saint Joseph 10.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (8-0, 6-0 NLC) at Plymouth (5-3, 4-2 NLC): The top-ranked (Class 5A) Minutemen cruised to a 46-6 win against Plymouth last season. Jaron Thomas accounted for 10 carries for 116 yards with three scores in Concord’s 44-7 win over Wawasee. Finn Holm came up with 20 carries for 50 yards in the Rockies’ 34-10 loss to Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Concord 42, Plymouth 13.
Goshen (0-8, 0-6 NLC) at NorthWood (3-5, 2-4 NLC): The Panthers earned a 27-0 win over Goshen in their last meeting. Spencer Elliott recorded six tackles and an interception in the RedHawks’ 42-3 loss to Northridge. Braylon Monroe went 20-of-24 for 116 yards with a touchdown in NorthWood’s 35-21 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 44, Goshen 3.
Mishawaka (6-2, 4-2 NLC) at Wawasee (1-7, 1-5 NLC): The No. 6 (Class 4A) Cavemen clubbed Wawasee, 41-22, a year ago. Landon Snyder found the end zone three times for Mishawaka against Plymouth. Carson Nine racked up nine tackles for the Warriors against Concord. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 43, Wawasee 8.
Warsaw (5-3, 4-2 NLC) at Northridge (3-5, 3-3 NLC): The Raiders are looking to make amends for a 24-10 loss to No. 10 (Class 5A) Warsaw during the 2023 season. Brody Duncan finished with 110 yards on the ground with a score for the Tigers against NorthWood. Derek Sherwood registered 15 rushes for 113 yards with two touchdowns for Northridge against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 28, Northridge 14.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE
Bowman Academy (0-8) at Knox (5-3): The Eagles surrendered over 400 yards rushing in their 66-22 loss to Tri-County. Jake Conroy amassed 18 carries for 105 yards with three touchdowns in the Redskins’ 46-38 loss to Bremen. Matt’s pick: Knox 52, Bowman Academy 6.
Culver Academy (7-1) at Glenn (1-6): The Falcons soared to a 48-7 win over Culver Academy during the 2014 campaign. Tay Rodriguez raced 20 times for 191 yards with three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 30-20 win at Heritage Christian. Archer Rust accounted for a pair of scores in Glenn’s 22-21 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 46, Glenn 9.
Jimtown (5-3) at Lakeland (5-3): The Jimmies blanked Lakeland, 42-0, in the 2011 Class 3A sectional semifinals. Javen Jackson returned a punt 45 yards for a score in Jimtown’s 49-20 win over LaVille. Carson Mickem scampered 12 times for 122 yards with two scores in the Lakers’ 48-38 loss to Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 38, Lakeland 35.
LaVille (3-5) at Whiting (2-6): The Lancers downed Whiting, 50-0, in the 2023 Class 2A sectional semifinals. Collin Czarnecki completed 12-of-23 for 214 yards with three scores for LaVille against Jimtown. Austin White went 6-of-12 for 85 yards with a touchdown and ran 23 times for 130 yards in the Oilers’ 49-6 loss to Wheeler. Matt’s pick: LaVille 30, Whiting 29.
Tippecanoe Valley (6-2, 2-2 INSC) at Bremen (4-4, 2-2 INSC): The Vikings marched past Bremen, 51-16, a year ago. Wes Parker totaled five carries for 111 yards with a touchdown for Tippecanoe Valley against Glenn. Luke Kincaid finished with two catches for 62 yards with two scores for the Lions against Knox. Matt’s pick: Bremen 32, Tippecanoe Valley 30.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (8-0, 6-0 DAC) at Michigan City (3-5, 3-3 DAC): The No. 3 (Class 6A) Bulldogs cruised to a 38-0 win over Michigan City last year. Larry Ellison ended with nine carries for 115 yards with three touchdowns and caught a pass for another tally in Crown Point’s 41-7 win over Chesterton. Marquez Dabney returned an interception 17 yards for a score in the Wolves’ 39-0 win over LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 41, Michigan City 16.
LaPorte (0-8, 0-6 DAC) at Portage (3-5, 1-5 DAC): The Slicers came away with a 12-0 win against Portage a season ago. R.J. Carnes accounted for 18 tackles for LaPorte against Michigan City. Kodie Young romped 71 yards for a score in the Indians’ 42-32 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Portage 25, LaPorte 3.
Merrillville (7-1, 5-1 DAC) at Chesterton (5-3, 3-3 DAC): The Trojans suffered a 35-7 loss to No. 3 (Class 5A) Merrillville last season. Stanley Freeman tallied six tackles in the Pirates’ 43-10 win over Lake Central. Andrew Goveia had a five-yard scoring run for Chesterton against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 40, Chesterton 15.
Valparaiso (5-3, 4-2 DAC) at Lake Central (3-5, 2-4 DAC): The Indians dropped a 47-7 decision to No. 9 (Class 5A) Valparaiso a year ago. Before leaving with an injury, Thomas Burda amassed 14 carries for 129 yards with two scores for the Vikings against Portage. Trevor Baldin drilled a 47-yard field goal for Lake Central against Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 29, Lake Central 11.
