It was another average performance as I went 18-6 (75 percent). My overall record is now 34-13, which is good for 72 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Marian (0-2) at Adams (0-2) (Everwise School Field): The Knights went to overtime to earn a 13-6 win over Adams a year ago. Lucas Marr was 10-of-25 for 112 yards with a touchdown in Marian’s 28-24 loss at Culver Academy. Mason Foster carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards in the Eagles’ 35-6 loss to Logansport. Matt’s pick: Marian 32, Adams 8.
Penn (1-1) at Riley (1-0) (Jackson Field): The Kingsmen clobbered Riley, 70-0, during the 2014 campaign. Cole Bennett managed four receptions for 31 yards in Penn’s 27-7 loss at Mishawaka. Mur’i Jackson tallied nine tackles with five for loss in the Wildcats’ 35-0 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Penn 48, Riley 14.
Saint Joseph (1-1) at New Prairie (2-0): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Cougars edged Saint Joseph, 29-26, last season. Brayson Hurley hauled in three touchdown passes in the Huskies’ 21-9 win over Fort Wayne South. Zak Henrich rambled 12 times for 103 yards with three scores in New Prairie’s 56-0 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 36, Saint Joseph 10.
Washington (0-2) at Elkhart (1-1): The Lions blanked Washington, 41-0, during the 2022 season. Gabe Weber tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the Panthers’ 28-18 loss to New Albany. Connor Dow amassed 11 carries for 66 yards with two touchdowns in Elkhart’s 21-6 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 35, Washington 14.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Goshen (0-2) at Warsaw (1-1): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Tigers clawed past Goshen, 42-7, in their last meeting. Jacob Duncan caught two passes for 45 yards for the RedHawks against New Prairie. Evan Davis came up with a 10-yard reception in Warsaw’s 34-0 loss to No. 4 (Class 6A) Warren Central. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 45, Goshen 7.
Mishawaka (2-0) at Concord (2-0): The No. 3 (Class 4A) Cavemen claimed a pair of wins against No. 8 (Class 5A) Concord last year by counts of 31-7 and 20-14. Kadyn Smith accounted for three rushes for 27 yards for Mishawaka against Penn. Jaron Thomas raced 10 times for 106 yards with two scores in the Minutemen’s 49-28 win over Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 25, Concord 21.
Northridge (0-2) at Plymouth (1-1): The Rockies suffered a 40-14 loss at Northridge last season. Adam Sloop managed 11 carries for 70 yards for the Raiders against Elkhart. Aidan Blalock registered four catches for 28 yards in Plymouth’s 42-13 loss to Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 33, Northridge 32.
Wawasee (0-2) at NorthWood (1-1): The No. 10 (Class 4A) Panthers roared to a 38-21 win over Wawasee a season ago. Jayden Stahl ended with 16 carries for 64 yards in the Warriors’ 55-6 loss to West Noble. Landon Perry racked up seven receptions for 121 yards and two carries for 17 yards in NorthWood’s 19-16 loss to Portage. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 44, Wawasee 9.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE
Hammond Morton (0-2) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-0): Holland Harris completed 11-of-21 for 206 yards with two touchdowns and ran seven times for 74 yards and another score in the Governors’ 36-23 loss to Chesterton. Brandon Stiles came up with 10 rushes for 49 yards with two touchdowns in the No. 8 (Class 3A) Vikings’ 22-12 win over Rochester. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 38, Hammond Morton 18,
Jimtown (0-2) at Fairfield (1-1): The Falcons eliminated Jimtown, 17-6, in the 2023 Class 3A sectional opener. Chase Coughenour recorded four carries for 50 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown run, for the Jimmies against Concord. Breckan Maran ended with 20 rushes for 91 yards in Fairfield’s 21-0 loss to Heritage. Matt’s pick: Fairfield 21, Jimtown 16.
Knox (1-1) at Culver Academy (2-0): The No. 7 (Class 3A) Redskins dropped a 44-12 decision to Culver Academy in the 2011 Class 3A sectional quarterfinals. Myles McLaughlin rambled for more than 200 yards on the ground with five touchdowns in Knox’s 57-6 win over Pioneer. Ty Rakan caught a pair of touchdown passes for the Eagles against Marian. Matt’s pick: Knox 43, Culver Academy 19.
LaVille (0-2) at Central Noble (0-2): The Lancers claimed a 14-0 win over Central Noble in the 2014 campaign. Collin Czarnecki went 15-of-31 for 112 yards in LaVille’s 32-6 loss to No. 1 (Class 1A) North Judson. Brody Morgan was 21-of-29 for 219 yards with a touchdown in the Cougars’ 34-20 loss to Woodlan. Matt’s pick: LaVille 38, Central Noble 13.
Osceola Grace (0-2) at Bremen (1-1): Ian Shay totaled 16 carries for 66 yards in the Eagles’ 36-13 loss to Calumet. Silas Laidig completed 6-of-11 for 63 yards with two scores in the Lions’ 21-3 win over No. 9 (Class 1A) Triton. Matt’s pick: Bremen 40, Osceola Grace 6.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (2-0) at Merrillville (2-0): The No. 2 (Class 6A) Bulldogs cruised to a 39-6 win over No. 1 (Class 5A) Merrillville a season ago. Jayden Rodriguez hauled in a touchdown pass in Crown Point’s 42-7 win over Arizona College Prep. Cameron Jordan finished with 14 carries for 142 yards with two scores in the Pirates’ 36-0 win over Hobart. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 31, Merrillville 24.
Lake Central (1-1) at Portage (2-0): The Indians posted two victories over Portage a year ago by scores of 21-20 and 23-0. Cam Reddick accounted for a 69-yard touchdown run in Lake Central’s 17-10 loss to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Kodie Young completed 16-of-31 for 180 yards with two scores for the Indians against NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Portage 30, Lake Central 26.
LaPorte (0-2) at Valparaiso (1-1): The No. 3 (Class 5A) Vikings rolled to a 49-0 win against LaPorte last year. Keigan Henckel mustered two rushes for 54 yards with a touchdown in the Slicers’ 28-6 loss to Lowell. Julian Stokes’ 97-yard kickoff return for a score helped Valparaiso rally for a 28-21 win over Andrean. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 41, LaPorte 10.
Michigan City (0-2) at Chesterton (2-0): The Wolves downed Chesterton, 28-6, last season. Jamin Harvell caught a 42-yard pass and scampered 26 yards for touchdowns in Michigan City’s 17-13 loss to Lafayette Jeff. Brady McCormack ran for four scores and threw for another tally for the Trojans against Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 29, Michigan City 20.
