The regular season ended on a positive note as I went 15-2 (88 percent) last week. Heading into the post-season, my overall record is now 128-32, which has me at 80 percent.
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Hanover Central (4-5) at Lowell (7-2): The No. 12 Red Devils downed Hanover Central, 35-20, on September 12. Isaiah Buikema ran 12 times for 80 yards with two scores in the Wildcats’ 42-0 win over Hammond Central. Tymothy James was held to 14 carries for 57 yards and one catch for 11 yards in Lowell’s 19-3 loss to No. 5 (Class 2A) Andrean. Matt’s pick: Lowell 35, Hanover Central 18.
Highland (2-7) at East Chicago Central (3-6): The Trojans marched past East Chicago Central, 56-6, in the 2023 sectional quarterfinals. Aaron McCormick went 9-of-22 for 71 yards in Highland’s 74-0 loss to Hobart. Derion Morris rambled 18 times for 281 yards with five touchdowns, caught a 50-yard pass, and threw a pass for a score in the Cardinals’ 58-20 win over Lake Station. Matt’s pick: East Chicago Central 39, Highland 10.
Kankakee Valley (1-8) at Gary West (4-4): The Kougars clawed past Gary West, 37-22, in the 2023 sectional opener. Jaidyn Anderson had a one-yard touchdown run in Kankakee Valley’s 17-14 loss to Munster. Marcell Dixon completed 3-of-8 for 89 yards with a touchdown and ran six times for 82 yards with another score in the Cougars’ 36-0 win over Calumet. Matt’s pick: Gary West 32, Kankakee Valley 26.
New Prairie (3-6) at Hobart (7-2): The Cougars slipped by Hobart, 15-14, in last year’s sectional semifinals. Ethan Mechling racked up six tackles and a quarterback sack in New Prairie’s 44-35 win over Washington. Aidan Kasch had two rushes for 54 yards with a touchdown for the Brickies against Highland. Matt’s pick: Hobart 38, New Prairie 22.
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Plymouth (3-6) at Washington (2-7) (Everwise School Field): The Panthers pulled away for a 43-28 win against Plymouth in the 2023 sectional quarterfinals. Davis Jones tallied two receptions for 36 yards with a score in the Rockies’ 45-14 loss to No. 6 (Class 5A) Concord. Jaydon Lineberry hauled in 11 passes for 262 yards with three touchdowns for Washington against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Plymouth 36, Washington 31.
Mishawaka (8-1) at NorthWood (5-4): The No. 2 Cavemen edged NorthWood, 26-25, on September 12. Ethan Flowers had a one-yard touchdown run in Mishawaka’s 36-14 win over Wawasee. Brady Weaver finished with five rushes for 44 yards with a score and four catches for 33 yards in the Panthers’ 49-24 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 28, NorthWood 20.
Wawasee (1-8) at Northridge (2-7): The Raiders cruised to a 42-7 win over Wawasee on October 3. Johnny Zachary raced 12 times for 36 yards with a score for the Warriors against Mishawaka. Jake Scholl went 5-of-14 for 73 yards and carried the ball nine times for 30 yards in Northridge’s 39-14 loss to Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Northridge 41, Wawasee 12.
Riley (4-5) at Saint Joseph (8-1): The No. 7 Huskies claimed a 21-6 win against Riley on October 3. Trevion Fedele amassed 182 total yards, good for three touchdowns, in the Wildcats’ 25-17 win over Marian. Ryan Ruskowski recorded 12 tackles for Saint Joseph in a 38-6 loss to No. 5 (Class 6A) Penn. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 30, Riley 6.
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Glenn (2-7) at Calumet (5-4): The Falcons soared to a 41-6 win over Calumet in the 2010 sectional quarterfinals. Deegan Conroy finished with nine tackles in Glenn’s 45-0 loss to LaVille. Treyvon Brown ended with three catches for 80 yards with a touchdown in the Warriors’ 63-14 loss to No. 8 Griffith. Matt’s pick: Calumet 40, Glenn 13.
Marian (2-7) at River Forest (4-5): The Knights blanked River Forest, 40-0, during the 1966 campaign. Oliver Sager converted a 21-yard field goal for Marian against Riley. The Ingots have won two of their last three contests, including a 19-6 decision over Lake Station. Matt’s pick: Marian 24, River Forest 23.
Griffith (8-1) at Hammond Bishop Noll (2-7): The No. 8 Panthers clawed their way to a 61-0 win over Bishop Noll in last season’s sectional quarterfinals. Ventris Tetter came up with 10 rushes for 59 yards with a touchdown in Griffith’s 34-10 win over No. 11 (Class 2A) Wheeler. Jeremiah Alford caught seven passes for 113 yards with score and ran twice for 41 yards in the Warriors’ 36-32 loss to Lake Station. Matt’s pick: Griffith 46, Bishop Noll 7.
Knox (9-0) at Jimtown (2-7): The No. 4 Redskins rolled to 56-13 win against Jimtown on October 3. Camden Garner totaled two carries for nine yards with a touchdown in Knox’s 64-0 blanking of Bowman Academy. Chase Coughenour managed 18 carries for 75 yards in the Jimmies’ 27-24 win over Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Knox 44, Jimtown 15.
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Garrett (4-5) at Fairfield (3-6): The Railroaders needed overtime to escape with a 21-14 win over Fairfield on October 3. Carter Fielden contributed seven rushes for 87 yards with two scores in Garrett’s 69-21 win over Central Noble. Reese Miller tallied 16 carries for 61 yards in the Falcons’ 27-0 loss to Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Garrett 25, Fairfield 18.
Woodlan (2-7) at Lakeland (5-4): The Warriors slipped past Lakeland, 21-6, in the 1985 sectional quarterfinals. Liam Hertig returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score in Woodlan’s 57-18 loss to top-ranked and defending Class 2A state champion Adams Central. Abel Ballines converted a 28-yard field goal and three extra-points for the Lakers against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 27, Woodlan 9.
Tippecanoe Valley (7-2) at Angola (4-5): Wes Parker galloped 13 times for 93 yards with two touchdowns in the No. 7 Vikings’ 31-7 win over Bremen. Dallas Davidson ran five times for 41 yards and recorded 12 tackles for the Hornets in their 33-28 loss to Eastside. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 33, Angola 21.
Fort Wayne Concordia (1-8) at West Noble (7-2): Xy’mire Barnes-Bridges came up with nine carries for 91 yards with two touchdowns in the No. 12 Chargers’ 42-6 win over Prairie Heights. Eli Trent was 8-of-19 for 92 yards and ran 11 times for 36 yards in the Cadets’ 42-0 loss to Homestead. Matt’s pick: West Noble 34, Fort Wayne Concordia 11.
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Wheeler (7-1) at Lake Station (6-3): The winner hosts No. 5 Andrean (8-1) in next week’s semifinals. The No. 11 Bearcats recorded a 14-7 win over Lake Station during the 2013 season. Logan Fox went 10-of-21 for 141 yards with a score for Wheeler against Griffith. Oscar Alderson scampered 14 times for 225 yards with two touchdowns and caught a 15-yard pass for another tally for the Fighting Eagles against Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Wheeler 46, Lake Station 16.
Rensselaer Central (7-2) at Boone Grove (4-4): Donnie Sellers hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass in the Bombers’ 36-35 overtime win over Logansport. Logan Greany contributed 15 carries for 73 yards in the Wolves’ 21-14 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Rensselaer Central 42, Boone Grove 14.
Bremen (5-4) at Whiting (2-7): The Lions roared past Whiting, 42-13, for the 2015 regional crown. Jace Pippenger caught a 45-yard touchdown pass for Bremen against Tippecanoe Valley. Romeo Rosario registered five tackles in the Oilers’ 52-0 loss to No. 11 Wheeler. Matt’s pick: Bremen 41, Whiting 3.
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LaVille (5-4) at Culver (3-6): The Lancers were a 52-0 winner over Culver during the 2023 campaign. Cole Stafford accounted for eight rushes for 101 yards and two receptions for 37 yards with a score for LaVille in its 70-7 win against Whiting. John Carr had 18 rushes for 72 yards in the Cavaliers’ 12-8 loss to Caston. Matt’s pick: LaVille 47, Culver 11.
North Judson (7-2) at South Central (0-9): The No. 7 Bluejays flew past South Central, 60-6, on September 5. Logan Pradke accounted for 17 rushes for 59 yards with two scores and one catch for 32 yards in North Judson’s 36-16 loss to No. 3 Pioneer. Fisher Trosky amassed 11 tackles for the Satellites in a 44-7 loss against Culver. Matt’s pick: North Judson 51, South Central 6.
West Central (8-1) at South Newton (3-6): The No. 10 Trojans registered a 52-6 win against South Newton on September 26. Felipe Bazari caught three passes for 41 yards with two touchdowns and ran twice for 37 yards with another tally in West Central’s 44-0 win over North White. Owen Firkins mustered one reception for seven yards and six tackles in the Rebels’ 49-0 loss to No. 2 Frontier. Matt’s pick: West Central 45, South Newton 8.
North Newton (5-4) at Bowman Academy (5-4): The Eagles posted a 34-14 win over North Newton on October 4. Tyler Neely totaled three rushes for 69 yards with two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 42-6 win over Tri-County. Alex Woods completed 5-of-16 for 110 yards with two scores and carried the ball seven times for 32 yards with another tally for Bowman Academy against North Newton. Matt’s pick: Bowman Academy 37, North Newton 36.
