I helped my hopes of reaching 80 percent by going 15-0 (100 percent) last week. Going into the last week of the regular season, my overall record is now 113-30, which has me at 79 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Elkhart (5-3, 4-2 NIC) at Adams (4-4, 3-3 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The Lions roared past Adams, 55-14, a season ago. Eliott Sanders racked up 10 tackles in Elkhart’s 59-14 win over Marian. Leighton Prezbindowski recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the Eagles’ 10-8 win over Riley. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 38, Adams 20.
Marian (2-6, 1-5 NIC) at Riley (3-5, 1-5 NIC) (Jackson Field): The Knights crowned Riley, 21-7, last year. Terrance Lane ran nine times for 50 yards with a score and four catches for 42 yards for Marian against Elkhart. Trevion Fedele had 23 carries for 73 yards with a touchdown for the Wildcats against Adams. Matt’s pick: Riley 33, Marian 30.
Penn (8-0, 6-0 NIC) at Saint Joseph (8-0, 6-0 NIC): The No. 5 (Class 6A) Kingsmen blanked No. 5 (Class 4A) Saint Joseph, 27-0, last season. Mason Biernacki caught three passes for 68 yards with two touchdowns in Penn’s 49-0 win over New Prairie. Matt Champlin scampered 11 times for 64 yards with a score in the Huskies’ 42-12 win over Washington. Matt’s pick: Penn 28, Saint Joseph 10.
Washington (2-6, 1-5 NIC) at New Prairie (2-6, 2-4 NIC): The Cougars clawed past Washington, 52-8, a year ago. Elijah Young tossed a pair of touchdown passes for the Panthers against Saint Joseph. Levi Kepplin came up with a fumble recovery for New Prairie against Penn. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 42, Washington 15.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Northridge (2-6, 2-4 NLC) at Warsaw (5-3, 4-2 NLC): The Tigers roared to a 42-13 win over Northridge in their last meeting. Karsyn Rumfelt was 7-of-9 for 78 yards with a touchdown and ran three times for 16 yards with another tally in the Raiders’ 49-21 win over Goshen. Tucker Reed rambled six times for 127 yards with a score in Warsaw’s 28-7 win over NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 35, Northridge 16.
NorthWood (4-4, 3-3 NLC) at Goshen (2-6, 1-5 NLC): The Panthers came away with a 42-0 win against Goshen during the 2024 season. Austin King came up with eight carries for 62 yards for NorthWood against Warsaw. Carter Diaz went 15-of-34 for 166 yards with three touchdowns for the RedHawks against Goshen. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 44, Goshen 10.
Plymouth (3-5, 3-3 NLC) vs. Concord (7-1, 5-1 NLC) (Lucas Oil Stadium): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Minutemen downed Plymouth, 42-14, last year. Ben Shively registered 18 carries for 101 yards and completed 7-of-16 for 97 yards in the Rockies’ 28-0 loss to Mishawaka. Carson Weirich rolled up eight tackles in Concord’s 49-21 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Concord 36, Plymouth 13.
Wawasee (1-7, 0-6 NLC) at Mishawaka (7-1, 6-0 NLC): The No. 3 (Class 4A) Cavemen clubbed Wawasee, 46-7, a season ago. Jaxon Brown notched an interception for the Warriors against Concord. Kadyn O’Neal scampered 22 times for 79 yards with a touchdown for Mishawaka against Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 49, Wawasee 7.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE
Bremen (5-3, 3-1 INSC) at Tippecanoe Valley (6-2, 3-1 INSC): The No. 9 (Class 3A) Vikings are looking to make amends for a 24-10 loss to Bremen last year. Jake Rodriguez hauled in four passes for 67 yards and threw a 56-yard touchdown pass in the Lions’ 44-15 loss to Knox. Jamison Phillips managed two catches for 60 yards with a touchdown in Tippecanoe Valley’s 42-7 win over Glenn. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 29, Bremen 19.
Glenn (2-6) at Culver Academy (2-6): The Eagles soared to a 48-7 win against Glenn last season. Archer Rust scored a nine-yard touchdown for the Falcons against Tippecanoe Valley. Will Dupuis pitched in a pair of touchdown catches in Culver Academy’s 35-21 loss to Guerin Catholic. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 18, Glenn 9.
Knox (8-0) at Bowman Academy (5-3): The No. 4 (Class 3A) Redskins trounced Bowman Academy, 61-6, a season ago. Izak Singleton tallied four tackles and an interception for Knox against Bremen. Quentavious Fly amassed four touchdowns and two interceptions in the Eagles’ 47-14 win over Tri-County. Matt’s pick: Knox 54, Bowman Academy 6.
Lakeland (5-3) at Jimtown (1-7): The Jimmies claimed a 44-34 win over Lakeland a year ago. Keyan Arroyo carried the ball 10 times for 66 yards and caught three passes for 43 yards with a touchdown in the Lakers’ 17-6 win over Fairfield. Owen Glass mustered nine rushes for 21 yards with three scores in Jimtown’s 28-27 overtime loss to LaVille. Matt’s pick: Lakeland 32, Jimtown 29.
Whiting (2-6) at LaVille (4-4): The Lancers posted a 56-20 win over Whiting in their last matchup. Demetrio Lopez accounted for 16 rushes for 41 yards in the Oilers’ 52-0 loss to No. 9 (Class 2A) Wheeler. Brayden Schwitz went 17-of-21 for 181 yards with a score and ran 10 times for 43 yards for LaVille against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: LaVille 34, Whiting 8.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (5-3, 4-2 DAC) at Merrillville (6-2, 5-1 DAC): The No. 6 (Class 5A) Pirates slipped past Chesterton, 29-23, last season. Hunter Boyd was 17-of-26 for 205 yards and ran for a touchdown in the Trojans’ 48-10 loss to Crown Point. Rynell Lewis hauled in four receptions for 91 yards with a score in Merrillville’s 42-18 win over Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 41, Chesterton 12.
Lake Central (2-6, 1-5 DAC) at Valparaiso (2-6, 2-4 DAC): The Vikings earned a 21-14 win over Lake Central a season ago. Cam Reddick found the end zone for the Indians’ first touchdown against Merrillville. Gage Finlay ended with 12 carries for 85 yards with two touchdowns in Valparaiso’s 34-3 win against Portage. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 39, Lake Central 22.
Michigan City (6-2, 5-1 DAC) at Crown Point (8-0, 6-0 DAC): The No. 3 (Class 6A) Bulldogs recorded a 35-8 win against Michigan City a year ago. Damarion Evans managed eight rushes for 49 yards with two scores in the Wolves’ 20-7 win over LaPorte. Griffin Van Tichelt totaled three tackles, an interception, and a four-yard touchdown run for Crown Point against Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 40, Michigan City 21.
Portage (0-8, 0-6 DAC) at LaPorte (2-6, 1-5 DAC): The Indians registered a 35-14 win over LaPorte last year. Stephen Johnson racked up 12 rushes for 55 yards for Portage against Valparaiso. Reed Raymond finished with 19 carries for 60 yards with a score for the Slicers against Michigan City. Matt’s pick: LaPorte 25, Portage 3.
