I bounced back by going 13-2 (87 percent) this past week. Heading into the second half of the regular season, my overall mark is now 72-25, which has me at 74 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Adams (2-3, 1-2 NIC) at Penn (5-0, 3-0 NIC): The No. 6 (Class 6A) Kingsmen rolled to a 49-14 win over Adams last year. Lamarr Shaw racked up seven tackles with two for loss in the Eagles’ 42-0 loss to Saint Joseph. Blake Ewald tallied for five carries for 25 yards with a touchdown in Penn’s 54-14 win at Marian. Matt’s pick: Penn 52, Adams 6.
Marian (2-3, 1-2 NIC) at Washington (1-4, 0-3 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The Knights crowned Washington, 41-14, a season ago. Brayden Cerney recorded seven tackles for Marian against Penn. With their 33-16 loss to Riley, the Panthers have now dropped 13 consecutive NIC contests. Matt’s pick: Marian 33, Washington 12.
New Prairie (0-5, 0-3 NIC) at Riley (3-2, 1-2 NIC) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats are looking to make amends for a 49-0 loss to New Prairie a year ago. Noah Oberle scampered seven times for 34 yards with a score in the Cougars’ 56-28 loss to Elkhart. Riley has now beaten Washington five straight times. Matt’s pick: Riley 37, New Prairie 34.
Saint Joseph (5-0, 3-0 NIC) at Elkhart (4-1, 3-0 NIC): The No. 12 (Class 6A) Lions roared to a 38-17 win over No. 10 (Class 4A) Saint Joseph last season. Matt Champlin ran 10 times for 68 yards with two scores for the Huskies against Adams. Frankie Willis caught four passes for 74 yards with a touchdown for Elkhart against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 24, Saint Joseph 20.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Mishawaka (4-1, 3-0 NLC) at Northridge (0-5, 0-3 NLC): The No. 4 (Class 4A) Cavemen opened the 2024 post-season with a 23-10 win over Northridge in the Class 4A sectional quarterfinals. Carson Francis raced 45 yards for a touchdown in Mishawaka’s 59-0 win over Goshen. Jake Scholl completed 7-of-12 for 61 yards with a score and ran three times for 26 yards with another touchdown in the Raiders’ 22-21 overtime loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 42, Northridge 13.
NorthWood (3-2, 2-1 NLC) vs. Concord (4-1, 2-1 NLC) Mishawaka’s Steele Stadium): The No. 8 (Class 5A) Minutemen slipped past NorthWood, 27-17, in their last meeting. Jeffrey Eash scampered nine times for 90 yards for the Panthers against Northridge. Carson Weirich rolled up 15 tackles for Concord in its 38-7 win over Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Concord 34, NorthWood 17.
Warsaw (3-2, 2-1 NLC) at Plymouth (3-2, 3-0 NLC): The Rockies rallied for a 33-32 overtime win over No. 12 (Class 5A) Warsaw last season. Matthew Flores-Ortega came up with an interception for the Tigers against Concord. Andres Medrano accounted for 11 tackles and an interception in Plymouth’s 21-20 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 25, Plymouth 14.
Wawasee (1-4, 0-3 NLC) at Goshen (1-4, 0-3 NLC): The RedHawks suffered a 36-7 loss to Wawasee a season ago. J’Ceon Evans hauled in a 13-yard touchdown pass for the Warriors against Plymouth. Matthew Guevara totaled six tackles for Goshen against Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Goshen 22, Wawasee 18.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE
Glenn (2-3, 1-1 INSC) at Bremen (3-2, 2-0 INSC): The Lions clawed past Glenn, 21-0, a year ago. Anthony McGuigan amassed 10 tackles in the Falcons’ 42-22 loss to Knox. Grant Beery returned a fumble 37 yards for a score in Bremen’s 29-22 win against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: Bremen 30, Glenn 19.
Jimtown (1-4, 0-2 INSC) at Tippecanoe Valley (3-2, 1-1 INSC): The Jimmies blanked Tippecanoe Valley, 14-0, last year. Zander Whitaker scooped up a fumble and took it 14 yards for a touchdown for Jimtown against Bremen. Hudson Shepherd added two tackles and an interception in the Vikings’ 38-28 win over LaVille. Matt’s pick: Tippecanoe Valley 26, Jimtown 15.
Knox (5-0, 2-0 INSC) at LaVille (2-3, 0-2 INSC): The Lancers dropped a 57-24 decision to No. 5 (Class 3A) Knox during the 2024 campaign. Brian Korcha finished with five tackles for Knox against Glenn. Braedyn Foster accumulated 24 tackles for LaVille against Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Knox 48, LaVille 16.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (3-2, 2-1 DAC) at Portage (0-5, 0-3 DAC): The Trojans edged Portage, 10-6, last season. Gus Wisch registered four catches for 61 yards with a score in Chesterton’s 24-16 win over Valparaiso. In a 47-7 loss, the Indians became the first team to score against Crown Point in the first quarter this season. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 32, Portage 7.
LaPorte (2-3, 1-2 DAC) at Merrillville (3-2, 2-1 DAC): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Pirates clubbed LaPorte, 35-0, a year ago. Khalen Matzke had three receptions for 67 yards with a touchdown in the Slicers’ 27-16 win over Lake Central. JQ Johnson rambled 13 times for 124 yards with two touchdowns in Merrillville’s 44-7 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 41, LaPorte 6.
Michigan City (3-2, 2-1 DAC) at Lake Central (2-3, 1-2 DAC): The Wolves got past Lake Central, 20-14, last year. Ethan Buskirk racked up 12 tackles for Michigan City against Merrillville. Cameron Reddick tossed a pair of touchdown passes for the Indians against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 32, Lake Central 8.
Valparaiso (1-4, 1-2 DAC) at Crown Point (5-0, 3-0 DAC): The No. 3 (Class 6A) Bulldogs cruised to a 41-7 win over Valparaiso a season ago. Sam Venard hauled in eight passes for 94 yards for the Vikings against Chesterton. Logan Ubaniak caught a 72-yard pass for a score for Crown Point against Portage. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 44, Valparaiso 13.
