Things went better the second time around as I went 23-3 (88 percent) last week. Heading into week three, my overall record now is 41-9, which is good for 82 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Marian (1-1) at Adams (1-1) (Everwise School Field): The Knights crowned Adams, 21-0, a year ago. Parker Mrozinski scampered 12 times for 59 yards with a touchdown and caught three passes for 52 yards in Marian’s 20-6 win at Culver Academy. Cayden Keen completed 8-of-18 for 118 yards and ran nine times for 29 yards in the Eagles’ 27-0 loss to Logansport. Matt’s pick: Marian 23, Adams 18.
Penn (2-0) at Riley (1-1) (Jackson Field): The No. 6 (Class 6A) Kingsmen rolled to a 49-6 win against Riley last season. Tate Clark raced three times for 33 yards with a touchdown and hauled in three receptions for 25 yards in Penn’s 49-7 win against No. 9 (Class 4A) Mishawaka. Josh Wilkes accounted for eight rushes for 14 yards with a score in the Wildcats’ 35-7 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Penn 52, Riley 7.
Saint Joseph (2-0) at New Prairie (0-2): The No. 6 (Class 4A) Huskies clawed past New Prairie, 43-13, last year. Will Sollman accounted for a five-yard touchdown run in Saint Joseph’s 35-6 win over Fort Wayne South. Eli Nokes recorded four tackles in the Cougars’ 37-13 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 38, New Prairie 20.
Washington (0-2) at Elkhart (1-1): The Panthers suffered a 34-13 loss to Elkhart a season ago. Luis Vargas Rojas came up with a fumble recovery in Washington’s 59-0 loss at Goshen. Josiah Kirkton amassed nine tackles in the Lions’ 49-10 loss to No. 3 (Class 6A) Warren Central. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 55, Washington 6.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (1-1) at Wawasee (0-2): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Minutemen registered a 49-21 victory over Wawasee in their last meeting. Cade Court tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass and ran three times for eight yards in Concord’s 48-13 win at Jimtown. Westen Haab racked up 17 tackles in the Warriors’ 26-16 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Concord 47, Wawasee 12.
Northridge (2-0) at Goshen (1-1): The Raiders claimed a 49-21 win against Goshen during the 2025 season. Colt Granberg ended with 18 tackles in Northridge’s 35-34 win over Columbia City. Bennett Short totaled three rushes for 70 yards with a touchdown for the RedHawks against Washington. Matt’s pick: Northridge 41, Goshen 15.
Plymouth (1-1) at Mishawaka (1-1): The Rockies dropped a pair of contests to No. 9 (Class 4A) Mishawaka a year ago by counts of 28-0 and 21-17. Owen Verhaeghe contributed 12 carries for 75 yards with a touchdown in Plymouth’s 35-0 win over Lakeland. Tommy Hoover accounted for the Cavemen’s lone score against Penn with a 22-yard romp into the end zone. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 34, Plymouth 14.
Warsaw (2-0) at NorthWood (0-2): The No. 3 (Class 5A) Tigers roared past NorthWood, 28-7, a season ago. Tucker Reed contributed a 70-yard touchdown run in Warsaw’s 29-28 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Brandt Sark contributed two catches for 58 yards with two scores for the Panthers against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 33, NorthWood 28.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE
Adams Central (1-1) at Tippecanoe Valley (2-0): This marks the first contest on the gridiron between the two squads. Ashton Yergler hauled in four receptions for 67 yards in the No. 5 (Class 3A) Flying Jets’ 21-14 loss to No. 4 (Class 2A) Eastside. Hunter Randle raced 16 times for 80 yards with two touchdowns and completed 3-of-5 passes for 31 yards in the Vikings’ 30-0 blanking of Rochester. Matt’s pick: Adams Central 34, Tippecanoe Valley 20.
Bremen (2-0) at Boone Grove (1-1): The No. 10 (Class 2A) Lions racked up a 39-0 win over Boone Grove last season. Miles Greene finished with four carries for 129 yards with a score in Bremen’s 62-0 win over Triton. Caleb Thomas registered six receptions for 101 yards with a touchdown in the Wolves’ 53-0 win at South Central. Matt’s pick: Bremen 36, Boone Grove 19.
Jimtown (1-1) at Edwardsburg (Michigan) (1-0): The two clubs meet up for the first time on the football field. Cameron Inbody went 7-of-15 for 150 yards with two scores for the Jimmies against Concord. Gio Orue tallied 12 rushes for 115 yards with three touchdowns in the Eddies’ 55-20 win over McBain. Matt’s pick: Edwardsburg 43, Jimtown 21.
Knox (0-2) at Culver Academy (0-2): The Eagles are looking to avenge a 72-24 loss to Knox a season ago. Bryson Venice racked up three catches for 93 yards in the Redskins’ 34-26 loss to No. 3 (Class 1A) Pioneer. Culver Academy surrendered nearly 200 yards on the ground against Marian, Matt’s pick: Knox 24, Culver Academy 22.
Rensselaer Central (2-0) at Glenn (1-1): The Bombers blanked Glenn, 28-0, last year. Beck Drone was 6-of-12 for 123 yards in Rensselaer Central’s 45-21 win over North Newton. Blake Forkner ran for a two-point conversion in the Falcons’ 34-14 loss at Fairfield. Matt’s pick: Rensselaer Central 44, Glenn 10.
LaVille (1-1) vs. Evansville Mater Dei (2-0): The two teams meet up for the first time Saturday at Southport. Sam King had a 10-yard run for a touchdown in the Lancers’ 55-12 loss to No. 2 (Class 1A) North Judson. Gavin Winegard caught the game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass in the No. 4 (Class 3A) Wildcats’ 20-19 win over No. 9 (Class 5A) Castle. Matt’s pick: Evansville Mater Dei 40, LaVille 11.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (2-0) at Merrillville (2-0): The No. 7 (Class 6A) Bulldogs posted a 35-21 win over No. 10 (Class 6A) Merrillville last season. Oliver Brewer drilled a 44-yard field goal in Crown Point’s 17-6 win over Indianapolis Pike. Curtis Walker mustered three catches for 87 yards with a score in the Pirates’ 56-54 double-overtime win at Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 41, Crown Point 30.
Lake Central (0-2) at Portage (0-2): The Indians were a 26-0 winner against Portage a season ago. Jacob Turley contributed six rushes for 20 yards with a touchdown and eight tackles in Lake Central’s 24-21 loss to Hanover Central. Sharod Wainright raced twice for 82 yards with a score in the Indians’ 52-14 loss to No. 8 (Class 4A) Hobart. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 25, Portage 19.
LaPorte (1-1) at Valparaiso (1-1): The Slicers suffered a 28-0 loss to Valparaiso last year. Gavin Beattie went 6-of-14 for 113 yards with a score and ran twice for 13 yards in LaPorte’s 45-30 loss to Lowell. Sam Vernard came up with three catches for 83 yards with a touchdown for the Vikings against Riley. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 29, LaPorte 26.
Michigan City (0-2) at Chesterton (1-1): The Wolves marched past Chesterton, 30-13 a year ago. The 62-0 loss to Detroit Cass Tech were the most points Michigan City allowed since a 63-13 setback to Homewood-Flossmoor (Illinois) in 2017. Logan Leverenz totaled 14 tackles and an interception in the Trojans’ 21-14 win over Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 32, Michigan City 18.
