BY FRANK KIELPIKOWSKI
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!
After a summer defined by relentless storms across Northwest Indiana, a beacon of hope shines bright. Welcome to the 2026 season of “Around the Region”, where the off-season slate is wiped clean and the Friday night lights shine bright once again. The journey to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis begins here, as we start our fourth season. Since there are no games to recap, let’s look as we typical do, at our pre-season top 10 poll.
- Merrillville
- Crown Point
- Andrean
- Hobart
- Chesterton
- Lowell
- Michigan City
- Valparaiso
- Griffith
- LaPorte
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chesterton (5-5, 4-3 DAC): The Trojans return promising junior quarterback Hunter Boyd (116-of-192 for 1,392 yards) and senior linebacker Zane Westerland (71 tackles and five sacks) in their quest for their first sectional crown.
Crown Point (12-1, 7-0 DAC): Coming off their fourth straight undefeated DAC title, the Bulldogs will try to continue their dominance behind junior running back Max Gurnic (930 yards with 15 total scores) and senior quarterback Tyce Custy (1,069 yards passing with nine touchdowns).
Lake Central (3-7, 2-5 DAC): In quest of their first winning campaign since 2014, the Indians will lean on senior wide receiver Frankie Verts (27 catches for 619 yards) and senior linebacker Brody Ramirez (88 tackles with five for loss).
LaPorte (4-7, 2-5 DAC): The Slicers vastly improved in the second half last year and now look to take the next step behind senior running back Reed Robinson (1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns).
Merrillville (11-3, 6-1 DAC): The defending Class 5A state runner-up Pirates finally got past the semistate, falling to New Palestine in the title affair. However, now they move up to Class 6A, but still have a lot of returning talent with senior quarterback Michael Hill (3,220 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns) and fellow senior running back Cameron Jordan (1,747 total yards and 19 total scores).
Michigan City (8-4, 5-2 DAC): Coming off their first sectional crown in four years, the Wolves and new boss Charles Salary will rely on Indiana University-bound senior tackle Jeremiah Jones in their quest for a repeat.
Portage (0-10, 0-7 DAC): Former Michigan City leader Cody French will try and get the Indians back on track.
Valparaiso (2-8, 2-5 DAC): After encountering their first losing campaign since 2014, the Vikings will look to bounce back behind junior quarterback Cooper Gear and senior linebacker Brody Wheeler.
NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE
Andrean (13-1, 6-0 NWC): The Niners reached the Promised Land last fall by capturing their fourth state title with a 7-0 win over Brownstown Central for the Class 2A crown. Having moved up to Class 3A, they will trust in senior running back-linebacker Ethan Reyna and junior wide receiver Tyler Vo (82 catches for 1,109 yards with 12 scores) to get them back to Indianapolis.
Hanover Central (4-6, 3-3 NWC): The Wildcats will look to return to their winning ways behind senior quarterback Wyatt Tewell (103-of-187 for 1,264 yards).
Highland (2-8, 1-5 NWC): With the departure of Ben Geffert, Jimmy McCormack makes his coaching debut for the Trojans, who are in search of their first winning season since 2014.
Hobart (10-3, 4-2 NWC): Hopes are high for the Brickies after winning the sectional title with senior quarterback Aleks Tatum (99-of-186 for 1,580 yards with 19 touchdowns) and fellow senior linebacker Vontrell Jones (110 tackles with eight for loss) back in the fold.
Kankakee Valley (2-9, 1-5 NWC): Jonathon Ewing makes the switch from North Newton to Wheatfield to replace Kirk Kennedy as the Kougars’ leader.
Lowell (9-3, 5-1 NWC): The Red Devils have plenty to be excited about with junior running back Tymothy James (153 carries for 1,303 yards and 19 scores) and junior linebacker John Judd (79 tackles) leading the way.
Munster (4-7, 2-4 NWC): After doubling their win total, Romison Saint-Louis looks to take the Mustangs to the next level with the return of defensive stalwarts Zion Richards and Eli Ortiz.
GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE
Boone Grove (4-5, 2-1 GSSC): The Wolves will feature junior running back Sal Montes (148 rushes for 1,239 yards with 14 scores) and senior linebacker Gavyn Daniels (78 tackles with six for loss).
Calumet (6-5, 1-3 GSSC): Nick Testa makes the switch from Wheeler to the Warriors where he inherits one of the area’s best returning runners in junior Bryce Brandon (200 carries for 1,504 yards and 24 touchdowns).
Gary West Side (4-5, 1-3 GSSC): Mark Hidalgo takes over a typically talented Cougars’ unit, which should get great production from senior back Kamari Loggins (147 carries for 775 yards and nine scores) .
Griffith (9-2, 4-0 GSSC): Phil Mason brings back an experienced squad once again led by senior quarterback Ryan Buillon (1,838 yards with 29 scores) and senior running back Desmond Neylon (1,637 yards with 17 touchdowns).
Hammond Bishop Noll (2-8, 0-3 GSSC): The Warriors took some lumps under Rick Good, but should be improved with junior back Jeremiah Patton (826 yards with nine scores), and senior wide out Jeremiah Alford (370 yards and four scores) leading the way.
Lake Station (6-4, 3-0 GSSC): The Fighting Eagles were one of the biggest surprises in the Region by winning five of their first six games. Although they have some offensive weapons to replace, they will look to remain soaring behind senior running back-linebacker Kaden McNeil (665 yards with six scores and 53 tackles).
River Forest (4-6, 1-3 GSSC): New Ingots’ leader Tremaine Terry will look to utilize twin senior wide outs Amani Malave (354 yards) and Amaury Malave (378 yards).
Wheeler (8-2, 3-1 GSSC): Former Merrillville offensive coordinator takes over the Bearcats, who have plenty of offensive weapons in senior quarterback Logan Fox (1,261 yards passing with 14 scores) and junior back Levi Murray (1,254 yards and 18 touchdowns).
Whiting (2-8, 1-3 GSSC): Adam Hudak heads north from Hammond Central to lead the Oilers and become the conference’s fifth new boss.
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE
East Chicago Central (4-7, 1-1 GLC): Corey Bailey’s Cardinals made significant improvement by posting their most wins since 2019.
Hammond Central (0-10, 0-2 GLC): New boss Rick Bailey and senior quarterback Jackquell Jackson (1,226 yards and nine scores) will try to get the Wolves on the road to recovery.
Hammond Morton (6-4, 2-0 GLC): Along with dropping down to Class 4A, the Governors return some solid young talent with sophomore quarterback Amari Price (1,549 yards and 17 scores) returning as well as four-star talented junior wide out Cordero Bennett (373 yards with eight touchdowns)
OTHERS
Bowman Academy (6-5): Gary Richardson led one of the best turnarounds in recent memory, turning the Eagles from a winless team to a winning record. They are hoping things are even better the second time around with senior quarterback Alex Woods and versatile junior back Quentavious Fly (1,200 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns).
North Judson (8-3): The Bluejays hope to return to being a Class 1A power behind senior back Logan Pradke and senior tight end-linebacker Zander Nowak.
South Central (0-10): Things can only get better for the Satellites as Steve Forker takes over in Union Mills.
WEEK ONE CONTESTS
Andrean at Merrillville: The Battle of Broadway features a pair of programs that both played state titles a year ago. The Pirates have dominated this series against Andrean by capturing the last eight meetings by an average margin of more than 23 points per game.
Christel House Manual at Bowman Academy: Bowman was a 58-12 winner over Christel House in the only other matchup between this pair of Eagles.
Fairfield at Calumet: The Falcons make their first venture to Calumet to battle the Warriors.
Gary West Side at Fort Wayne Northrop: The Bruins claimed a 42-24 win over Gary West in their only previous meeting.
John Glenn at Boone Grove: With last year’s 43-0 triumph, the Falcons have now six straight contests against Boone Grove and lead the overall series 7-2.
Hammond Central at South Bend Washington: The Panthers snapped a three-game skid against Hammond Central with a 31-0 blanking a season ago.
Hammond Morton at Portage: The Governors hammered Portage, 35-7, in last year’s opener.
Hammond Bishop Noll at South Bend Riley: Coming off a 35-0 blanking last fall, the Wildcats are in pursuit of their third straight win over Bishop Noll.
Highland at Griffith: The Panthers are 33-9 all-time against Highland and have scored 56 points in each of the last two meetings.
Hobart at Chesterton: In this battle of former Duneland Conference foes, the Trojans are looking to make amends for a 20-3 loss at the Brickyard in last year’s opener.
Knox at North Judson: Playing without Mr. Football recipient Myles McLaughlin for the first time in four years, the Redskins will look to make it two in row against North Judson after last season’s 38-6 triumph.
LaPorte at New Prairie: With the Slicers’ 32-14 win over New Prairie, the home team has now won the last four meetings in this series.
Lowell at Crown Point: In a rivalry that dates back to 1903, these programs are meeting for a state record 120th time. Crown Point enters this contest with a state-best 36 straight regular season winning streak.
Michigan City at Hanover Central: The Wolves look to make it two in a row over Hanover Central after recording a 31-0 shutout in their only previous meeting.
Munster at Lake Central: The Indians have won ten straight openers against Munster and have outscored them 279-49 over the past seven matchups.
North Newton at Whiting: In the first contest between these two squads, North Newton’s Trent Grider and Adam Hudak of Whiting make their respective debuts with their new teams.
Rensselaer Central at Kankakee Valley: The Bombers go for two in a row over Kankakee Valley after hanging on for a 28-21 victory a year ago.
River Forest at East Chicago Central: With last season’s 42-28 win in New Chicago, the Ingots are now 4-0 against EC Central.
South Central at Wheeler: The Bearcats blanked South Central, 52-0, in the only other contest between the two clubs.
Valparaiso at Penn: The Vikings are going for their first victory over Penn since 2021. Valpo’s 21-13 loss to the Kingsmen was the first of its four one-score losses.
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