BY FRANK KIELPIKOWSKI
Welcome to the post-season, where it’s win or go home time. The largest two classes (Class 5A and Class 6A) are off this week, but we will take a look at the playoff matchups for the lower four classes. Before that, we’ll start with this week’s poll and a look back at last week’s regular season finales.
REGION TOP 10
- Crown Point (9-0)
- Merrillville (8-1)
- Andrean (8-1)
- Valparaiso (6-3)
- Griffith (9-0)
- Lowell (6-3)
- Hammond Morton (5-4)
- Wheeler (8-1)
- Hobart (6-3)
- Hanover Central (6-3)
WEEK NINE CONTESTS
DUNELAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (DAC)
Crown Point 41, Michigan City 0: The Bulldogs jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead on their way to going undefeated in the DAC for the fifth straight year.
Merrillville 21, Chesterton 0: Cam Jordan ran for 230 yards and a touchdown as the Pirates won their sixth straight heading into next week’s Class 6A sectional semifinal showdown with Crown Point.
Portage 20, LaPorte 19: Bryce Hodges threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Indians snapped a 19-game losing streak dating back to 2024.
Valparaiso 41, Lake Central 11: Troy Danzi rushed for 180 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns for the Vikings, who finished with six wins after earning just two triumphs in 2025.
NORTHWEST CROSSROADS CONFERENCE (NCC)
Andrean 21, Lowell 7: The Niners held Lowell to just 57 total yards to claim their second straight NCC crown.
Hanover Central 50, Hammond Central 8: Dominic Giglio ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries for the Wildcats.
Hobart 42, Highland 0: The Brickies used a 21-point third-quarter outburst to break open a close contest.
Munster 41, Kankakee Valley 6: The Mustangs (4-5) had little trouble as they finished the regular season with their most wins since 2017.
GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE (GSSC)
Griffith 30, Wheeler 7: Desmond Neylon carried the ball 55 times for 350 yards with three touchdowns as the Panthers won the GSSC South Division title.
Hammond Bishop Noll 31, Boone Grove 27: Jeremiah Alford’s 98-yard interception return for a touchdown with 24 seconds left gave the Warriors the GSSC North Division title.
Knox 36, Gary West Side 14: Chris Rudolph ran for 137 yards, but it wasn’t enough as the Redskins (3-6) racked up 364 rushing yards.
Rensselaer Central 27, Whiting 22: Julian Madrueno ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns for the Oilers, but they couldn’t hold a 22-7 halftime advantage.
River Forest 45, Lake Station 6: The Ingots recorded their highest offensive output of the season against their arch-rivals.
OTHER CONTESTS
Bowman Academy 42, Indianapolis Washington 0: The Eagles locked up their second straight winning season by recording their first shutout.
Culver 53, South Central 16: The Cavaliers (2-7) won made it two straight wins and kept South Central (0-9) winless.
Fort Wayne Concordia 42, Calumet 22: The Warriors led 16-14 at the half, but Concordia came out strong in the second half with a pair of third quarter scores to seize control.
Hammond Morton 33, East Chicago Central 0: Marcus McBride caught seven passes for 160 yards and a touchdown as the Governors recorded their second straight shutout.
Pioneer 35, North Judson 9: The Bluejays (8-1) were held to just 137 rushing yards on 47 carries as Pioneer (9-0) won the Hoosier North championship.
SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hammond Morton (5-4) at Hanover Central (6-3): The Wildcats have won previous two meetings, including a 24-14 victory in the 2023 season opener.
Gary West Side (4-4) at Lowell (6-3): This is the first meeting since the Red Devils earned a 51-14 victory in the 2021 Class 4A sectional semifinals.
East Chicago Central (3-6) at Kankakee Valley (0-9): It’s the first contest between these two programs as the Kougars look to halt a 10-game losing skid.
Highland (2-7) at Hobart (6-3): The Brickies have won all 30 previous meetings in this series, including last week shutout at Highland.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Griffith (9-0) at Andrean (8-1): In one of the state’s premier contests, these clubs haven’t met in the post-season since 2006. The defending Class 2A champion Niners haven’t lost to a Region team in the playoffs since being upset by Wheeler in the 2011 Class 2A sectional quarterfinals.
Twin Lakes (6-3) at River Forest (3–6): The Indians have lost three of their last four games, while River Forest has won two of their last three contests.
Calumet (5-4) at Hammond Bishop Noll (5–4): The winner is guaranteed a winning season in the battle of the Warriors. Noll has won three of the four post-season meetings with Calumet.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Whiting (3-6) at Knox (3-6): The Oilers have won both previous meetings against Knox with the most recent contest being a 17-14 triumph in the 2016 Class 2A sectional title game.
Rensselaer Central (7-2) at Lake Station (2–7): This is the first meeting between these two squads since the Bombers escaped with a 21-17 decision over Lake Station in 1987.
Boone Grove (4-5) at Wheeler (8-1): The Bearcats have won the last seven meetings against Boone Grove, including a 13-7 overtime victory in the 2024 Class 2A sectional opener.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
North Newton (6-3) at Bowman Academy (5–3): Both clubs posted shutouts in the regular season finale, but it’s the Eagles who hope to avenge a 28-14 loss to North Newton on October 2.
West Central (8-1) at Culver (3-6): The Trojans blanked Culver, 36-0, on August 28 to jumpstart their current eight-game winning streak.
Winamac (6-3) at South Central (0-9): The Warriors beat South Central, 44-6, on October 9.
North Judson (8-1) at Triton (1-8): The Bluejays have won the last four meetings against Triton, including a 42-7 victory on September 25.
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