BY FRANK KIELPIKOWSKI
The post-season got under way last Friday night, and a dozen teams saw their season come to an abrupt end. All six classes are in action this week as clubs compete for a spot in next week’s sectional championship games. Before that, though, let’s look back at the sectional quarterfinals as well as preview this week’s action.
REGION TOP 10 (bolded teams’ season complete)
- Crown Point (9-0)
- Merrillville (8-1)
- Andrean (9-1)
- Valparaiso (6-3)
- Lowell (7-3)
- Griffith (9-1)
- Hammond Morton (6-4)
- Wheeler (9-1)
- Hobart (7-3)
- North Judson (9-1)
SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS RECAP
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hammond Morton 55, Hanover Central 28: Amari Price threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers as the red-hot Governors won their fourth straight.
Lowell 42, Gary West Side 0: Tymothy James ran for 167 yards and four scores as the Red Devils handed the West Side its 11th straight opening round sectional loss.
East Chicago Central 42, Kankakee Valley 6: The Cardinals outscored KV 28-0 in the second half to pull away.
Hobart 30, Highland 7: Aleks Tatum ran for two scores and threw for a third as the Brickies downed Highland for the 31st straight time.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Andrean 38, Griffith 20: Ethan Reyna scored twice, including the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter as the Niners scored the final 18 points to eliminate previously unbeaten Griffith.
Twin Lakes 58, River Forest 14: The Ingots (3-7) were unable to overcome a 49-7 halftime deficit.
Hammond Bishop Noll 36, Calumet 26: Jeremiah Patton rushed for 198 yards to lead the Warriors to their first post-season victory since 2012.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Knox 46, Whiting 20: The Oilers racked up 261 yards on the ground, but it wasn’t enough as they closed their season at 3-7.
Rensselaer Central 56, Lake Station 28: The Bombers scored 28 in each half to eliminate Lake Station (1-9).
Wheeler 42, Boone Grove 7: Levi Murray scored four more touchdowns as the Bearcats eliminated Boone Grove (4-6) for the second time in three seasons.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
North Newton 23, Bowman Academy 13: The Spartans continued their surprising season as they downed Bowman (5-4).
West Central 39, Culver 7: The Trojans cruised to their ninth straight victory.
Winamac 49, South Central 16: The Warriors handed South Central (0-10) its 21st straight loss.
North Judson 62, Triton 7: Aiden McGowen rushed for 108 yards and two scores for the Bluejays.
SECTIONAL SEMIFINALS PREVIEW
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Crown Point (9-0) at Merrillville (8-1): The Bulldogs defeated Merrillville, 23-14, in week three and have not lost a post-season game to a Region team in five years.
Lake Central (4-5) at Harrison (West Lafayette) (3-6): The Indians seek their first trip to the sectional title game since 2014.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Penn (9-0) at Valparaiso (6-3): The Vikings have dropped their last five matchups against Penn, including a 49-24 decision in week one.
Portage (1-8) at Elkhart (6-3): The Lions beat Portage, 67-33, in the in the 2020 sectional semifinals.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Munster (4-5) at Hammond Central (1-7): The Mustangs eliminated Hammond Central, 46-12, in last year’s sectional semifinals.
Chesterton (4-5) at Michigan City (1-8): The Trojans defeated Michigan City, 28-7, in week three and have won eight of the nine post-season meetings as well.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Concord (4-5) at South Bend Adams (5-4): The Minutemen beat Adams, 49-10, in the 2023 sectional semifinals.
Goshen (2-7) at LaPorte (2-7): In their only other meeting, the Redskins won a 21-20 overtime thriller over LaPorte in the 2011 sectional quarterfinals.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Lowell (7-3) at Hammond Morton (6-4): The Red Devils won the last post-season meeting, 21-0, in the 2020 sectional quarterfinals, but Morton won the last time (35-23) the two clubs met in Hessville in 2019.
Hobart (7-3) at East Chicago Central (4-6): The Brickies won the previous two post-season meetings with EC Central, the most recent being a 61-0 triumph in the 2021 sectional semifinals.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Benton Central (1-8) at Andrean (9-1): The Niners have won both previous meetings with Benton Central, including a 49-0 victory in the 2018 Class 2A sectional quarterfinal.
Hammond Bishop Noll (6-4) at Twin Lakes (7-3): In their first meeting since 1995, the Warriors are looking for their first trip to the sectional title game since 2006.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
LaVille (3-6) at Knox (4-6): The Redskins prevailed 20-7 over LaVille on September 25. Knox won a Class 3A sectional crown a year ago as well as the Lancers in Class 1A.
Wheeler (9-1) at Rensselaer Central (8-2): The Bombers have won eight of the 10 meetings with Wheeler. including a 34-12 victory in the 2020 sectional semifinals.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
North Newton (7-3) at West Central (9-1): The Trojans look to make a return trip to the sectional finals, but North Newton has its eyes set on its first sectional final appearance in nine years.
Winamac (7-3) at North Judson (9-1): The Bluejays blanked Winamac, 35-0, in week seven and have captured five of the last eight post-season meetings.
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