It proved to be another prosperous performance as I went 16-1 (94 percent) last week. My overall record is now 147-32; which has me at 82 percent for the year.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Merrillville (10-0) at Lafayette Jeff (7-3): The No. 3 Pirates accounted for a 48-14 win against Lafayette Jeff a season ago in the sectional finale. Justin Marshall rambled eight times for 100 yards and a touchdown in Merrillville’s 29-13 win over Crown Point. Brady Preston accounted for nine rushes for 135 yards with four scores in the Bronchos’ 54-6 win over Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 31, Lafayette Jeff 13.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Chesterton (7-3) at Penn (5-5): The Trojans eliminated Penn, 20-14, a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Ethan Troy found the end zone twice in Chesterton’s 16-0 win over Portage. Jake Balis came up with three carries for 18 yards in the Kingsmen’s 21-7 win at Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Penn 17, Chesterton 14.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 3
Warsaw (7-2) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (9-1): The Tigers came away with a 42-35 win over No. 6 Carroll (Fort Wayne) in last season’s sectional semifinals. Julius Jones had a two-yard scoring run for Warsaw in its 26-22 loss to No. 7 (Class 5A) Concord. Sebastian Lopez converted a pair of field goal in the Chargers’ 21-0 win over Homestead. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Fort Wayne) 34, Warsaw 27.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 4
Hamilton Southeastern (8-2) at Westfield (9=1): The No. 2 Shamrocks managed a 34-21 win over No. 7 Hamilton Southeastern on September 17. Blaine Wertz raced 29 times for 160 yards with four scores in the Royals’ 34-0 win over Fishers. Maximus Webster was 7-of-7 for 135 yards with a touchdown in Westfield’s 49-6 win over Noblesville. Matt’s pick: Westfield 29, Hamilton Southeastern 15.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Valparaiso (9-1) at Munster (3-7): The No. 4 Vikings cruised to 69=6 win over Munster in the 2019 sectional semifinals. Logan Lockhart ran and passed for touchdowns in Valparaiso’s 30-0 win over Hammond Morton. Blake Siurek rambled 34 times for 109 yards with two scores in the Mustangs’ 23-0 win over Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 43. Munster 6.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Michigan City (7-3) at Mishawaka (8-2): The No. 7 Cavemen clubbed No.10 Michigan City, 18-7, in the 2016 sectional final. Treylen Simmons hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the Wolves’ 42-0 win over Adams. Chaz Hardy came with a 10-yard scoring run in Mishawaka’s 35-7 win over Concord. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 36, Michigan City 30.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Fort Wayne Snider (8-1) at Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (6-4): The No. 5 Panthers racked up a 33-22 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger on October 8. Tyrese Brown tallied 19 carries for 99 yards with two scores in Fort Wayne Snider’s 21-17 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Stellan Rustin had three rushes for 60 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints’ 42-21 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Snider 28, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 17.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 12
Kokomo (8-2) at Zionsville (6-5): The No. 9 Wildkats clawed past Zionsville, 33-21, in the 2017 regional finale. Plez Lawrence came up with 14 rushes for 249 yards with three scores in Kokomo’s 35-6 win over Anderson. Colin Price exploded for 39 carries for 324 yards with six touchdowns in the Eagles’ 42-21 win over No. 3 Harrison (West Lafayette). Matt’s pick: Zionsville 33, Kokomo 29.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
Hobart (8-3) at Lowell (8-3): The No. 10 Brickies registered a 39-27 victory against Lowell on September 17. Trey Gibson had 14 rushes for 154 yards with five scores in Hobart’s 55-0 win over East Chicago Central. Joe Heuer accounted for 203 yards and four touchdowns on 17 attempts in the Red Devils’ 51-14 win over Gary West. Matt’s pick: Hobart 32, Lowell 28.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Saint Joseph (4-7) at New Prairie (9-2): The Cougars recorded a 35-0 win over Saint Joseph on September 17. Antonio Morrell recorded a pair of interceptions in the Indians’ 21-0 blanking of Kankakee Valley. Marshall Kmiecik carried the ball 21 times for 80 yards and a touchdown in New Prairie’s 23-7 win at Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 41, Saint Joseph 15.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
Leo (11-0) at Northridge (7-4): The No. 2 Lions slipped by Northridge, 14-7, in last year’s sectional quarterfinals. Jackson Barbour was 3-of-4 for 64 yards with two scores in Leo’s 44-14 win over DeKalb. Jethro Hochstetler came up with three receptions for 56 yards in the Raiders’ 35-21 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Leo 40, Northridge 18.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 20
Fort Wayne Wayne (4-7) at Mississinewa (8-2): Shawn Collins romped for 153 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries for the Generals in their 40-27 win over Delta. Hayden Nelson ran 23 times for 164 yards with three scores in the Indians’ 42-27 win over New Haven. Matt’s pick: Mississinewa 44, Fort Wayne Wayne 23.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Hanover Central (10-1) at Knox (5-6): Matt Koontz went 6-of-15 for 136 yards with two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 41-0 blanking of Benton Central. Gunnar Krause finished with 25 carries for 200 yards with a score in the Redskins’ 37-21 win over Triton. Matt’s pick: Hanover Central 37, Knox 19.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Jimtown (9-2) at Marian (8-3): The Jimmies are looking to make amends for a 44-19 loss to Marian a season ago in the sectional final. Johntu Reed ran for two touchdowns and booted four extra-points in Jimtown’s 22-3 win over Glenn. Gabe Kerr forced a fumble and blocked a punt in the Knights’ 29-0 win over No. 7 Tippecanoe Valley. Matt’s pick: Marian 38, Jimtown 23.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 27
Norwell (10-1) at Peru (8-2): The No. 8 Knights crowned Peru, 50-13, in the 2006 sectional opener. John Baxter recorded 32 carries for 198 yards and two scores in Norwell’s 27-0 win over Fort Wayne Concordia. Levi Strong registered 30 rushes for 100 yards with four touchdowns in the Bengal Tigers’ 30-28 double-overtime win over Oak Hill. Matt’s pick: Norwell 39, Peru 36.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 28
Western Boone (7-4) at Brebeuf Jesuit (9-2): The No. 3 Braves recorded a 24-0 win over Western Boone in the 2013 sectional semifinals. Trevor Weakley accounted for 19 rushes for 132 yards with a touchdown in the Stars’ 23-6 win over Guerin Catholic. Max Walters hauled in six passes for 109 yards with a score in Brebeuf Jesuit’s 35-8 win over North Montgomery. Matt’s pick: Brebeuf Jesuit 41, Western Boone 26.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Andrean (8-3) at Whiting (5-6): The No. 8 59ers earned a 38-6 win over Whiting a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Trey Stephens carried the ball 13 times for 100 yards with a touchdown in Andrean’s 28-2 win over Rensselaer Central. Julius Torres tallied the lone score in the Oilers’ 6-0 win over Boone Grove. Matt’s pick: Andrean 45, Whiting 12.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Pioneer (9-2) at LaVille (8-2): The Lancers suffered a 12-7 loss to Pioneer on September 3. Seth Schmehl managed 13 carries for 83 yards with a score in the Panthers’ 18-0 win over Delphi. Paul DeWitt found the end zone from four yards out in LaVille’s 14-6 win over Bremen. Matt’s pick: LaVille 18. Pioneer 14.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 35
Eastside (11-0) at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (10-1): The No. 2 Knights were a 56-49 winner over No. 4 Eastside in the 2020 sectional final. Dax Holman ran 15 times for 95 yards with two touchdowns in the Blazers’ 38-6 win over Central Noble. Brody Glenn caught seven passes for 123 yards with three scores in Fort Wayne Bishop Luers’ 44-7 win over Prairie Heights. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 47, Eastside 34.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 36
Eastbrook (10-0) at Tipton (10-1): The No. 6 Blue Devils posted a 56-39 win over top-ranked Eastbrook in last season’s sectional semifinals. Gage Engle racked up 22 carries for 81 yards in the Panthers’ 46-13 win over Lapel. Eli Carter managed five rushes for 111 yards and three scores in Tipton’s 44-18 win over Alexandria. Matt’s pick: Eastbrook 25, Tipton 23.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
Culver (4-5) at North Judson (7-3): The Bluejays soared past Culver, 19-0, on August 20. Shane Shuman ended with 27 carries for 106 yards in the Cavaliers’ 18-0 win over South Central. Cheyenne Allen ran for three touchdowns and caught a pass for a fourth tally in North Judson’s 40-13 win over No. 4 Winamac. Matt’s pick: North Judson 32, Culver 10.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 42
Clinton Prairie (6-4) at Carroll (Flora) (8-3): The Gophers edged Carroll (Flora), 14-12, on October 6. Seth Whitlock ended with 16 carries for 127 yards in Clinton Prairie’s 20-8 win over Clinton Central. Clay Metzger returned a kickoff 81 yards for a score in the Cougars’ 28-21 loss to Sheridan. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Flora) 20, Clinton Prairie 9.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 43
South Adams (9-2) at Union City (6-4): The No. 7 Starfires blanked Union City, 41-0, in the 2020 sectional quarterfinals. Trey Schoch caught nine passes for 111 yards with a score in South Adams’ 6-3 win over No. 2 Monroe Central. Blayne Daniels rambled 39 times for 368 yards with nine touchdowns in the Indians’ 59-26 win over Taylor. Matt’s pick: South Adams 28, Union City 9.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 44
Triton (4-6) at Adams Central (10-1): The No. 3 Flying Jets claimed a 38-14 win over Triton in last year’s sectional semifinals. Anthony Schuh raced 24 times for 91 yards and a touchdown in the Trojans’ 22-13 win over Northfield. Ryan Black completed all three of his passes for 91 yards with two scores in Adams Central’s 56-0 blanking of Southwood. Matt’s pick: Adams Central 46. Triton 11.
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