The post-season opened on a decent note as I went 14-4 (78 percent) last week. My overall record is now 131-31; which keeps me at 81 percent.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Crown Point (5-4) at Merrillville (9-0): The No. 3 Pirates rolled to a 50-13 win against Crown Point on September 3. Elijah Tiawhan ran 14 times for 69 yards in the Bulldogs’ 41-28 loss to Michigan City. Lavarion Logan rambled 12 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in Merrillville’s 40-6 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 39, Crown Point 16.
Lafayette Jeff (6-3) at Lake Central (3-6): The Bronchos came away with a 45-7 win over Lake Central in last year sectional semifinals. Glenn Patterson had three rushes for 88 yards with two touchdowns in Lafayette Jeff’s 56-10 win over Muncie Central. Luke Neidy was 6-of-11 for 89 yards with a touchdown in the Indians’ 49-7 loss to Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 35, Lake Central 14.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Portage (2-7) at Chesterton (6-3): The Trojans blanked Portage, 27-0, on September 24. Colton Wilkie registered 22 rushes for 218 yards with a score in the Indians’ 35-13 win over LaPorte. Garrett Lewis scampered 20 times for 75 yards for Chesterton against Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 30, Portage 12.
Penn (4-5) at Elkhart (5-4): The Kingsmen crowned Elkhart, 31-3, on September 17. Alec Hardrict rambled 15 times for 136 yards with three touchdowns in Penn’s 38-0 win over Adams. Aalias Leonard tallied 20 carries for 103 yards and two scores in the Lions’ 21-14 win over New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Penn 21, Elkhart 17.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 3
Homestead (6-3) at Carroll (Fort Wayne) (8-1): The winner hosts Warsaw (7-2) for the sectional championship. The No. 6 Chargers edged Homestead, 17-10, on October 1. Nathan Anderson caught five passes for 108 yards with a touchdown in the Spartans’ 48-0 win over Fort Wayne South. Luke Carmody recorded 11 carries for 100 yards with three scores in Carroll’s 59-0 win over Fort Wayne Wayne. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Fort Wayne) 33, Homestead 22.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Munster (2-7) at Hammond Central (2-7): Blake Siurek raced 23 times for 77 yards with two scores in the Mustangs’ 40-14 loss to Hobart. Anthony Huber went 13-of-23 for 261 yards with five touchdowns in the Wolves’ 51-12 win over East Chicago Central. Matt’s pick: Hammond Central 23, Munster 19,
Hammond Morton (1-5) at Valparaiso (8-1): Mekhi Whitehead managed just two carries for 11 yards in the Governors’ 51-0 loss to top-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral. Justin Clark was 8-of-11 for 82 yards with a score for the No. 4 Vikings against Lake Central. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 49, Hammond Morton 6.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Michigan City (6-3) at Adams (4-6) (TCU School Field): The Eagles soared to a 41-28 win over No. 10 Michigan City in the 2015 sectional semifinals. Omarion Hatch hauled in 10 passes for 208 yards with three scores for the Wolves against Crown Point. Tommy Hunt recorded 10 rushes for 95 yards in Adams’ 35-14 win over Goshen. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 43, Adams 21.
Mishawaka (7-2) at Concord (9-1): The No. 6 Minutemen posted a 38-24 win over No. 7 Mishawaka on September 24. Brady Fisher accounted for four rushes for 46 yards with a touchdown in the Cavemen’s 58-14 win over Northridge. Titus Hackworth registered 13 carries for 65 yards with two scores in Concord’s 38-13 win against LaPorte. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 30, Concord 28.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Kankakee Valley (4-6) at Saint Joseph (3-7): The Indians clubbed Kankakee Valley, 38-21, in the 2018 sectional opener. Max Griffey accounted for two touchdowns and 7.5 tackles in the Kougars’ 35-6 win over Riley. Jack Tobolsky managed 15 carries for 99 yards with a score for Saint Joseph in its 15-14 win over Logansport. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 25, Kankakee Valley 18.
New Prairie (8-2) at Culver Academy (7-3): The Cougars clawed past Culver Academy, 24-7, a season ago. Noah Mungia scampered 11 times for 97 yards with two scores in New Prairie’s 48-0 win over Plymouth. Foster Stockton returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in the Eagles’ 50-8 win against Clay. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 32, Culver Academy 20.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
DeKalb (2-8) at Leo (10-0): The Barons suffered a 10-0 loss to No. 2 Leo on October 15. Derek Overbay had six receptions for 110 yards with two scores in DeKalb’s 42-14 win over Wawasee. Kaeden Miller’s four-yard touchdown catch with 4.9 seconds left lifted the Lions to a 32-29 win over East Noble. Matt’s pick: Leo 42, DeKalb 12.
Columbia City (5-5) at Northridge (6-4): The Raiders claimed a 14-0 win over Columbia City in the 2015 sectional quarterfinals. Stratton Fuller caught five passes for 70 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 48-12 win over Angola. Ridge Howard ran 15 times for 72 yards in Northridge’s 28-7 win over NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Northridge 26, Columbia City 23.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Glenn (5-4) at Jimtown (8-2): The Jimmies earned a 21-0 win over Glenn on September 10. Austin White went 7-of-10 for 123 yards with five touchdowns in the Falcons’ 41-13 win over Lakeland. Landon Buchanan had 147 yards on the ground with a score in Jimtown’s 31-21 win over West Noble. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 34, Glenn 14.
Marian (7-3) at Tippecanoe Valley (10-0): The Knights crowned No. 7 Tippecanoe Valley, 41-24, in last season’s sectional semifinals. Bryce LaSane was 8-of-12 for 122 yards with two touchdowns in Mar23an’s 49-14 win over Washington. Wade Jones came up with a school-record four interceptions as well as a 31-yard touchdown catch in the Vikings’ 22-8 win over Garrett. Matt’s pick: Marian 32, Tippecanoe Valley 18.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Delphi (7-3) at Pioneer (8-2): The Panthers were a 38-8 winner over Delphi in the 2020 sectional opener. Kooper Kinsler romped 31 times for 224 yards with three scores in the Oracles’ 28-20 win over Lewis Cass. Caden Hill managed a pair of touchdowns in Pioneer’s 40-14 win over Wabash. Matt’s pick: Pioneer 35, Delphi 12.
Bremen (7-3) at LaVille (7-2): The Lancers slipped past Bremen, 14-12, on August 20. Lance Moser rambled 24 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 28-13 win over Manchester. Owen Smith found the end zone twice, including an 88-yard kickoff return, in LaVille’s 29-7 win over Rochester. Matt’s pick: LaVille 28, Bremen 24.
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