Things improved a little as I went 16-4 (80 percent) last week. After the first two weeks, my overall record is 32-9, which has me at 78 percent for the season.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Adams (0-2) at Riley (1-1) (Jackson Field): The Eagles soared to a 38-6 win against Riley last year. Amari Wesson had a pair of touchdown receptions in Adams’ 24-14 loss to Fairfield. Shamar Jackson hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass in the Wildcats’ 38-24 loss to Glenn. Matt’s pick: Riley 29, Adams 25.
Bremen (1-1) at Marian (1-1): The No. 8 (Class 3A) Knights cruised to a 48-6 win over Bremen last season. Austin McKenzie found the end zone twice in the Lions’ 42-6 win over Washington. Aidan Kelly had five rushes for 25 yards with a touchdown in Marian’s 21-3 win at Culver Academy. Matt’s pick: Marian 33, Bremen 13.
Clay (0-2) at Hammond Central (1-1): The Wolves blanked Clay, 33-0, a season ago. Jeremy Cleveland tallied seven tackles in the Colonials’ 46-8 loss to Twin Lakes. Jeremiah Ruth recorded eight tackles in Hammond Central’s 52-0 loss to No. 7 (Class 5A) Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Hammond Central 43, Clay 6.
Elkhart (2-0) at Hammond Morton (0-2): The Lions roared past Hammond Morton, 47-8, a year ago. Gavin Houser raced 44 yards for a score in Elkhart’s 28-7 win over Northridge. Dontell Harris accounted for 150 yards on the ground with a touchdown in the Governors’ 46-27 loss to Portage. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 45. Hammond Morton 12.
Indianapolis Cathedral (1-1) at Penn (2-0): The No. 3 (Class 6A) Irish blanked No. 10 (Class 6A) Penn, 37-0, last season. Jaron Tibbs caught 13 passes for 121 yards with two touchdowns in Cathedral’s 42-35 loss to No. 2 (Class 6A) Brownsburg. Josiah Williams rambled for 84 yards and two scores in the Kingsmen’s 31-6 win over Portage. Matt’s pick: Cathedral 24, Penn 20.
Kankakee Valley (1-1) at Washington (0-2) (TCU School Field): The Kougars crushed Washington, 42-7, during the 2020 campaign. Marco Castro racked up a pair of scores in Kankakee Valley’s 37-0 win over Wheeler. Ja’quan Patton accounted for the Panthers’ lone touchdown against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Kankakee Valley 40, Washington 8.
New Prairie (2-0) at Lowell (1-1): The No. 5 Cougars claimed a Class 4A regional crown last year with a 28-14 win over Lowell. Dallas Ryans registered a 33-yard touchdown reception in New Prairie’s 33-14 win at Goshen Owen Thiele ended with 28 carries for 100 yards in the Red Devils’ 21-14 win over LaPorte. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 32. Lowell 26.
Osceola Grace (2-0) at Jimtown (0-2): The Jimmies were a 53-6 winner over Osceola Grace a year ago. Sam Harner exploded for 234 yards rushing with three touchdownx in the Eagles’ 41-0 blanking of Hammond Bishop Noll. Bishop Williams recorded 34 yards passing and 36 yards rushing in Jimtown’s 14-0 loss to Concord. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 28, Osceola Grace 18.
Saint Joseph (1-1) at Glenn (2-0): The Indians managed a 27-9 victory over Glenn in their previous meeting. Sam Sparks came up with an interception for Saint Joseph against Mishawaka. Aden Johnson tossed for 104 yards and a score for the Falcons against Riley. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 35, Glenn 29.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (1-1) at NorthWood (2-0): The Minutemen needed overtime to escape with a 30-29 win over No. 7 (Class 4A) NorthWood a season ago. Michael Campanello snatched a 64-yard pass for a score for Concord against Jimtown. J.J. Payne chipped in a 49-yard touchdown reception in the Panthers’ 35-14 win over East Noble. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 27, Concord 17.
Goshen (0-2) at Wawasee (0-2): The RedHawks slipped past Wawasee, 28-25, last year. Adam Ellison added a one-yard touchdown run for Goshen against New Prairie. Hunter Tinkey ended with six catches for 179 yards with two scores in the Warriors’ 35-24 loss to West Noble. Matt’s pick: Goshen 34, Wawasee 24.
Northridge (1-1) at Mishawaka (2-0): The No. 3 (Class 5A) Cavemen clubbed Northridge, 58-14, a season ago. Kade Sainz came up with a 17-yard touchdown catch for the Raiders against Elkhart. Brady Fisher scampered 14 times for 128 yards for Mishawaka against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 31, Northridge 10.
Plymouth (0-2) at Warsaw (2-0): The Tigers roared past Plymouth, 43-14, a year ago. Michael Gibbons had three receptions for 28 yards in the Rockies’ 49-0 loss at No. 6 (Class 4A) Kokomo. Bryson Brown ran nine times for 101 yards with a touchdown in Warsaw’s 24-7 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 44. Plymouth 9.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (2-0) at Merrillville (2-0): The No. 1 (Class 5A) Pirates downs Crown Point, 29-13, in last year’s Class 6A sectional semifinals. Raymond Santiago racked up a 50-yard touchdown catch in the Bulldogs’ 28-18 win over No. 5 (Class 2A) Andrean. Jovanni Martinez booted a 22-yard field goal in Merrillville’s 17-7 win at Hobart. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 36, Crown Point 16.
Lake Central (1-1) at Portage (1-1): The Indians claimed a 14-7 win against Portage a season ago. Xavier Williams scampered 20 yards for a touchdown in Lake Central’s 16-14 loss to Providence Catholic. Colton Wilkie had a 13-yard scoring run for the Indians against Penn. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 21, Portage 19.
LaPorte (0-2) at Valparaiso (1-1): The No. 7 (Class 5A) Vikings marched past LaPorte, 56-26, a year ago. R.J. Anglin was 19-of-34 for 268 yards with two touchdowns for the Slicers against Lowell. Travis Davis managed 16 rushes for 86 yards and two scores for Valparaiso against Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 47, LaPorte 11.
Michigan City (0-2) at Chesterton (1-1): The Trojans earned a 27-20 win over Michigan City last year. Tyler Bush went 9-of-17 for 167 yards with three scores in the Wolves’ 51-33 loss to Lafayette Jeff. Brady McCormick threw an eight-yard touchdown pass for Chesterton against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 38, Chesterton 35.
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