It proved to be an average beginning to the 2022 campaign as I went 16-5 (76 percent) last week.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Concord (0-1) at Jimtown (0-1): The Minutemen blanked Jimtown, 14-0, a season ago. Shannon Wells-Moore ran for 41 yards in Concord’s 33-0 loss to Elkhart. Sam Garner rambled 43 yards for a score in the Jimmies’ 31-7 loss to No. 10 (Class 4A) NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Concord 16, Jimtown 13.
Fairfield (1-0) at Adams (0-1) (TCU School Field): The Eagles soared to a 29-16 win over Fairfield last year. Carter Kitson ran for 116 yards with three touchdowns and the game-winning two-point conversion in the Falcons’ 22-20 overtime win at Goshen. Adreon Petty caught four passes for 36 yards in Adams’ 50-13 loss at Northridge. Matt’s pick: Adams 20, Fairfield 19.
Glenn (1-0) at Riley (1-0) (Jackson Field): The Wildcats suffered a 42-7 setback to Glenn a year ago. Aiden Johnson tossed for 122 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ 28-14 win at Boone Grove. Caleb Francis amassed five catches for 111 yards with a score in Riley’s 18-14 win over Gary West. Matt’s pick: Glenn 22, Riley 18.
Marian (0-1) at Culver Academy (1-0): The No. 9 (Class 3A) Knights dropped a 27-14 contest to Culver Academy last season. Leopino Sete had three carries for 23 yards in Marian’s 38-0 loss to Mishawaka. Evan Gerber racked up 12 tackles in the Eagles’ 17-14 win over Indianapolis Tech. Matt’s pick: Marian 23, Culver Academy 20.
New Prairie (1-0) at Goshen (0-1): Noah Mungia recorded 24 rushes for 111 yards and two scores in the No. 7 (Class 4A) Cougars’ 35-0 blanking of LaPorte. Adam Ellison had a 10-yard scoring run for the RedHawks against Fairfield. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 39, Goshen 10.
Northridge (1-0) at Elkhart (1-0): Alias Leonard scampered for 133 yards and a touchdown for the Lions against Concord. Tyrese Thomas came up with an interception for the Raiders against Adams. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 28, Northridge 27.
Penn (1-0) at Portage (1-0): The Kingsmen slipped past Portage, 13-6, in the 2019 Class 6A sectional semifinals. Nolan McCullough ran for a touchdown and threw for another score in Penn’s 35-6 win over Valparaiso. Colton Wilkie rambled for 214 yards with a touchdown and threw a 45-yard scoring strike in the Indians’ 46-27 win over Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: Penn 35, Portage 12.
Clay (0-1) at Twin Lakes (0-1): Markus Rankin accounted for 85 yards receiving and 67 yards rushing with a touchdown in the Colonials’ 54-6 loss to Osceola Grace, Saige Brandt finished with 20 carries for 118 yards in the Indians’ 33-7 loss to Northwestern. Matt’s pick: Twin Lakes 40, Clay 6.
St. Joseph (1-0) at Mishawaka (1-0): The No. 5 (Class 5A) Cavemen clubbed Saint Joseph, 42-21, in the 2019 campaign. Joe Piontek had a five-yard scoring romp in the Indians’ 36-17 triumph at Lakeland. Bean Smith recorded a 42-yard touchdown run for Mishawaka against Marian. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 31, Saint Joseph 14.
Washington (0-1) at Bremen (0-1): The Lions roared past Washington, 33-14, a season ago. Torrey Wilson hauled in a 25-yard scoring strike in the Panthers’ 30-6 loss to Hammond Central. Seth Libey came up with five tackles in Bremen’s 42-0 loss at LaVille. Matt’s pick: Bremen 17, Washington 9.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Chesterton (1-0) at Warsaw (1-0): The Tigers posted a 35-28 win against No, 9 (Class 5A) Chesterton in the 2019 Class 6A sectional semifinals. Ethan Troy returned a fumble 61 yards in the Trojans’ 35-20 win over Hobart. Grady Nolan found the end zone from a yard out in Warsaw’s 35-7 win over No. 8 (Class 5A) Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 32, Chesterton 29,
East Noble (1-0) at NorthWood (1-0): The Knights edged No. 10 (Class 4A) NorthWood, 15-14, during the 2020 season. Michael Mosley registered a pair of touchdown runs in East Noble’s 51-7 win over Plymouth, Dominic De Frietas booted a 48-yard field goal for the Panthers against Jimtown. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 29, East Noble 25.
Plymouth (0-1) at Kokomo (1-0): The No, 9 (Class 4A) Wildkats clawed their way to a 41-6 win over Plymouth a season ago. Exander Ramirez came up with 15 carries for 93 yards for the Rockies against East Noble. Shayne Spear rolled up seven tackles in Kokomo’s 33-13 win over Leo. Matt’s pick: Kokomo 41, Plymouth 9.
West Noble (1-0) at Wawasee (0-1): The Chargers earned a 19-7 victory against Wawasee in their last meeting. Seth Pruitt rushed 19 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns in West Noble’s 33-7 win over Central Noble. Donovan Blair had five catches for 50 yards in the Warriors’ 26-0 loss to Tippecanoe Valley, Matt’s pick: West Noble 34, Wawasee 7.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (1-0) at Andrean (0-1): The No. 3 and defending Class 2A state champion 59ers claimed a 21-7 win over Crown Point last season. Elijah Tiawhan tallied nine carries for 111 yards and two scores in the Bulldogs’ 42-0 blanking of Lowell. Micah Jones hauled in three passes for 39 yards in Andrean’s 27-7 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Andrean 25. Crown Point 23.
Hammond Central (1-0) at Valparaiso (0-1): The Vikings marched past Hammond Central, 71-6, last year. Akheem Harrtington raced for a pair of scores for the Wolves against Washington. Ian Wilson scored a one-yard touchdown for Valparaiso against Penn. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 44, Hammond Central 11.
Lafayette Jeff (0-1) at Michigan City (0-1): The Bronchos are making their first trip to Michigan City’s Ames Field. Glenn Patterson raced 21 times for 78 yards in Lafayette Jeff’s 43-12 loss to No. 2 (Class 6A) Indianapolis Cathedral. Derrick Coleman tallied a three-yard touchdown run for the Wolves against Warsaw. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 33, Lafayette Jeff 22.
Lake Central (1-0) at Providence Catholic (Ill.) (0-0): The Celtics rolled to a 38-7 win over Lake Central during the 2002 campaign. Christian Jackson added 22 yards rushing with a score in the Indians’ 47-0 blanking of Munster. Providence Catholic is looking to improve on a 3-6 finish last fall. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 36. Providence Catholic 31.
Lowell (0-1) at LaPorte (0-1): The Red Devils and LaPorte are getting together at Kiwanis Field for the first time. Malachi James managed just 37 yards on the ground for Lowell against Crown Point. Kai Jones mustered four carries for 17 yards for the Slicers against New Prairie. Matt’s pick: Lowell 38, LaPorte 14.
Merrillville (1-0) at Hobart (0-1): The top-ranked (Class 5A) Pirates cruised to a 41-14 win over Hobart a season ago. Payton Young chipped in four tackles for Merrillville against Andrean. Noah Ehrlich completed 15-of-29 for 182 yards with a score for the Brickies against Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 43, Hobart 29.
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