Warsaw’s win over defending Class 6A state runner-up Carroll (Fort Wayne) was the lone miscue as I went 15-1 (94 percent) last week. My overall record is now 152-33, which has me at 82 percent for the season.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Lake Central (5-5) at Crown Point (10-0): The No. 4 Bulldogs downed Lake Central, 38-12, on September 8. Xavier Williams scampered 20 times for 186 yards with two touchdowns in the Indians’ 23-0 win over Portage. Noah Ehrlich was 9-of-14 for 134 yards with a score and ran five times for 57 yards with three touchdowns in Crown Point’s 42-10 win over Lafayette Jeff. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 38, Lake Central 13.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Warsaw (9-1) at Penn (9-1): The Tigers claimed a sectional crown in 2019 with a 35-18 win over No. 8 Penn. Drew Sullivan ran 21 times for 81 yards with a touchdown in Warsaw’s 31-17 win over No. 9 Carroll (Fort Wayne). Dominick Bonner returned an interception 54 yards for a score in the Kingsmen’s 35-0 win over Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Penn 21, Warsaw 17.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 3
Fishers (7-3) at Hamilton Southeastern (8-2): The No. 6 Royals needed overtime to post a 35-34 win over No. 10 Fishers on September 8. Khobie Martin raced 20 times for 203 yards with five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 42-14 victory against Homestead. Azariah Wallace finished with eight rushes for 139 yards with two scores in Hamilton Southeastern’s 56-7 win over Fort Wayne Northrop. Matt’s pick: Hamilton Southeastern 27, Fishers 22.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 4
Westfield (9-1) at Noblesville (4-6): The No. 5 Shamrocks held on for a 28-21 win over Noblesville on September 8. Drew Lee had a 50-yard interception return for a score in Westfield’s 37-21 win over Carmel. Logan Shoffner ended with 21 rushes for 244 yards with a touchdown in the Millers’ 31-24 win over Zionsville. Matt’s pick: Westfield 31, Noblesville 14.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Merrillville (8-2) at Hammond Morton (5-4): Jaidan Mason chipped in three tackles and a fumble recovery in the No. 6 Pirates’ 49-7 win over Munster. Dontell Harris accumulated 316 yards and five touchdowns on 25 carries in the Governors’ 52-6 win over Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 42, Hammond Morton 12.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Michigan City (6-4) at Valparaiso (8-2): The No. 4 and defending state champion Vikings marched past Michigan City, 31-7, on September 8. Olijah Collins hauled in two passes for 97 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown, in the Wolves’ 6-5 win over LaPorte. Justin Clark recorded 12 carries for 99 yards with two scores and also completed a 13-yard pass in Valparaiso’s 31-14 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 24, Michigan City 10.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Mishawaka (8-2) at Concord (6-4): The No. 9 Cavemen clubbed Concord, 31-7, on October 6. Brady Fisher went 6-of-8 for 118 yards with a score and ran five times for 27 yards and another touchdown in Mishawaka’s 48-14 win over Goshen. Jamar Moton had four rushes for 41 yards with a touchdown in the Minutemen’s 49-10 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 34, Concord 15.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 12
Fort Wayne North (3-6) at Fort Wayne Snider (9-1): The No. 2 Panthers earned a sectional crown last season with a 25-21 win over Fort Wayne North. Tristen Newsome was 4-of-9 for 51 yards with a score and carried the ball seven times for 58 yards and a touchdown in the Legends’ 51-14 loss to Carroll (Fort Wayne). Kevon Russell rambled eight times for 31 yards with a touchdown in Fort Wayne Snider’s 44-14 win over Anderson. Matt’s pick: Fort Wayne Snider 40, Fort Wayne North 11.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
New Prairie (9-2) at Culver Academy (5-6): The defending state runner-up Cougars clawed past Culver Academy, 23-7, in the 2021 sectional semifinals. Trenton Klute racked up 10 tackles in New Prairie’s 28-21 overtime win over Kankakee Valley. Michael McColgan completed 10-of-12 for 171 yards with a touchdown and ran twice for 23 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 46-13 victory over Highland. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 32, Culver Academy 16.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
NorthWood (9-2) at Northridge (9-2): The No. 8 Raiders rallied for a 25-21 win over NorthWood on September 8. Trey Woods registered two receptions for 17 yards with a touchdown in the Panthers’ 56-14 win over Washington. Chase Clark managed three catches for 68 yards with a score in Northridge’s 49-20 win over Wawasee. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 33, Northridge 30.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 19
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (6-5) at Leo (9-2): On the way to the 2018 state championship, the Saints were a 42-9 winner over No. 10 Leo in the sectional semifinals. Ethan Springer was 12-of-20 for 245 yards with three touchdowns in Bishop Dwenger’s 42-28 win over DeKalb. Riley Stewart booted the game-winning 20-yard field goal as time expired in the Lions’ 45-42 win over No. 6 East Noble. Matt’s pick: Leo 22, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 20.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 20
Kokomo (9-2) at Mississinewa (11-0): The No. 9 Wildkats came away with a sectional title last year with a 44-13 win over No. 5 Mississinewa. Darrian Story carried the ball 20 times for 182 yards with three touchdowns in Kokomo’s 35-0 win over Marion. Ah’lijah Monday scampered 22 times for 101 yards with a score in the Indians’ 31-15 win over Columbia City. Matt’s pick: Mississinewa 29, Kokomo 26.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 25
Hanover Central (11-0) at West Lafayette (8-3): The No. 2 Wildcats suffered a 44-17 loss to West Lafayette in the sectional final a season ago. Caiden Verrett managed 25 carries for 304 yards with three scores in Hanover Central’s 41-20 win over Boone Grove, Benny Speaker caught 15 passes for 101 yards with a touchdown in the Red Devils’ 42-7 win over Rensselaer Central. Matt’s pick: Hanover Central 23, West Lafayette 21.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Glenn (7-4) at Knox (11-0): The No. 9 Redskins stormed past Glenn, 37-9, on September 15. Eli Beeney registered 19 tackles in the Falcons’ 25-8 win over Fairfield. Jake Conroy carried the ball 25 times for 92 yards in Knox’s 15-13 win over West Noble. Matt’s pick: Knox 41, Glenn 8.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 27
Delta (7-4) at Garrett (6-5): Kaiden Bond recorded 16 rushes for 174 yards with two scores in the Eagles’ 24-21 win over Yorktown. Camren Ruble amassed 27 carries for 103 yards with a touchdown in the Railroaders’ 20-6 win over Heritage. Matt’s pick: Delta 19, Garrett 18.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 28
Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (11-0) at Hamilton Heights (11-0): The No. 5 Huskies came up on the short end of a 41-14 decision to top-ranked and defending state champion Bishop Chatard a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Riley Kinnett returned from an injury to run 26 times for 152 yards in the Trojans’ 21-10 win over No. 3 Guerin Catholic. Owen VanHaaren finished with 24 carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns in Hamilton Heights’ 28-21 win over Maconaquah, Matt’s pick: Bishop Chatard 25, Hamilton Heights 14.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Bremen (6-5) at LaVille (10-1): The No. 5 Lancers opened the 2023 season with a 17-10 win against Bremen on August 18. Will Stiles tallied 12 tackles and an interception in the Lions’ 21-18 win over Wheeler. Cody Allen scampered 17 times for 192 yards with two touchdowns in LaVille’s 50-0 blanking of Whiting. Matt’s pick: LaVille 28, Bremen 12.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 34
Lafayette Central Catholic (8-3) at Seeger (8-3): The No. 10 Knights managed a 35-8 win over Seeger on August 18. Ray Clayton had seven receptions for 181 yards with two scores in Lafayette Central Catholic’s 28-22 win over Rochester. Landon Walker had an 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a pair of interceptions in the Patriots’ 20-16 win over Lewis Cass. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Central Catholic 32, Seeger 6.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 35
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (8-3) at Manchester (5-6): The No. 7 Knights blanked Manchester, 69-0, in the 2010 sectional semifinals. Giovanni Jimenez racked up 16 rushes for 146 yards with a score in Bishop Luers’ 14-10 win against Eastside. Eli Metzger hauled in four receptions for 114 yards in the Squires’ 28-21 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: Bishop Luers 41, Manchester 7.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 36
Eastern (Greentown) (9-2) at Bluffton (9-2): The No. 8 Tigers cruised to a 62-34 win over Eastern (Greentown) in the 2013 sectional quarterfinals. Jayden Eagle contributed 16 rushes for 238 yards with three touchdowns in the Comets’ 42-0 win over Tipton. Khamel Moore accounted for 238 yards on the ground with three scores in Bluffton’s 35-21 win against Eastbrook. Matt’s pick: Bluffton 30, Eastern (Greentown) 26.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 41
North Judson (7-4) at Triton (8-3): The No. 9 Trojans stormed past North Judson, 40-7, on September 29. Jesiah McDaniel romped eight times for 129 yards with three touchdowns in the Bluejays’ 42-0 blanking of South Newton. Jayden Overmyer ran 10 times for 121 yards with two scores in Triton’s 56-0 win over Culver. Matt’s pick: Triton 20, North Judson 14.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 42
Park Tudor (11-0) at North Vermillion (8-3): DJ Gordon rambled seven times for 262 yards with three touchdowns and went 7-of-9 for 157 yards with two scores in the No. 5 Panthers’ 48-6 win over Clinton Central. Cody Tryon came up with six catches for 244 yards with four touchdowns in the Falcons’ 50-42 win over Clinton Prairie. Matt’s pick: Park Tudor 44, North Vermillion 39.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 43
Carroll (Flora) (11-0) at Tri-Central (5-6): The No. 3 Cougars roared past Tri-Central, 42-0, on September 22. Carroll rolled up 28 points in the second quarter in its 49-6 win over Caston. Owen Tolle raced 20 times for 139 yards with a touchdown in the Trojans’ 17-8 win against West Central. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Flora) 46, Tri-Central 11.
CLASS 1A SECTIONAL 44
Adams Central (11-0) at Madison-Grant (8-3): Trevor Currie managed six catches for 116 yards with three touchdowns in the No. 2 and two-time defending state runner-up Flying Jets’ 48-0 win over Southwood. Rosin White accounted for more than 100 yards rushing, three scores, a pair of two-point conversions, and three extra-points in the Argylls’ 43-14 win at North Miami. Matt’s pick: Adams Central 45. Madison-Grant 14.
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