The post-season started on a sour note as I went 10-5 (67 percent) last week. My overall record is 137-32, which has me at 81 percent for the season.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 1
Portage (0-9) at Lake Central (4-5): The Indians edged Portage, 21-20, on September 1. JoJo Mabon scampered 15 times for 57 yards in the Indians’ 12-0 loss to LaPorte. Cameron Reddick was 7-of-12 for 116 yards with a touchdown in Lake Central’s 47-7 loss to No. 4 (Class 5A) Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Lake Central 26, Portage 13.
Lafayette Jeff (5-4) at Crown Point (9-0): The Bronchos earned a sectional crown last year with a 38-28 win over No. 4 Crown Point. Trysten Barrett completed 8-of-17 for 251 yards with five touchdowns in Lafayette Jeff’s 34-14 win over No. 9 (Class 4A) Kokomo. Noah Ehrlich went 6-of-9 for 69 yards with two scores in the Bulldogs’ 38-0 win over Michigan City. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 35, Lafayette Jeff 18.
CLASS 6A SECTIONAL 2
Carroll (Fort Wayne) (7-2) at Warsaw (8-1): The No. 9 Chargers secured a 2022 sectional title with a 34-17 win over Warsaw. Hansen Haffner hauled in four passes for 85 yards in Carroll’s 51-14 win over Fort Wayne North. Mason Smythe’s 42-yard field goal lifted the Tigers to a 24-10 win over No. 8 (Class 4A) Northridge. Matt’s pick: Carroll (Fort Wayne) 33, Warsaw 29,
Elkhart (3-6) at Penn (8-1): The No. 8 Kingsmen blanked Elkhart, 21-0, on September 15. Quinn Rost threw an 84-yard touchdown pass in the Lions’ 16-8 loss to New Prairie. Maverick Brown returned an interception 25 yards for a score in Penn’s 42-0 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Penn 35, Elkhart 6.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 9
Munster (3-6) at Merrillville (7-2): The Mustangs fell 55-20 to No. 6 Merrillville in last season’s sectional semifinals. Daniel Asgedom romped 41 times for 247 yards with four touchdowns in Munster’s 28-24 win at Kankakee Valley. JQ Johnson raced 22 times for 109 yards in the Pirates’ 35-7 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 49, Munster 12.
Hammond Morton (4-4) at Hammond Central (5-4): The Governors cruised to a 56-3 win over Hammond Central on September 29. Holland Harris completed 16-of-17 for 316 yards with three scores in Hammond Morton’s 46-2 win over East Chicago Central. The Wolves were limited to three first downs and 68 toral yards in their 35-0 loss to No. 2 (Class 3A) Hanover Central. Matt’s pick: Hammond Morton 39, Hammond Central 21.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 10
Michigan City (5-4) at LaPorte (2-7): The Wolves rolled to a 35-0 win against LaPorte on October 6. Tyler Bush tossed for 116 yards for Michigan City against Crown Point. Keli Hay registered an 83-yard kickoff return and a 93-yard punt return for touchdowns for the Slicers against Portage. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 41, LaPorte 7.
Valparaiso (7-2) at Chesterton (2-7): The No. 4 and defending state champion Vikings were a 28-14 winner over Chesterton on September 15. Isaac Laughery came up with three tackles and a fumble recovery for Valparaiso against Lake Central. Garrett Lewis accounted for nine rushes for 57 yards with a touchdown for the Trojans against Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 32, Chesterton 10.
CLASS 5A SECTIONAL 11
Mishawaka (7-2) at Goshen (1-8): The No. 9 Cavemen clubbed Goshen, 48-13, on September 8. Brady Fisher was 4-of-8 for 53 yards with a touchdown and ran six times for 66 yards with two scores in Mishawaka’s 41-22 win over Wawasee. Jace Hershberger caught two passes for 16 yards and recovered a fumble in the RedHawks’ 22-0 loss to NorthWood. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 43, Goshen 8.
Concord (5-4) at Adams (1-8) (Everwise School Field): The Minutemen claimed a 40-20 win over Adams in the 1998 Class 4A sectional semifinals. Jaron Thomas registered 183 yards on the ground with four touchdowns in Concord’s 46-6 win over Plymouth. Mason Foster ended with 14 carries for 27 yards for the Eagles against Penn. Matt’s pick: Concord 37, Adams 9.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 17
New Prairie (8-2) at Kankakee Valley (5-5): The Cougars rolled to a 47-6 win over Kankakee Valley in last season’s sectional opener. Reed Robinson came up with 14 rushes for 179 yards with three touchdowns in New Prairie’s 49-14 win over Hobart. Diego Arroyo was 6-of-8 for 119 yards with two scores in the Kougars’ 37-22 win over Gary West. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 44, Kankakee Valley 14.
Highland (4-6) at Culver Academy (4-6): The Trojans earned a 28-21 win over Culver Academy during the 2004 campaign. Jason Lawrence tallied five carries for 72 yards with two scores in Highland’s 56-6 win over East Chicago Central. Tay Rodriguez scampered 20 times for 124 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ 17-7 win at Lowell. Matt’s pick: Culver Academy 19, Highland 16.
CLASS 4A SECTIONAL 18
Washington (3-7) at NorthWood (8-2): The Panthers cruised to a 48-14 win in last year’s sectional quarterfinals. Mekhi Wilson accumulated 96 yards on the ground with a score on 13 carries in the Panthers’ 43-28 win at Plymouth. Owen Roeder went 19-of-24 for 329 yards with four touchdowns in NorthWood’s 52-10 win over Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 51, Washington 11.
Wawasee (2-8) at Northridge (8-2): The No. 8 Raiders edged Wawasee, 14-7, on September 22. Donovan Blair caught three passes for 91 yards in the Warriors’ 35-26 win against Riley. Derek Sherwood accounted for 13 rushes for 89 yards with two scores in Northridge’s 39-3 win over Logansport. Matt’s pick: Northridge 29, Wawasee 10.
CLASS 3A SECTIONAL 26
Fairfield (6-4) at Glenn (6-4): The Falcons soared to a 24-7 win against Fairfield a season ago in the sectional quarterfinals. Brooks Custer ran 17 times for 92 yards in the Falcons’ 17-6 win over Jimtown. Marshall Platz caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in Glenn’s 64-0 win over Clay. Matt’s pick: Glenn 25, Fairfield 15.
West Noble (10-0) at Knox (10-0): The No. 9 Redskins blanked West Noble, 22-0, a year ago in the sectional semifinals. Nefty Silva booted the game-winning 33-yard field goal in the Chargers’ 46-43 win against Marian. Jake Conroy tallied a 17-yard touchdown run in Knox’s 46-19 win over Lakeland. Matt’s pick: Knox 46, West Noble 21.
CLASS 2A SECTIONAL 33
Wheeler (6-3) at Bremen (5-5): The Lions opened the 2022 playoffs with a 35-21 win over Wheeler. Jayden Ortiz managed 22 carries for 248 yards with three scores in the Bearcats’ 27-6 win over Griffith. Reece Greene registered six receptions for 84 yards with a touchdown in Bremen’s 42-7 win over Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Bremen 30, Wheeler 24.
LaVille (9-1) at Whiting (4-6): The No. 5 Lancers eliminated Whiting from last year’s post-season with a 51-6 victory. Jonathan Neece came up with five tackles and a fumble recovery in LaVille’s 25-23 win over Andrean. Nick Davenport completed 4-of-6 for 139 yards with three touchdowns and ran four times for 24 yards and another score in the Oilers’ 40-0 win against Lake Station. Matt’s pick: LaVille 38, Whiting 13.
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