The 2023 campaign began on a sour note as I went 14-8 (64 percent) last week. Here’s hoping that things are better the second time around.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFEREBCE
Adams (0-1) at Logansport (0-1): Braylon Willams caught 13 passes for 160 yards in the Eagles’ 21-14 loss to Culver Academy. Bryson Herr was 8-of-12 for 164 yards with two touchdowns in the Berries’ 42-28 loss to Peru. Matt’s pick: Logansport 29, Adams 16.
Boone Grove (0-1) at Clay (0-1): Mark Rowland completed 25-of-46 for 325 yards with three touchdowns in the Wolves’ 43-26 loss to Glenn. Liam Wolf went 20-of-40 for 358 yards with three touchdowns in the Colonials’ 30-18 loss to Hammond Bishop Noll. Matt’s pick: Boone Grove 30, Clay 20.
Bremen (0-1) at Washington (0-1) (Everwise School Field): The Lions cruised to a 42-6 win over Washington a year ago. Silas Laidig went 12-of-18 for 164 yards with a score in Bremen’s 17-10 loss to No. 9 (Class 2A) LaVille. The Panthers surrendered nearly 300 yards rushing in a 34-12 loss to Hammond Central. Matt’s pick: Bremen 17, Washington 9.
Culver Academy (1-0) at Marian (0-1): The Knights crowned Culver Academy, 21-3, a season ago. Tay Rodriguez scampered for 50 yards and two scores for the Eagles against Adams, Braxton Brooks came up with five receptions for 58 yards with a touchdown in Marian’s 44-12 loss to Mishawaka. Matt’s pick: Marian 23, Culver Academy 18.
Elkhart (0-1) at Northridge (1-0): The Lions roared past No. 8 (Class 4A) Northridge, 28-7, last season. Zac Anderson had two receptions for 60 yards in Elkhart’s 16-6 loss to Concord. Chase Clark managed five receptions for 61 yards in the Raiders’ 26-13 win over Fort Wayne North. Matt’s pick: Northridge 34, Elkhart 12.
Goshen (0-1) at New Prairie (0-1): The Cougars clawed past Goshen, 33-14, last year. Elliott Frey tossed a pass for a touchdown in the RedHawks’ 29-6 loss at Fairfield. Reed Robinson rambled 10 times for 43 yards with a score and also added a two-point conversion in New Prairie’s 20-18 loss at LaPorte. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 37, Goshen 13.
Jimtown (0-1) at Concord (1-0): The No. 10 (Class 5A) Minutemen blanked Jimtown, 14-0, in their previous meeting. Gabe Glass ran five yards for a score in the Jimmies’ 42-22 loss to NorthWood. Jaron Thomas tallied 19 carries for 62 yards for Concord against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: Concord 31, Jimtown 22.
Mishawaka (1-0) at Penn (1-0): The No. 9 (Class 6A) Kingsmen slipped past No. 5 (Class 5A) Mishawaka, 21-13, during the 2019 campaign. Jackson Snyder recorded 10 tackles for the Cavemen against Marian. Nolan McCullough was 7-of-12 for 148 yards and ran 15 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns in Penn’s 38-21 win over Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Penn 28, Mishawaka 21.
Riley (1-0) at Glenn (1-0): The Falcons flew by Riley, 38-24, a year ago. Aydeh Kent hauled in two passes for 74 yards with a score in the Wildcats’ 48-12 win over Gary West. Chase Miller ran 15 times for 146 yards with a touchdown, completed 3-of-13 for 38 yards, and caught a six-yard pass for Glenn against Boone Grove. Matt’ pick: Glenn 38, Riley 35.
Saint Joseph (0-1) at Fort Wayne South (0-1): Bryson Hurley caught a touchdown pass for the Indians in their 33-28 loss to Lakeland. Cody Jenkins returned a fumble 63 yards for a score in the Archers’ 22-17 loss to Marion. Matt’s pick: Saint Joseph 26, Fort Wayne South 7.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
NorthWood (1-0) at Portage (0-1): Jojo Edmond accumulated five carries for 54 yards with a touchdown and one catch for four yards for the No. 4 (Class 4A) Panthers against Jimtown. Jojo Mabon rambled 12 times for 128 yards with a touchdown in the Indians’ 32-23 loss to Hammond Morton. Matt’s pick: NorthWood 42, Portage 14.
Plymouth (1-0) at Columbia City (1-0): The Rockies downed No. 9 (Class 4A) Columbia City, 14-7, in the 1991 Class 4A sectional semifinals. Blake Mackey registered four catches for 33 yards with a touchdown in Plymouth’s 27-8 win over Calumet. Grayson Bradberry went 5-of-7 for 95 yards with three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 49-8 win against Churubusco. Matt’s pick: Columbia City 39, Plymouth 18.
Warsaw (1-0) at Chesterton (0-1): The Tigers claimed a 24-7 win over Chesterton last season. Reed Zollinger carried the ball 31 times for 148 yards and a touchdown in Warsaw’s 17-13 win at Michigan City. Beford leaving with an ankle injury, Garrett Lewis ran for 79 yards and had 70 yards in receptions in the Trojans’ 16-13 loss at Hobart. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 25, Chesterton 23.
Wawasee (0-1) at West Noble (1-0): The Chargers were a 35-24 winner over Wawasee last year. Hunter Tinkey recorded four catches for 98 yards with a touchdown in the Warriors’ 23-12 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Drew Yates completed 11-of-13 for 164 yards with a score and ran eight times for 42 yards and two touchdowns in West Noble’s 47-7 win over Central Noble. Matt’s pick: West Noble 33, Wawasee 10.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Chicago Taft (0-0) at Crown Point (1-0): Jaiden Padilla scampered 126 times for 701 yards with six touchdowns last season for the Eagles (7-7). Larry Ellison contributed three touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 42-7 win over Lowell. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 32, Chicago Taft 29.
Hobart (1-0) at Merrillville (1-0): The No. 3 (Class 5A) Pirates posted a 17-7 win over Hobart a season ago. Jonny Sorensen was 9-of-15 for 141 yards with a score for the Brickies against Chesterton. James Veal mustered a pair of quarterback sacks in Merrillville’s 40-13 win over Andrean. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 41, Hobart 24.
LaPorte (1-0) at Lowell (0-1): The Red Devils edged LaPorte, 21-14, in the 2022 season. Ollie Kring added six receptions for 117 yards with a touchdown for the Slicers against New Prairie. Colton Scott came up with six carries for 65 yards and a score for Lowell against Crown Point. Matt’s pick: Lowell 17, LaPorte 14.
Michigan City (0-1) at Lafayette Jeff (0-1): The Bronchos stomped Michigan City, 51-33, last year. Tyler Bush tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Olijah Collins for the Wolves against Warsaw. DJ Young came up with eight receptions for 108 yards with a score in Lafayette Jeff’s 55-14 loss to No. 2 (Class 6A) Indianapolis Cathedral. Matt’s pick: Lafayette Jeff 27, Michigan City 22.
Providence Catholic (0-0) at Lake Central (1-0): The Celtics slipped by Lake Central, 16-14, a year ago. Jamari Tribett accounted for 85 carries for 503 yards and two touchdowns a year ago for Providence Catholic (9-5). James Graham chipped in two catches for 54 yards with two scores in the Indians’ 46-14 win over Munster. Matt’s pick: Providence Catholic 19, Lake Central 16.
Valparaiso (0-1) at Andrean (0-1): Scott Bradney ended with three receptions for 92 yards with a score for the No. 7 (Class 5A) Vikings against Penn. Ethan Renya racked up seven tackles for the No. 8 (Class 2A) 59ers against Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Valparaiso 30, Andrean 20.
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