My climb upward continued as I went 15-0 (100 percent) last week. Heading into the second half of the regular season, my overall record is now 74-22, which gets me up to 77 percent.
NORTHERN INDIANA CONFERENCE
Elkhart (4-1, 3-0 NIC) at Saint Joseph (3-2, 2-1 NIC): The No. 9 (Class 6A) Lions roared past Saint Joseph, 26-17, last season. Chase Bussard racked up seven tackles in Elkhart’s 17-14 win over New Prairie. Brayson Hurley hauled in a 40-yard touchdown reception in the Huskies’ 24-12 win over Adams. Matt’s pick: Elkhart 20, Saint Joseph 16.
Penn (4-1, 3-0 NIC) at Adams (0-5, 0-3 NIC) (Everwise School Field): The Eagles suffered a 42-0 loss to Penn a season ago. Peyton Horner snatched his fourth interception of the season in the Kingsmen’s 24-7 win over Marian. Caston Keen returned an interception 77 yards for a score for Adams against Saint Joseph. Matt’s pick: Penn 46, Adams 6.
Riley (2-2, 1-2 NIC) at New Prairie (3-2, 1-2 NIC): The Cougars clawed past Riley, 35-12, a year ago. Bradford Washington’s interception helped the Wildcats to a 27-20 win over Washington. Harrison Groves tallied 14 tackles for New Prairie against Elkhart. Matt’s pick: New Prairie 23, Riley 17.
Washington (0-5, 0-3 NIC) at Marian (3-2, 2-1 NIC): The Knights crowned Washington 49-14, in the 2021 Class 3A sectional quarterfinals. Gabe Weber tossed three touchdown passes for the Panthers against Riley. Mitch Fimbel was 8-of-15 for 158 yards with a touchdown against Penn. Matt’s pick: Marian 50, Washington 8.
NORTHERN LAKES CONFERENCE
Concord (5-0, 3-0 NLC) at NorthWood (3-2, 2-1 NLC): The No. 1 (Class 5A) Minutemen are looking to make amends for a 45-16 loss to NorthWood in their last matchup. Derek Gomez caught five passes for 79 yards with a pair of touchdowns in Concord’s 28-24 win over Warsaw. Austin King ended with 11 tackles in the Panthers’ 17-16 win over Northridge. Matt’s pick: Concord 33, NorthWood 24.
Goshen (0-5, 0-3 NLC) at Wawasee (0-5, 0-3 NLC): The Warriors claimed a 34-21 win against Goshen during the 2023 campaign. Gabe Janisse managed 10 receptions for 137 yards in the RedHawks’ 49-10 loss to Mishawaka. Kassidy Carter tallied eight tackles in Wawasee’s 30-0 loss to Plymouth. Matt’s pick: Wawasee 13, Goshen 12.
Northridge (1-4, 1-2 NLC) at Mishawaka (4-1, 2-1 NLC): The No. 6 (Class 4A) Cavemen posted a 37-16 win over Northridge last year. Karsyn Rumfelt was 19-of-28 for 205 yards with a score for the Raiders against NorthWood. Josh Sandy recorded a 32-yard touchdown reception for Mishawaka against Goshen. Matt’s pick: Mishawaka 36, Northridge 19.
Plymouth (3-2, 2-1 NLC) at Warsaw (3-2, 2-1 NLC): The No. 10 (Class 5A) Tigers cruised to a 41-7 victory against Plymouth. Exzander Ramirez ran 17 times for 126 yards and completed 4-of-9 for 34 yards with a touchdown for the Rockies against Wawasee. Quinn Brock raced 50 yards for a score for Warsaw against Concord. Matt’s pick: Warsaw 47, Plymouth 14.
INDIANA NORTHERN STATE CONFERENCE
Bremen (2-3, 0-2 INSC) at Glenn (1-3, 0-2 INSC): The Falcons blanked Bremen, 42-0, last season. Silas Laidig was 7-of-21 for 121 yards in the Lions’ 36-7 loss to Jimtown. Archer Rust went 7-of-13 for 123 yards in Glenn’s 26-7 loss to Knox. Matt’s pick: Glenn 18, Bremen 15.
LaVille (2-3, 1-1 INSC) at Knox (3-2, 2-0 INSC): The Redskins earned a 21-13 win over LaVille a season ago. Xzavian Lafave recorded six catches for 120 yards in the Lancers’ 32-21 loss to Tippecanoe Valley. Jake Conroy amassed 22 carries for 102 yards with a touchdown for Knox against Glenn. Matt’s pick: Knox 32, LaVille 11.
Tippecanoe Valley (4-1, 1-1 INSC) at Jimtown (3-2, 2-0 INSC): The Vikings marched past Jimtown, 35-14, last year. Wes Parker rambled seven times for 132 yards with a score for Tippecanoe Valley against LaVille. Mason Armstrong was 7-of-13 for 121 yards with a touchdown and ran four times for 40 yards and two scores for the Jimmies against Bremen. Matt’s pick: Jimtown 29, Tippecanoe Valley 26.
DUNELAND CONFERENCE
Crown Point (5-0, 3-0 DAC) at Valparaiso (4-1, 3-0 DAC): The No. 4 (Class 6A) Bulldogs slipped past No. 3 (Class 5A) Valparaiso, 19-14, in their previous meeting. Jacob Soley hauled in five passes for 170 yards with two scores in Crown Point’s 58-20 win over Portage. Brendan Gaghan ended with 18 tackles and an interception in the Vikings’ 22-21 win over Chesterton. Matt’s pick: Crown Point 38, Valparaiso 17.
Lake Central (3-2, 2-1 DAC) at Michigan City (1-4, 1-3 DAC): The Wolves edged Lake Central, 27-24, a year ago. Cameron Reddick scampered 60 yards for a touchdown in the Indians’ 24-12 win over LaPorte. Trinaston Hart ran two yards for a score in Michigan City’s 14-12 loss to Merrillville. Matt’s pick: Michigan City 21, Lake Central 18.
Merrillville (4-1, 2-1 DAC) at LaPorte (0-5, 0-3 DAC): The No. 5 (Class 5A) Pirates cruised to a 40-0 win over LaPorte a season ago. Cameron Jordan raced 17 times for 140 yards with a score for Merrillville against Michigan City. The Slicers are looking to halt a six-game losing streak. Matt’s pick: Merrillville 45, LaPorte 10.
Portage (2-3, 0-3 DAC) at Chesterton (3-2, 1-2 DAC): The Trojans squeezed by Portage, 35-31, last year. The Indians have dropped 10 straight DAC contests. Gus Wisch caught a 23-yard pass for a score for Chesterton against Valparaiso. Matt’s pick: Chesterton 35, Portage 21,
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