INDIANA’S TOP SECTIONAL GAMES THIS WEEK
6A
CROWN POINT 9-0 AT MERRILLVILLE 8-1…These two teams met on September 4 with Crown Point winning 23-14. Pirates QB Michael Hill (2,342 passing yards and 30 TD’s) will need a big performance as will RB Cameron Jordan (1,191 rushing yards) to keep the season alive. Both teams score at a high rate with Crown Point averaging 38.2ppg, and Merrillville at 37.56ppg, both in the top 10 in 6A. The Bulldogs are favored by 11 after holding their final three opponents to 12 total points.
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CARMEL 5-4 AT WESTFIELD 8-1…Another rematch from August won by Westfield at home 38-34. The Greyhounds were led by QB Jackson Treadway’s 239 yards and two TD’s. RB Mychael Lewis rushed for 105 yards and three scores. The Rocks rushed for 201 yards (Elliott Clevenger 118 yards and 2 TD’s), and QB Cooper Melvin passed for 206 yards and 2 scores. Carmel’s defense will have to step up (allowing 27.6ppg) if they plan on upsetting the Rocks. Westfield is the favorite by 10.
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5A
NEW PALESTINE 6-3 AT PENDLETON HEIGHTS 8-1..The Dragons head into the playoffs with three losses, which is unheard of in New Pal. The Dragons have lost 2 of 3 to end the regular season, including a loss to national power IMG Academy 40-7. Don’t feel too sorry for the Dragons just yet. It’s state tournament time and they will respond. They have a balanced attack led by QB Ryhs Ragan (160.3 passing yards per game), and RB Logan Parks (151.6 rushing yards per game). New Pal beat Pendleton Heights back on September 18 (38-21), handing the Arabians their only loss this season. Pendleton Heights is on a roll offensively averaging over 40 points per game. QB Brandt Gray is having a great season with 1,457 passing yards and 19 TD’s. RB Joel Weaver leads the ground game with 1,233 yards and 18 scores. New Pal is the favorite by 14.
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4A
NORTHRIDGE 10-0 AT SB ST. JOSEPH 9-1…..The Raiders are rolling at 10-0 because of a high powered offense (46.4ppg) and a stingy defense. They are perhaps the most balanced team in 4A averaging 217.9 passing yards and 200.6 rushing yards. QB Jake Scholl completes 68% of his passes to go along with 2,177 passing yards and 25 TD’s. WR Keivontre Copeland is his main target (43 receptions, 751 yards, 10 TD’s). The Huskies suffered its lone loss at Penn on October 16 (38-7). Their defense is tough to score against allowing under nine points per game. On offense, watch for QB Sam Scicchitano (1,584 passing yards, 18 TD’s).
The Raiders lost to the Huskies in the sectional in 2025 (14-7), and don’t plan on a repeat performance. Northridge is favored by 14.
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DEKALB 7-3 AT FW DWENGER 0-1….At one point DeKalb was playing .500 football, then they ripped off four straight wins including two road victories. So playing at Dwenger won’t be anything news for the Barons. In two of their four straight wins DeKalb has scored 69 (vs. Bellmont) and 55 (vs. New Haven). The fans in Waterloo are counting on another balanced attack (155.9 yards passing, 196.5 rushing yards per game) will help them this Friday. Xavier Vice is a weapon rushing for over 1,100 yards this season. Dwenger’s lone loss came in week four against FW Carroll 49-29. Since that loss the Saints have had one close game at Homestead 17-14.
Like DeKalb, Dwenger has a balanced offensive attack averaging 141.8 passing yards, and 189.6 rushing yards per game. Senior QB Tommy Coffman has thrown for over 1,300 yards without an interception. Coffman is a dual threat with 544 rushing yards. The Saints are favored by 10.
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COLUMBIA CITY 8-2 AT EAST NOBLE 10-0…This game promises to be one of the best games of the night. The Eagles will run, run, and run some more. They average over 370 yards on the ground led by Jr. Noah Geiger (140.0 ypg), and Jr. Lukas Duncan (126.2 ypg.) The two have combined for 36 rushing TD’s. East Noble has pitched four shutouts this season including back-to-back wins at Bellmont (47-0 and Wawasee 41-0). The Knights are more balanced than Columbia City averaging 106 passing yards and 250.9 yards rushing per game. QB Easton Kline has passed for 1,061 yards with 12 TD’s. East Noble has four quality backs to choose from including Austin Phillips (921 yards), Aaron Perlich (713 yards), Ian Ramsey (401 yards), and Alex Phillips (346 yards). East Noble is favored by 1.
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EVANSVILLE REITZ 9-1 AT HERITAGE HILLS 8-2…The Panthers are 9-1 despite five straight road games to end the season, including the opening round section win against Bosse. Reitz averages 354.1 yards of total offense per game to go along with 41.7 ppg. QB Hunter Moers has 1,430 yards passing, 22 TD’s, and just 3 INT’s. RB Amyr Wilford is a stud at RB with 1,462 rushing yards and 19 TD’s. WR’s Elijah Darrett and Mason Bailey have a combined 16 TD receptions. The Patriots are giving up just 12.1 ppg so defense isn’t an issue. Heritage Hills beat a good Jasper team last week 21-14 at Jasper. QB Tyce Winchell has had a solid senior season with 1,734 passing yards with 26 TD’s. The running game is by committee led by Jackson Smith (500), and Karsen Pund (465). Winchell is a dual threat with 383 rushing yards and 12 TD’s. Heritage Hills is favored by 7.
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3A
GIBSON SOUTHERN 9-1 AT EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL 10-0..This will be another nail biter. The Titans lost its opener to Floyd Central 31-24. Since then they have rolled every opponent including a 70-0 drubbing of Washington, and 49-0 at Princeton. The fans at Ft. Branch watched a strong running game led by Eli Foster (749 yards), and QB Caden Rochleau (597 yards). Foster has 14 rushing TD’s. Rochleau has thrown for 2,400 yards with 24 TD’s and just 2 INT’s. WR Peyton Johnson has had an incredible season with 80 receptions, 1,174 yards and 10 TD’s. Gibson Southern is favored by 4.
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JIMTOWN 7-3 AT WEST NOBLE 9-1…The Jimmies got by Tippecanoe Valley last week 15-14, handing the Vikings just its second loss of the season. By the way, Jimtown lost to T-Valley in week six 17-15. Jimtown has a narrow margin of victory of just three points. They will need every bit of that margin Friday at West Noble. The Chargers lost its opening game to Northridge 62-32. Since then they have had just two close games against Wawasee (26-16), and Angola (14-7). The Chargers love to run the football averaging 239.5 yards per game. Xymire Barnes-Bridges leads the ground attack with 1,174 yards and 17 TD’s. QB Jackson Christlieb can pass and run the football (1,362 passing yards, 690 rushing). Christlieb has a combined 23 touchdowns. West Noble is favored by 7.
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2A
WHEELER 9-1 AT RENSSELEAR CENTRAL 8-2….The Bearcats had their eight game winning streak snapped October 16th at Griffith 30-7. That loss helped propel them to a 42-7 win over Boone Grove in the sectional opener last week. Wheeler will count on RB Levi Murray who leads the team with 1,644 rushing yards and 35 TD’s. QB Logan Fox is solid with 1,080 passing yards and 9 TD’s. On the other side, the Bombers won its sectional opener at Lake Station 56-28. Central is balanced, averaging 144.7 passing yards, and 197.5 yards on the ground. QB Beck Drone leads the offense averaging over 17 yards per completion and 12 TD’s. RB Landen Musch averages 123.3 yards per game and has a team best 17 TD’s. Wheeler is favored by 14.
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1A
WES DEL 8-0 AT KNIGHTSTOWN 8-2….The Warriors can score (56.4ppg), and defend (10.4ppg). They average 410.3 yards of total offense per game (331.5 rushing) led by RB Rhyker Mauck (749 yards, 11 TD’s), Zach Gillam (573 yards, 9 TD’s, Eli Wright (404 yards, 8 TD’s), and Haiden Hassett (381 yards, 6 TD’s). The Warriors defense has 90.5 tackles for loss, and 15 QB sacks. The Panthers are equally good on both sides of the football averaging 48.4 ppg, allowing just 9.6. They have seven shutouts, including five straight. Their two losses came to 2A Hagerstown (34-14), and 2A Eastern Hancock (48-12). Hagerstown is ranked 10th, Eastern Hancock is 5th in 2A. QB Bryor Carmichael is having as good a season as anyone in Indiana completing 72% of his passes with 2,095 yards and 33 TD’s. WR Brody Willard has 47 receptions, and 11 TD’s. Knightstown is favored by 14.
OTHER GAMES TO KEEP AN EYE ON:
PENN 9-0 AT VALPARAISO 6-3
BROWNSBURG 9-0 AT ZIONSVILLE 7-2
FLOYD CENTRAL 8-1 AT CASTLE 5-4
LOWELL 7-3 AT HAMMOND MORTON 6-4
NORTHWOOD 6-4 AT CULVER ACADEMY 6-4
YORKTOWN 6-4 AT MUNCIE CENTRAL 7-3
BREBEUF 6-4 AT DANVILLE 10-0
MOORESVILLE 6-4 AT BEECH GROVE 7-3
COLUMBUS EAST 6-4 AT SHELBYVILLE 7-3
HAMMOND NOLL 6-4 AT TWIN LAKES 7-3
ANGOLA 7-3 AT FAIRFIELD 6-4
ADAMS CENTRAL 7-3 AT HERITAGE 7-3
GREENSBURG 6-4 AT LAWRENCEBURG 9-1
FRANKLIN COUNTY 6-4 AT BATESVILLE 8-2
INDIAN CREEK 9-0 AT VINCENNES LINCOLN 7-3
EASTSIDE 9-0 AT BREMAN 7-3
TIPTON 6-4 AT LEWIS CASS 7-3
ALEXANDRIA 7-3 AT LAPEL 9-1
WINAMAC 7-3 AT NORTH JUDSON 9-1
NORTH DAVIESS 10-0 AT WEST WASHINGTON 6-4
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