Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Northridge (2-6, 2-4 NLC) at Warsaw (5-3, 4-2 NLC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Fisher Field, Warsaw.
Series (last 40 years): Warsaw, 29-9.
John Harrell’s prediction: Warsaw, 31-21.
Last meeting: Oct. 18, 2024, Warsaw, 42-13.
About Northridge: Coach Chad Eppley’s Raiders beat visiting Goshen 49-21 in Week 8 … It was 26-0 at the end of the first quarter and 43-7 at halftime … There was a running clock in the second half … Freshman Jake Scholl threw three touchdown passes and junior Karsyn Rumfelt one with a rushing TD … There were also two defensive TD’s by junior Max Lamb (scoop-and-score fumble recovery) and junior Chapman Brinks (interception return) … Northridge averages 22.6 points on offense and 21.0 on defense … The Raiders have lost seven straight against Warsaw … The Tigers lead the all-time series which dates to 1987 at 29-9.
About Warsaw: Coach Bart Curtis’ Tigers beat visiting NorthWood 28-7 in Week 8 … Warsaw led 7-0 at halftime and took a 14-0 advantage into the fourth quarter … Junior Michael Schenck ran for 136 yards and three TD’s and junior Tucker Reed 123 and one TD. The team had 378 rushing yards … On the season, junior Quinton Brock is 10-of-30 passing for 250 yards and three TD’s … Rushing yardage leaders are Brock (482 and five TD’s), Reed (481 and two TD’s), Schenck (468 and eight TD’s), senior Brody Duncan (345 and six TD’s) and senior Daylon Fitzpatrick (157 and five TD’s) … Receiving yardage leaders are Reed (60), junior Wyatt Hartman (47), junior Parker Sweet (45 and one TD), senior Logan Carl (43 and one TD) … Freshman John Conley is 20-of-24 on extra points and 1-of-2 on field goals … Total tackle point leaders are senior Matthew Flores-Ortega (102), sophomore Ty Martin (88), Nelson (69), junior Robbie Straughan (69) and sophomore Ethan Sinclair (60) … Warsaw has norms of 28.5 on offense and 21.6 on defense … It’s the last week of the 2025 regular season as well as Fall Break and Senior Night for the Tigers.
Per Coach Bart Curtis:
Northridge — Their record is 2-6. That is absolutely not indicative of the type of team that they have. In all six of their losses it was a one-score game in the fourth quarter, including against Mishawaka. They played hard. They’ve got some good-looking kids.
Senior Night — It’s a culmination of four seasons, a lot of summers, a lot of morning workouts. It’s a combination of all that wrapped into one night for the Class of ’26 and our 14 seniors. It’s important. We want to make it a pleasant experience this week. We want to play our very best.
On NorthWood game — We battled some storms, caught some breaks but also created some breaks … They ended up fourth-and-goal from the half-yard line and the ball got snapped over their quarterback. That’s what I’m talking about. We caught some breaks … We played some inspired defense at times … The blocked field goal by (junior defensive end) Grady Nelson on their first drive was huge. Grady had two other sacks, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and intercepted a pass.
Bremen (5-3, 3-1 INSC) at Tippecanoe Valley (6-2, 3-1 INSC)
When: 7 p.m., Smith-Bibler Field
Series: Bremen 9-5
John Harrell’s prediction: Tippecanoe Valley 31-14
Last Meeting: Oct. 18, 2024, Bremen 24-10
About Bremen: Justin Bogunia’s Lions come into the regular season finale with a 5-3 record, 3-1 in the tough Indiana Northern State Conference. With Knox having already clinched the conference title, the winner of this game will secure sole place of second in the INSC. Last week, Bremen lost to the Redskins on the road, falling 44-15 to the INSC champs.Jack Wildauer did a little bit of everything for his team in this one. He threw for 75 yards, carried the ball 13 times for 77 more yards and a touchdown. To wrap things up, he even caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Jake Rodriguez. Prior to last week’s loss, the Lions had been undefeated in conference play, and had won five straight contests. Bremen will open sectional play next week by traveling to Whiting to take on the Oilers.
About Tippecanoe Valley: The Vikings continued their strong push towards the end of the regular season and into tournament play. Valley’s fourth straight win, third of the conference variety, came last Friday night in a 42-7 beat down of John Glenn. It was the third straight game the Viking defense gave up seven points or less, with the team out scoring opponents 113-14 during that stretch. Like Bremen, the team’s lone conference loss came to Knox, 36-21 on September 12. In last week’s win over Glenn, six different players reached the end zone. Owen Omondi, Hunter Stage, Wes Parker, Grady Moriarty and Diego Gonsalez each ran in a score, with Jameson Phillips receiving one as well. But it wasn’t Stage throwing him the ball, it was Moriarty delivering the pass on the 55-yard trick play. Omondi led the team with 98 yards on the ground. Four players ran for at least 30. The Vikings will make the long drive to Angola to take on the Hornets next week for the team’s sectional opener.
Tippecanoe Valley head coach Steve Moriarty:
On last week - I thought our offense showed up right away and we were able to get onto the scoreboard early. They fumbled their first snap and we got on it, we scored not too long after. So I think those two early scores really shifted momentum in our favor incredibly early on, and we were kind of able to control things from there. Our defense certainly came to play once again, they’ve done a great job at setting the tone.
On preparing for a playoff run - I think you have to take it week by week. It always feels like you’re playing against yourself, trying to improve every week, sprinkle some new things in. We have to continue to get better as a team. We’ve got two guarantees left and if you want to continue you’ve got to be able to keep stacking up those wins. We’re going to have our work cut out for us, but the Vikings will be prepared.
On Bremen - Bremen has a very talented team. They do a great job of being physical. They beat us last year and have the ability to do it again. They do a really good job of moving the ball and their linebackers are very aggressive. Picking them up is going to be a major key for us if we want to get our running game going.
Wawasee (1-7, 0-6 NLC) at Mishawaka (7-1, 6-0 NLC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Steele Stadium, Mishawaka.
Series (last 40 years): Mishawaka, 5-0.
John Harrell’s prediction: Mishawaka, 42-14.
Last meeting: Oct. 18, 2024, Mishawaka, 46-7.
About Wawasee: Coach Matt Thacker’s Warriors lost 49-21 to Concord at Elkhart’s Rice Field in Week 8 … Wawasee touchdowns were scored by juniors Johnny Zachary (run), Kaden Andrew (reception) and Jaxon Brown (interception return) … The Warriors have norms of 13.3 on offense and 32.1 on defense.
About Mishawaka: Coach Keith Kinder’s Cavemen won 28-0 at Plymouth in Week 8 … On the season, junior Landon Snyder is 9-of-14 passing for 193 yards and three TD’s … Rushing yardage leaders are Snyder (1,107 and 19 TD’s), junior Kadyn O’Neal (1,062 and 11 TD’s), senior 28 C Francis (263 and one TD) and senior Will Mason (150 and one TD) … Senior Colten Handley (109 and one TD) is the receiving yardage leaders … Total tackle leaders are senior Kamdon Putz (98), senior Ken Clemente (66), junior Abraham Preciado-Ramirez (60) and senior Drew Ginter (58) ... Mishawaka averages 35.6 on offense and 16.9 on defense.
Per Coach Matt Thacker:
Mishawaka — (O’Neal) is an absolute beast. In the flexbone offense, you’ve got to stop the fullback. Everybody’s tried, but nobody has including everybody in our conference. You try to take that away and absolutely refuses to let that happen. With the Snyder kid is able to get on the edge and be gone. They have an extremely solid 1-2 punch.
QB maturity — (Zachary’s) gotten better. We had one turnover compared to the week before (with four). He did some very good things in the option games and some good things throwing the ball. He improvised when he had and ran our offense pretty proficiently … He can throw the ball off his back foot a little bit more. He’s got a pretty good touch. His confidence is a lot better.
On Concord game — They play hard and are really good.
Peru (2-6, 2-5 TRC) at Manchester (5-3, 5-2 TRC)
When: 7 p.m., Burk Field
Series: Peru 8-3
John Harrell’s prediction: Manchester 35-21
Last Meeting: Oct. 18, 2024, Peru 35-28
About Peru: The Tigers have struggled to a 2-6 record coming into the regular season finale, but are heading into the game off of a 22-14 win over Northfield last Friday night. The victory snapped a streak of five straight Peru losses. The team’s lone wins this season against the Norsemen and Whitko, are against two of the bottom three teams in the TRC. In last Friday’s win, quarterback Aiden Sheets threw for 46 yards and a touchdown, while also running for 19 more yards and another score. Kouper Burks caught Sheets’ touchdown pass on a 19-yard grab. Lukas Ulery led the team with 79 yards on just two carries. Peru will take on conference foe Northwestern at home in the opening round of sectional play next week. The other Tigers won the first matchup this season 39-30 on September 12.
About Manchester: The Squires put together an incredible first half against Maconaquah last Friday, going up 28-0 at the break against their undefeated opponents. Those would be the last points the team scored though, as the Braves stormed back in the second half, stunning Manchester to steal a 29-28 win. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Squires and effectively ended any hopes of the team tying for the Three Rivers Conference title. Quarterback Dallas Martin played a part in all four touchdowns scored by Manchester in last week’s defeat, running for 161 yards and three scores, while also throwing a 31-yard TD pass to Eli Metzger. Caden Young ran for 67 yards while Reiss Gaerte added 55. A win on Friday night would give the Squires six for the season, a total the team has not reached since winning eight games in 2009 under Brandon Baker. Manchester will play a winless Prairie Heights team at home to open sectional play next week.
Manchester head coach Brian Enyeart:
On last week - Well, I think the first half was great. We took it to a really good team and were playing to win the game. I think in the second half we shifted to playing not to lose and it came back to bite us. They started stringing good things together and I think the kids started getting down on themselves and that made it even worse.
On bouncing back - We usually watch film on Mondays but we didn’t this week. I didn’t think there was any good that could come of it. Our big challenge to the kids this week is to play a complete game of football. I don’t think we’ve done that yet. We’ve played well for two or three quarters, but not for four. I think we’ve done a lot of things well this season, we just have to tap into that.
On preparing for sectional play - You have to take it one week at a time. Prairie Heights may be winless but when it’s sectional time, everybody is 0-0. We’re focused on getting through Peru first and treating that like it’s the first week of the playoffs. You have to get into that mindset of knowing that if you lose on a Friday night, you’re turning in your pads the next day. I don’t think my kids are ready to do that yet.
Wabash (1-7, 1-6 TRC) at Whitko (1-7, 0-7 TRC)
GAME TIME: 7 pm ET, Huff Stadium.
COACHES: Ryan Carmichael, 8-30 in 4th year at Wabash. Thomas Tyree, 1-7 in 1st year at Whitko, 1-17 in 2nd year overall.
LAST OUTING: Wabash lost to Lewis Cass, 42-7. Whitko lost to Southwood, 30-6.
SERIES: Whitko, 12-8.
LAST MEETING: Wabash, 30-12, Oct. 18, 2024.
LAST WHIITKO WIN: 30-24, Sept. 19, 2014
JOHN HARRELL PREDICTION: Wabash, 35-31.
About Wabash – Despite their record, Wabash has shown signs of life on the offensive side of the ball. Junior Haiden McWhirt has passed for 1,220 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Apache running attack is paced by senior Davon Osborn, who averages 68 yards per contest, with junior Jacob White adding 31 yards a game and McWhirt tacking on another 21 yards a night. Wabash averages 102 yards per game rushing as a team, and 152 yards a night through the air. Defensively, the Apaches give up around 46 points a game and gave up at least 42 points in each of their seven losses, including a season-high 61 to Maconaquah in their season-opening game.About Whitko – The Wildcats got some good news with the return of freshman quarterback Cooper Laukhuf, which allowed junior Crew Ebbinghouse to go back to catching the ball, as opposed to throwing it. The duo combined for five completions for 143 yards, including three catches that went for 45, 43 and 47 yards. Freshman Mason Hersha scored the lone touchdown for Whitko in the Southwood game. The young team hasn’t scored before the fourth quarter since the Peru game on Aug. 29, and has given up 41.6 points a game.
Head Coach Thomas Tyree
On the return of the quarterback – “He (Laukhuf) hasn't played a game in six weeks, so like there was bound to be some rust and growing pains again. To expect him to come back from injury and be at the same level just wasn’t realistic. His throwing hand is still not at 100 percent, then he had a couple mistakes and as a young player that's kind of tough to come back from. He knows he battled back.”On the Southwood game – “I thought they had a really good game plan to defend our offense and I just personally didn't make the adjustments that were needed help us, because I felt like we should've been able to line up and just execute. When we would, it looks good and I think that was the hard part was because we could take advantage of things, but we weren't able to capitalize on the four trips to the red zone and we gave up a pick six. So it's like that they scored 30 but we gave them seven. If you take those off the board and plus all of our trips to the red zone, I mean we win the game. So it’s a matter of clean enough stuff up and stop shooting ourselves in the foot which we've talked about this week. I told the boys I deal in ugly truths, so that's what we talked about this week. I apologized for like my lack of coaching this past Friday, and it won't happen again.”
On The Apaches - “Wabash is an explosive team. I mean they push the ball down the field. They have a really good running back and they have a quarterback that is accurate. They have an offensive and a defense line with some size so we just have to go on execute. I think I said this last week; we can be our own worst enemy, so we need to do what we coach to do even more and better and I think if we start doing those things, some more successes will fall in our lap.”
North Miami (6-2, 4-2 HNAC) at Triton (5-3, 4-2 HNAC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Trojan Field, Bourbon.
Series (last 40 years): Tied, 2-2.
John Harrell’s prediction: North Miami, 24-23.
Last meeting: Nov. 8, 2024, North Miami, 28-21 (sectional).
About North Miami: Coach Joe Grant’s Warriors beat visiting Caston 37-0 in Week 8 … On the season, senior Hartley Hoover is 20-of-39 passing for 214 yards and one TD … Rushing yardage leaders are senior Lake Musall (847 and five TD’s), senior Ryan Meredith (774 and three TD’s), Hoover (676 and two TD’s), junior Cooper Pattison (446 and one TD) … Receiving yardage leaders are Meredith (76) and Pattison (75) … Total tackle leaders are senior Jordan Simon (91), Musall (44), junior Logan Smith (36) and Meredith (35) … North Miami has averages of 36.4 on offense for a triple-option attack and 15.9 on defense.
About Triton: Coach Andy Barker’s Trojans lost 42-0 at Pioneer in Week 8 … It was 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and 35-0 at halftime … Triton had won four straight against the Panthers … Senior Jayden Overmyer ran for 115 yards, senior Gage Riffle was 3-of-12 passing for 66 yards and senior Isaac Quintana caught one pass for 55 yards … Overmyer (9), senior Colton Reynolds (9), Gage Riffle (5) and senior Vinnie Prater (5) were total tackle leaders … On the season, Gage Riffle is 34-of-81 passing for 534 yards and seven TD’s … Rushing yardage leaders are Overmyer (1,234 and six TD’s), Gage Riffle (263 and four TD’s), junior Ryder Gayheart (137 and three TD’s) freshman Tyler Painton (110 and one TD) … Receiving yardage leaders are Quintana (211 and two TD’s), Gayheart (117 and two TD’s), junior Cayden Bradley (115 and two TD’s) and senior Maddox Dennie (66 and two TD’s) … Total tackle leaders are Reynolds (92), Prater (68), Quintana (52), junior Preston Brookins (50) and Gage Riffle (45) … Triton averages 24.4 points on offense and 13.8 on defense.
Per Coach Andy Barker:
North Miami — You’ve got to stop the veer and all the things that come off the veer … Fundamentally, we need to fix a couple of things. We’ll spend a bunch of (practice) time on defense and see if we can’t get that shored up … It more about getting back to basics and focus on having fun with the guy next to you.
Senior Night — They’ll have some energy and want to perform well.
On Pioneer game — They jumped on us and we just couldn’t get the cylinders fired up. It was tough. We were not able to stop them on defense very well out of the game and then the attitudes started to dip and we never did get going.
