We are down to the final 3 weeks of the 2024 regular season. Here are SuperSam’s Top 10 area games and predictions.
Bishop Luers (5-1, 4-0 SAC) @ Bishop Dwenger (2-4, 2-2 SAC)
This is a big rivalry matchup in the Battle of the Bishops. The winner will come away rejoicing to victory lane, the other will be soured in a sea of disappointment.
Dwenger has the potential to go on a deep run in 4A, but right now Luers has shown to be the better team on paper.
Players to Watch
Dwenger: Brady O’Keefe Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Luers: Daveon Surry Junior Wide Receiver/Cornerback
Luers by 10
Carroll (4-2, 4-0 SAC) @ Homestead (3-3, 3-1 SAC)
Arguably the game of the night in this area where heated rivals Carroll and Homestead square off in Aboite with an SAC title hanging in the balance. Carroll is coming off a 17-16 win at Wayne, while Homestead was embarrassed 35-0 by Snider.
You never know which team will come away victorious whenever it’s Carroll and Homestead. But when looking the matchup at face value, I like the Chargers to come away victorious.
Players to Watch
Carroll: Jimmy Sullivan Senior Quarterback
Homestead: Carter Kennedy Junior Wide Receiver/Slotback
Carroll by 7
Columbia City (6-0, 4-0 NE8) @ East Noble (5-1, 4-0 NE8)
Here at ANEC Sports, this is the Game of the Week for my hometown coverage, and it’s a heavyweight showdown to decide who is on the driver’s seat in the NE8.
Will it be Columbia City’s historically lethal offense or that mighty East Noble defense? If Columbia City is unable to run the football, they will not be able to come close to beating East Noble on paper because they will have a great challenge moving the chains and throwing the ball against arguably the best defense in the NE8.
Give me the East Noble Knights in a SUPERSAM UPSET SPECIAL!
Players to Watch
Columbia City: Grayson Bradberry Senior Quarterback
East Noble: Logan Hatton Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
East Noble by 7 in a Upset Special
Garrett (6-0, 2-0 NECC Big) @ Fairfield (2-4, 0-2 NECC Big)
Garrett is at the cusp of a historic season after defeating West Noble last week 17-6. However, this is a trap game against a Fairfield team looking for an answer after a 41-point beating by the Angola Hornets. Fairfield can play this same style of running the ball and limiting possessions if one isn’t careful. However, I don’t think they have the physicality or the quarterback to make the difference.
Roll Big Train
Players to Watch
Garrett: Aiden Hunt Junior Offensive Line/Defensive Line
Fairfield: Breckan Maran Senior Running Back/Linebacker
Garrett by 18
Heritage (5-1, 2-1 ACAC) @ Bluffton (6-0, 4-0 ACAC)
It’s one of the top matchups on the 2024 ACAC calendar in a rematch from last season’s 27-21 Heritage win. While both teams graduated a lot from last season, both teams have reloaded and set themselves up nicely to compete for a possible conference title.
I think the Tigers get their revenge and post their 2nd ever 7-0 start.
Players to Watch
Heritage: Braden Walter Senior Wide Receiver/Free Safety
Bluffton: Griffin Morgan Junior Linebacker
Bluffton by 7
Snider (4-2, 3-1 SAC) @ Northrop (1-5, 0-4 SAC)
Since 1999, the Spuller Bowl has been all Snider with 27 consecutive victories. Indiana fact, it’s been nearly 3 years since this matchup even saw a game decided by less than 2 scores. Snider is starting to find their groove on both ends of the field, while Northrop is searching for answers.
The streak should extend to 28 straight.
Players to Watch
Snider: Brandon Logan Senior Strong Safety/Free Safety
Northrop: David Callison Junior Quarterback
Snider by 25
South Adams (2-4, 0-3 ACAC) @ Jay County (2-4, 1-3 ACAC)
South Adams is coming off a tough competitive 27-7 loss to Adams Central, while Jay County is looking from a bounce back following a 21-0 loss to Woodlan. I like the high power offense of the Starfires.
Players to Watch
South Adams: Tytus Lehman Junior Quarterback/Cornerback
Jay County: AJ Myers Senior Running Back/Middle Linebacker
South Adams by 3
Wayne (2-3, 1-3 SAC) @ Concordia (2-4, 0-4 SAC)
Both teams enter this game looking to get that bad taste out of their mouths. Wayne lost by 1 to Carroll in a game they could have won. Concordia lost in controversial fashion 9-7. Someone will bounce back tonight, and I think that title belongs to Wayne.
Players to Watch
Wayne: Kimar Nelson Senior Middle Linebacker/Running Back
Concordia: Jacob Levitt Senior Defensive Line
Wayne by 21
West Noble (5-1, 2-1 NECC Big) @ Lakeland (5-1, 1-1 NECC Big)
It’s the hottest rivalry in the NECC right now for football as both teams look to stay alive in the divisional race. Essentially, when you look at this matchup compared to last year’s, it’s almost exactly the same game all over again considering how many returning players are back.
At the end of the day, I still like the Chargers to come away with a close win.
Players to Watch
West Noble: Seth Pruitt Senior Running Back
Lakeland: Keyan Arroyo Junior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
West Noble by 1
Woodlan (3-3) @ Prairie Heights (3-3)
Who had both of these teams enter tonight with 3 wins already?? None of you other than the hometown fans?? Don’t worry this has been a pleasant surprise. Will Coach Rohrbacher’s Power-T offense find the power to run through the Heights of Prairie or will the Fighting McCrea’s pick up a hard-nosed Panther win?
I like the athletes of Woodlan, and I like the heart of ‘We the Heights’. However, I like the Woodlan Warriors just a tad more.
Players to Watch
Woodlan: Shaiden Snyder Sophomore Fullback/Defensive Back
PH: Mac Armstrong Junior Quarterback
Woodlan by 14
