Here’s a look at my Week 5 picks across the 260 as we are now officially at the halfway mark of the season. We have key conference games, some spicy upset games to watch, and some other games to watch tonight.
(3-1) Carroll @ (4-0) Snider
CLASH OF THE TITANS I
On paper, this is easily the biggest game in the Fort Wayne as these were the two best teams in the SAC last season. Guess what, it’s coming to full circle once again.
Emotions are high, and all eyes are on this game as this could decide the SAC’s Big School Division. While Carroll is quite the football team on paper, the 2023 Snider Panthers could be destined for greatness. Yes, we say this multiple times, but this Snider team is so good right now.
Wave that Flag, Snider!
Players to Watch:
Carroll: Ashton Pesetski Senior Defensive Tackle/Defensive Line
Snider: Uriah Buchanan Senior Running Back
Snider by 3
(2-2) Leo @ (3-1) East Noble
CLASH OF THE TITANS II
This is undoubtedly the biggest game in the area north of Fort Wayne, and this is always must-see football whenever a team representing the Purple Eaters clashes with the relENtless blue and gold knights.
Leo and East Noble is the hottest football rivalry in the NE8 right now, and there’s no reason not to think this game won’t live up to the hype.
This game will come down to which team can make big-time plays, and which defense will be able to stop the run the best. The team that makes the most crucial plays and get the biggest defensive stops will be line for a huge win.
East Noble is very good, but Leo is way better than their record. We’re talking about a Lions team that was maybe four plays shy of being 4-0 instead of 2-2 with those losses to Kokomo and New Haven.
To me, this is a must-win game for the Lions. And as much as I love the great East Noble fans, this Leo team is a great team…..
Never underestimate a roaring Lion!!
Players to Watch
Leo: Brock Schott Junior Tight End/Defensive Back
East Noble: Zack Leighty Senior Guard/Defensive Tackle
Leo by 1
(4-0) Heritage @ (4-0) Adams Central
CLASH OF THE TITANS III
The last time the Heritage Patriots had beaten Adams Central in football, Warner Bros was debating whether a sequel for the DCEU’s Superman was going to be a smashing success….news flash: it never happened. And Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and the Manning brothers were still playing football.
Can Kobe Meyer sustain his breakout start to the season against arguably the best small-school program in Northern Indiana? I think the Patriots make this a game, but the Jets are still the cream of the crop in the ACAC Air Force. No, I am not talking about the New York Jets!!
Players to Watch
Heritage: Braden Walter Junior Wide Receiver/Safety
Adams Central: Trevor Currie Senior Tight End/Defensive End
J-E-T-S JETS by 10
(2-2) DeKalb @ (4-0) Columbia City
This is a popular choice for an upset win for the DeKalb Barons. I’m hearing all of this trash talk on social media. “Columbia City is overrated!” “Who’s Grayson Bradberry?” “They don’t play anybody!”
So, I’m supposed to listen to these so-called “experts” and just take DeKalb because Columbia City plays bad teams. That’s about as far as I will go with the crazy criticism on Columbia City. If DeKalb wins tonight, it will have to be because they worked their butts off to earn this win.
Now granted, DeKalb is a good football team. They have a lot of talent on that team, and their frontline is good (mainly from the O-Line). Fans say DeKalb is about to give Columbia City its first regular season home loss since October 15, 2021…..Not so fast my friend!
Columbia City may have lost some big time players from last season’s NE8 and sectional champions, but they still look very much like a contender.
All I have to say is, Welcome to the Show! Not just the Showtime Stratton Show, but the show of screaming Columbia City Eagles!
Players to Watch
DeKalb: Caden Pettis Senior Wide Receiver
Columbia City: Noah Pletcher Senior Running Back
Columbia City by 10
(4-0) West Noble @ (3-1) Fairfield
The Battle on Highway 33 and the rivalry’s 57th all-time meeting between the schools’ oldest rivals. Series is tied at 28.
This is the game of the week in the NECC. Lots of talent across the board that we do not have enough room to talk about in this segment. The Chargers’ shotgun spread versus Fairfield’s Wishbone.
Whoever can establish the frontline and can pound the football the best is going to be in decent position to win the game. Fairfield has been overlooked, but it’s a solid football team.
In the end, however, West Noble is a bit better on paper, and I think this team is poised to make a run for this conference championship.
This is a better potential upset game on paper than that previous one everyone is talking about.
Players to Watch
West Noble: Drew Yates Senior Quarterback
Fairfield: Ethan Hosteler Senior Offensive and Defensive Line
Los Caballos Grandes by 3
(2-2) Garrett @ (2-2) Eastside
In DeKalb County, the annual Train game is one of the premier rivalry games in the NECC. Ever. Yes, the rivalry hasn’t been as good in recent years, but that’s because Eastside had a historically dominant run of success…as a matter of fact, they’ve derailed the Railroaders in each of the last 4 seasons.
This may end up being the best Train Game in 5 years on paper. And I think Garrett is coming into this game with the right amount of swagger and focus. They’re young, but they’re hungry. Eastside still has some big-time studs, but they’re not unbeatable this season.
The million-dollar question is: can Garrett hold off Eastside’s power spread offense? If Garrett can keep the Blazers’ possessions minimal, pound the football, milk the clock, and keep the turnovers extremely low….I honestly see Garrett as a legitimate threat to win this game.
Man, this is such a good game on paper, but this Garrett team has something cooking. And yes, Eastside is very good team.
You know what?! I’m doing this!
Not so fast my friend!! You heard it from me ladies and gentlemen.
Players to Watch
Garrett: Parker Skelly Junior Wide Receiver/Free Safety
Eastside: Gage Spalding Senior Running Back/Middle Linebacker
I’m about to say this chant as loudly as Arkansas fans chanting “WOO, PIG, SOOIE!” I have Garrett in a SuperSam Upset special!!
ROLL BIG TRAIN!
Garrett by 6
(3-1) Lakeland @ (0-4) Angola
Can the Angola Hornets snap their winless skid against Lakeland? This is a dangerous 0-4 team that can catch them off guard, especially having that home field advantage.
Lakeland needs to look a whole lot sharper in this game, especially in the passing game. This is a must-win game for Lakeland to have a shot at claiming a share in this division championship.
Angola makes this close, but Lakeland breaks their hearts. Anchor Down!
Players to Watch
Lakeland: Carson Mickem Junior Running Back/Wide Receiver/Kicker
Angola: Hawk Hasselman Sophomore Quarterback
Lakeland by 3
(2-2) Homestead @ (1-3) Bishop Dwenger
This is a sleeper matchup that could be a scary entertaining game, and no I’m not saying that because we’re getting close to October. There’s no tricks or treats with this game. It’s Sparty vs Dwenger.
The Fighting Zolman’s vs the Fighting Saints. Can the Saints pound the football well enough?? That might be the x-factor of this game for Dwenger. If it becomes a game that suits best for the skills players in the passing game, it could be a tough hill to climb.
Dwenger needs this to be a defense-first game to have a chance. I like Homestead in this one.
Players to Watch
Homestead: Nathan Bardwell Senior Wide Receiver
Dwenger: Tobias Tippmann Senior Running Back
Homestead by 7
(2-2) South Adams @ (1-3) Monroe Central
The Starfires haven’t lost 3 straight games since Oct. 7, 2016, when they lost 36-3 to Sherwood Haydock’s Woodlan Warriors, who South Adams would later beat in the sectional semifinals.
Don’t let last week’s score fool you. South Adams showed signs of great things against Heritage led by Owen Wanner, Issac Dee, and Colton Bollenbacher.
It sounds like a stretch, but all I have to say is. The Starfires are going to shine bright tonight deep in the heart of Parker City.
Players to Watch
South Adams: Owen Wanner Senior Quarterback
Monroe Central: Lane Wilson Junior Quarterback/Defensive Back
The Fighting Wanner’s of South Adams by 2
(0-4) Concordia @ (2-2) Bishop Luers
Concordia has showed some spurts of offensive explosion, while Luers is showing signs of a postseason contender once again in 2A, as if you needed me to verify that for the 15th millionth time about Bishop Luers football.
They’ve been making me eat my words these days, especially after their 24-21 win over Wayne. And you know what? It’s well deserved. It’s time to give them credit for being able to prove that those first two games made them a better team, when I doubted them 3 weeks ago.
Players to Watch
Concordia: Grant Allman Sophomore Linebacker
Bishop Luers: Issac Zay Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
We the Luers by 20 (Sorry, Prairie Heights)
SuperSam’s opinions only represent those of SummitCitySports, and no one else. Not the Joker, not the Penguin, and certainly not the evil Lex Luthor!
