I’m back for Week 2 predictions for the 2024 high school football season. We still have a variety of non conference action, but only 10 games made the cut. Here are SuperSam’s Week 2 Picks of the Top 10 games in Fort Wayne.
Carroll (0-1) @ Center Grove (0-1)
Both teams are winless in competitive battles in a rematch from the 2022 6A State championship game. But if Carroll isn’t fundamentally sound, it’s going to be tough to win this game against a perennial state power on the road.
X-Factor: Brevin Holubar Center Grove Senior Wide Receiver
Center Grove by 20
Concordia (1-0) @ Eastbrook (0-1)
Concordia got their first win since the 2022 campaign with a 20-14 win over Indianapolis Scecina. While they’ll have to face a tradition-rich Eastbrook program where they like to pound the rock with a big strong offensive line, Concordia has shown a great amount of improvement from last year to this. I got the Cadets going 2-0 for the first time since 1978.
X-factor: Avery Cook Concordia Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Cadets by 6
East Noble (1-0) @ Snider (0-1)
This is the Game of the Week in this area without question. This game has the makings to be a SuperSam Classic. But I gotta take the Snider Panthers to bounce back at Spuller Stadium.
X-Factor: Landen Fry Snider Junior Inside Linebacker
Snider by 7
Eastside (1-0) @ Adams Central (0-1)
This game has always been one of the more interesting matchups for Week 2 every year over the last decade plus. The Blazers, after a rough first half, found their groove in the 2nd half for a 14-point win over Woodlan. Eastside’s power spread attack will be tested by Adams Central’s combination of spread and Wing-T. The Jets are 0-1 for the first time in a decade and their first regular season loss in nearly 3 full years. With this being in Monroe, the Jets want to get the home crowd happy for this one. I have the Jets in a tightly contested affair.
X-Factor: Cameron Fravel Adams Central Junior Defensive End/Guard
J-E-T-S JETS by 3
Garrett (1-0) @ DeKalb (1-0)
The Rivalry Across the Tracks in DeKalb County is one of the biggest games in the state. After shocking everyone against Adams Central, Garrett has a chance for their first 2-0 start in 7 years. Meanwhile, DeKalb has owned this matchup winning 4 of the previous 5 meetings. It’s going to come down to which team can establish the run, and which team is able to be the more physical team and being able to apply pressure against the run. This game can easily go in either direction. But I have 3 words to share with you:
ROLL BIG TRAIN
X-Factor: Camren Ruble Garrett Senior Running Back
Garrett by 1
Heritage (1-0) @ Fairfield (1-0)
Here’s a game very few are talking about right now. Two rising programs led by new but familiar coaches with very talented offensive and defensive playmakers. While technically, Fairfield is located just outside of our Fort Wayne viewership, this game has a lot of intrigue for ACAC and NECC fans eager to see how the conference will play out. Both teams on paper are almost identical to each other. However the passing game could be the one area that sets these two teams apart. If Heritage can get their athletes at wideout involved tonight, Heritage might have the edge.
X-Factor: Charlie Riddle Heritage Senior Offensive Guard/Defensive Tackle
Heritage by 10
Northrop (1-0) @ Huntington North (1-0)
Northrop is 1-0 for the first time since starting the season 2-0 in 2020. Huntington North is 1-0 for the first time since 2015. Someone’s going to be 2-0. You have to go back to 2007 since the hometown Vikings had this type of start. These two teams have the potential to win this game. But the question should be asked: Which team is going to make the fewest mistakes? What Northrop quarterback David Callison did throwing for 286 yards and a school record 5 TD’s is impressive. However, the Vikes are showing that the Eshbach spread is alive and well once again! If they can clean up the turnovers, the Vikings may have an edge in this one.
I like the home cooking in this game in a SuperSam Upset Special!
X-Factor: Tony Decker Senior Quarterback
Huntington North by 7
South Bend Riley (1–0) @ Wayne (1-0)
Another very underrated matchup that could come down to the wire at Wayne Stadium. This Panthers squad made not only state history but also national history. They became just the 7th US high school football team to ever record 4 safeties in a single game, something that hasn’t happened since 2000 over in Wyoming and never happened before in Indiana.
I highly doubt they can pull this off in consecutive games, but they may need every point they can get to get out of Fort Wayne with a dub.
X-Factor: Mur’i Jackson Riley Sophomore Safety
Give me Riley by 1
South Side (0-1) @ South Bend St. Joseph (0-1)
A team that starts with the word ‘South’ is going to win this game. South Side almost got their first win against Marion last week in a 27-21 OT loss. However, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. St. Joe almost came back to beat Lakeland, but like I said almost doesn’t mean anything if you miss the PAT that would have tied the game, to which they lost 21-20.
Either way, someone is going to win the game. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s South Side. Give me the Huskies!
South Bend St. Joseph by 7
West Noble (1-0) @ Wawasee (0-1)
The last time these two rivals met, West Noble fought to the nail in a 20-12 win in Ligonier. Now it’s in Syracuse, IN, and former Fairfield coach Matt Thacker is the Wawasee coach. In the end, the Chargers on paper have the talent and the defensive front to have the edge on paper.
Give me West Noble!
X-Factor: Seth Pruitt Senior Running Back
Los Caballos Grandes by 12
