It’s Regional Week and there’s frost on the pumpkins. Speaking of, you need to toss those stinky things and get your Christmas lights up. I don’t care if it’s before Thanksgiving. There’s your courtesy holiday decorating tip from the Swami, so you’re welcome! … Now, back to Northeast Indiana football. We’ve got six local teams heading into the round of eight and I fully expect at least four of them will make it to next week’s semistate round. Check out my predictions below and be sure to smash those pumpkins. Follow me on Twitter @SidelineSwami1 to win some GN swag.
THE SWAMI SCALE
- *HOMESTEAD (10-1): Sparty has won 10 straight games, but this week’s tilt at Westfield is a different monster.
- *BISHOP DWENGER (10-1): The Saints head to the Indy area for an intriguing clash vs. Zionsville tonight. Let’s go, Toughie!
- *EAST NOBLE (9-3): Remember when EN was 3-3? Me neither, because that seems like a distant memory.
- *CONCORDIA (6-5): Back-to-back shutouts have the Cadets feeling good about themselves, and rightfully so.
- LEO (10-2): The Lions’ one-dimensionality finally caught up with them last week. Youthful Leo will be back in ’21.
- *BISHOP LUERS (6-6): These Knights are firing on all cylinders offensively, but the defense still needs some work.
- *SOUTH ADAMS (11-0): South Adams may have its stiffest test of the season this week at undefeated Southwood.
- CARROLL (7-3): My beloved Chargers are back in my good graces, despite getting bounced two weeks ago.
- SNIDER (5-5): Truthfully, I’m not sure that Snider will still be in my Top 10 next week. But this week, why not?
- EASTSIDE (10-2): The Blazers got boned by a couple tough calls, but the boys from Butler never buckled.
*denotes still alive in state playoffs
CLASS 6A REGIONAL HOMESTEAD (10-1) at WESTFIELD (10-1): The Shamrocks have posted three straight shutouts, though the Spartans showcase more perimeter weapons than just about anybody in the state. Nate Anderson, Jared Kistler, Ethan Chambers and Gage Sparrow need to show out tonight in a big, big way. Westfield isn’t overly flashy, but the ‘Rocks are downright fundamentally sound. Too sound for Homestead?SWAMI SAYS: Westfield by 14
CLASS 5A REGIONAL BISHOP DWENGER (10-1) at ZIONSVILLE (5-5): Is this the game where BD’s trench concerns come to the surface? Perhaps, but I think the Saints prevail tonight with some clever play-calling on offense, a couple turnovers on “D” and one pivotal play on special teams. If Dwenger plays up to its potential, the Saints should win by 17-21 points. There could be some deep-ball opportunities for Rocco Ciocca and Henry O’Keefe. SWAMI SAYS: Dwenger by 10
CLASS 4A REGIONAL MARION (9-3) at EAST NOBLE (9-3): Well, well, well, look what we have here: East Noble is back in the regional and a favorite to keep winning. Ultimately, East Noble needs to control this game with its insistent ground attack. Namely, Justin Marcellus and Cole Schupbach. The Knights’ defense must contain RB Kaled Stamps.SWAMI SAYS: East Noble by 9
CLASS 3A REGIONAL CONCORDIA (6-5) at INDY CHATARD (10-1): Tradition-rich and top-ranked Chatard presents a daunting task for the Cadets, but if there’s a defense in Class 3A that could hold down the mighty Trojans, it just might be Concordia’s. The Cadets will need to load up the box and take some calculated risks against Chatard’s run game, hoping to get the Trojans behind the chains and force a turnover or two. They must stop RB Tommy Hannon.SWAMI SAYS: Chatard by 22
CLASS 2A REGIONAL BISHOP LUERS (6-6) at TIPTON (9-2): This Tipton team is solid in all three facets, capable of putting up some points against the Knights and tough enough to get a Red Zone stop or two. Luers’ “D” must keep QB Sam Edwards (1,848 passing yards with 20 TDs and only two picks) from controlling tempo. Last week, Edwards completed 17 of his first 18 passes in a 28-20 win over Lapel. Carson Clark will need another big performance.SWAMI SAYS: Luers by 6
CLASS 1A REGIONAL SOUTH ADAMS (11-0) at SOUTHWOOD (11-0): The Starfires are the team to beat in 1A, make no mistake. But if there’s one hiccup en route to the state-title game, it comes in the form of undefeated Southwood. The Knights have five shutouts on the campaign, but they haven’t seen the likes of this South Adams offense (48.3 ppg). I like SA by at least two scores. James Arnold to Drew Stutzman has a nice ring to it.SWAMI SAYS: South Adams by 15
BONUS TREATS
6A — Merrillville (9-1) at Elkhart (9-0):SWAMI SAYS: Merrillville by 16
5A — Mishawaka (7-3) at Valparaiso (7-0): SWAMI SAYS: Valparaiso by 4
4A — Hobart (9-2) at Logansport (6-6): SWAMI SAYS: Hobart by 23
3A — Mishawaka Marian (10-0) at Calumet (5-1): SWAMI SAYS: Marian by 18
2A — Andrean (11-1) at Pioneer (11-1): SWAMI SAYS: Andrean by 8
1A — Lafayette Central Catholic (4-3) at Winamac (7-2): SWAMI SAYS: Lafayette CC by 7
