Warsaw (2-1, 1-0 NLC) at Wawasee (0-3, 0-1 NLC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Warrior Stadium, Syracuse.
Series (last 35 years): Warsaw, 25-10.
John Harrell’s prediction: Warsaw, 38-14.
Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2023, Warsaw, 22-15.
About Warsaw: Coach Bart Curtis’ Associated Press No. 6/Indiana Football Coaches Association 5A No. 7-ranked Tigers beat visiting Goshen 56-7 in Week 3 … Warsaw was up 42-0 at halftime and there was a running clock in the second half … Of the Tigers’ 390 rushing yards, Drew Sullivan (89), Brody Duncan (53), Tucker Reed (37), Evan Davis (35), Daylon Fitzpatrick (27), senior Robbie Hoffert (26) and Quinton Brock (24) shared the load … Warsaw gave up 41 rushing yards and 162 passing … Through three games, rushing leaders are Sullivan (42 carries for 164 yards) and Brock (nine for 157) … Sullivan has completed 7-of-18 passes for 107 yards with one TD and three interceptions … Total tackle point leaders are Gavin Schultz (36), Matthew Flores-Ortega (24), Cohen Heady (20), Fletcher Pohl (16) and Tristan Wilson (16) …The Tigers are IFCA No. 6 in 5A this week … The Tigers have won the last nine games against Wawasee. The last Warriors’ win came in 2014.
About Wawasee: Coach Matt Thacker’s 4A Warriors lost 49-14 to Coach Nate Andrew’s AP No. 7/IFCA 4A No. 7 Panthers … Wawasee gained 160 rushing yards and 119 passing. Bradyn Pike ran four times for 71 yards and one touchdown (48 yards), Cameron Senter 11 for 40 and Jayden Stahl 16 for 40 … Senter completed 2-of-3 passes for 97 yards with a TD strike to Reed Reidenbach (77 yards) … The Warriors were 4-of-12 on third down and 3-of-6 on fourth down … Total tackle leaders were Reidenbach (8), Derek Morrison (6) and Pike (4 with a fumble recovery) … Through three games, Stahl (125) and Senter (116) are tops in rushing yards … Leaders in total tackles are Morrison (16), Kassidy Carter (14) and Reidenbach (13) … NorthWood is an IFCA vote-getter in 4A this week.
Per Coach Bart Curtis:
On Wawasee — It’s going to come down to which team out-executes the other and can defend their opponents’ variation of the Flexbone … This is our seventh year of running it and (Wawasee’s) first year of running it so I expect us to operate at a higher level. It’s a two-way deal. Can they run it better than we can defend it and can we runner better than they can defend it? That’s everything in a nutshell … It’s the ultimate team offense in the ultimate team game. Eleven guys have to do their job perfectly on each snap. It’s the essence of discipline. You have to put a lot of faith in the quarterback position.
Scout team — The true ‘scouties’ — your JV kids — they’re the ones that take the pounding and hold the bags. Their job is thankless at times. We award the scout team player of the week. We pick two every week. If a kid gets it three times, he automatically gets a varsity letter. (Scout teamers) are vital.
On Goshen game — I don’t think we took a step back (after the Warren Central game in Week 2) … I don’t know if we’re where we want to be, but I believe we’re trending in a positive manner.
Per Coach Matt Thacker:
On Warsaw — It is the “W Trophy.” It means a lot to both schools … Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We’re trying to get where Warsaw and Mishawaka are. To play football, you have to be tough and we can get there.
Scout team — The better your scout team is the better your varsity is going to be. It’s hard to replicate what the other team does, but you can come close. The teams have success in the postseason have good scout teams … We want to build depth.
On NorthWood game — If we could get out of the first quarter, we’re not a bad football team … That gives you hope. The kids are understanding it.

Tippecanoe Valley (3-0, 0-0 INSC) at Knox (1-2, 0-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 CT), Community Field.
Series: Valley leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Valley won 20-6 on Aug. 26, 1988.
John Harrell’s prediction: Valley, 35-31.
About Valley: The Vikings make their Indiana Northern State Conference debut after spending last year as an independent. … Having beaten Class 4A, 2A and 5A schools to begin the season, this will be 3A No. 7-ranked Valley’s first game against a team in its own class. … It’ll also be the Vikings’ first of four straight road games after starting the year with three straight at home. … Further, while the last of those four contests will be a non-leaguer (at Western), Valley also has been dealt the odd hand of playing four of its five INSC games for the season on the road. The Vikings are alone in that kind of challenge. Four of the conference’s other five schools play three of their five league games at home. Glenn plays two at home and three on the road — including when the Falcons head to Valley on Oct. 11 for what’s already the only regular-season home date TV has left. … In a tight contest most of the way against 5A Hammond Morton last week, the Vikings prevailed 35-23. Asher McGriff, from his center position, broke out of a scrum with a teammate’s fumble for a 30-yard TD on one side of the ball and notched his 10th career sack on the other side. Valley rushed for 410 yards, including 118 by Wes Parker and 96 by Brock Derf. … After missing last week due to an ankle injury, regular QB Jamison Phillips remains questionable. Sophomore Hunter Stage would again replace him.
About Knox: It’s the Redskins’ INSC debut, too. The six-school league is brand new this year, though Knox did play in the old, similarly named eight-team Northern State Conference (along with INSC members Bremen, Glenn, Jimtown and LaVille) until that league folded after the 2014 season. From 2015-23, the Redskins were in the Hoosier North. … Having faced a powerful slate so far, 3A No. 14-rated Knox’s three opponents to date are a combined 8-1 (Valley’s are 2-7). The Redskins were nipped 47-46 at unbeaten Culver Academy last Friday in the state’s highest scoring game of the week. They also lost 42-21 at Class 1A top-ranked North Judson (now 3-0) in Week 1, then shredded 1A No. 12 Pioneer 57-6 in Week 2, the Panthers’ only loss. … Option-based KHS is led by speedy all-state junior Myles Mclaughlin, who can do damage from both the tailback and quarterback spots. He rushed for 2,489 yards, a 9.2 average and 35 touchdowns for a 13-1 Redskin club as a sophomore last fall in addition to completing 13-of-37 passes for 300 yards and seven TDs. Fellow versatile all-stater Jake Conroy, now a senior, had 1,431 yards rushing and 319 receiving to go with 28 TDs a year ago. … Knox is coached by Indiana Hall of Famer Russ Radtke, in his 48th season overall with 22 sectional, 11 regional and three semistate titles to go with a state crown in 1997 at Griffith. Radtke’s overall record of 405-156 ranks him No. 2 in wins and games in Indiana history (behind Sheridan’s likewise active Bud Wright, 458-215 in his 60th year). Radtke’s in his fifth season at Knox following 10 at North Judson, six at Connersville, 19 at Griffith and eight at New Prairie.
Valley coach Steve Moriarty:
On last week — “We were kind able to hold the storm against their air raid. Just tried to keep them in front of us. Our offense did a good job. We ended up with 400-something yards on the ground and that was a big part of controlling the clock.”
On Knox — “They’re very disciplined and do a lot of things well, especially offensively. It’ll be hard to slow down their backs. They run hard and have great vision. They’re sometimes hard to find because their splits are not big, and Russ Radtke’s an all-time great coach. We’re excited to play them and we’ll have to play well to beat them.”
On four league road games — “Not sure myself how that happened. We played both Bremen and Jimtown at home last year (while still operating as an independent), so maybe that went into it. Not sure how (next year’s league slate) will look, either.”

Rochester (2-1, 2-0 TRC) at Manchester (1-2, 1-1 TRC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Burk Field, North Manchester
Series: Rochester 26-9
John Harrell’s prediction: Rochester 35-17
Last meeting: Sep. 8 2023, Rochester 50-0
About Rochester: The Zebras have emerged as the cream of the crop once again in the Three Rivers Conference. The team has beaten both conference opponents it has faced by a combined score of 91-12. Granted, those two teams, Wabash and Whitko, are a combined 0-6. Last week’s 49-12 victory over the Wildcats saw a ton of Rochester rushers getting involved, as six different players ran for a touchdown. Brant Beck led the way for the Zebras with 112 yards on 14 carries and a score. Alex Chapman had 70 yards on the ground, while Trenton Meadows added 47 and a TD. Quarterback Carson Paulik completed four passes for 109 yards. Grant Clark had three sacks on defense, and the entire unit had a huge day, forcing four turnovers.
About Manchester: Head coach Brian Enyeart picked up the first win of his career last week as the Squires defeated Wabash 42-26 on the road. The ground game was going for Manchester, with three different players rushing for at least 60 yards. Reiss Gaerte had 77 yards on just five carries, including a big one of 50, to go with a touchdown. Dallas Martin averaged 16.5 yards per carry (four for 66). Mason Rooney was the bellcow, running the ball 14 times for 74 yards. Quarterback Logan Eastgate attempted one pass before leaving the game with a knee injury. He’s not expected back any time soon. Rex Moore and Martin are his backups currently. Landen Bean and Thomas Rodriguez each had a sack for the Squires, with Rooney and Gaerte each getting a pick on defense. Manchester added a touchdown on an interception return as well as on a fumbled punt to add onto its scoring numbers.
Manchester head coach Brian Enyeart:
On last week - We did really well, starting to understand our assignments and what we need to do offensively. Our defense and special teams each got a score for us and that was a big help. We were able to get into a groove and move the ball the way we wanted to before Logan went down, which forced us to regroup and mentally reset.
On his first win - Obviously you want to win every night. The first couple of weeks didn’t go our way but it was nice to get that monkey off of the back. It’s short lived though. Yes it was nice to get the win, it’s nice to get the first win as head coach, but we want a lot more than just one.
On Rochester - We have to be disciplined on defense. We need to win this game at the lines of scrimmage. If we want any success in this game we’re going to have to come out on top in the battle of the trenches. If we don’t do that, it could end up being a long night. We have to be aggressive and match their intensity. If we can do that for 48 minutes, we should be alright.

Maconaquah (2-0, 2-0 TRC) at Whitko (0-3, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Huff Stadium, South Whitley.
Series: Maconaquah leads 8-2.
Last meeting: Maconaquah won 43-6, Sept. 8, 2023.
Last Whitko win: 36-7, Sept. 2, 2016.
John Harrell’s prediction: Maconaquah, 42-14.
About Maconaquah: The Braves, who hit the road for the first time, have been rolling, sandwiching 34-7 and 42-6 home wins over winless teams Southwood and Northfield, respectively, around a 14-0 lead against Indianapolis Shortridge through one quarter in a matchup that was stopped due to weather and ultimately deemed a no contest. … First-year head coach Michael Fenters is Maconaquah’s fifth boss over the last eight years, following the departure of Tyler Campbell after three seasons to become offensive coordinator at Ben Davis. … Sophomore quarterback Aiden Robinson, taking over the spot occupied the last three years by since-graduated, record-shattering aerial ace Braxton Birner, has fared fine himself. Through two games, he’s 48-of-71 throwing for 579 yards and seven touchdowns against one interception. Senior wideouts Fuddy Kile and AJ Kelly have combined for 21 catches and 389 yards, while sophomore running back Marcell Sims is coming off a 212-yard, two-TD game on 14 carries. The Mac defense, meanwhile, has notched four takeaways.
About Whitko: Though winless, the Wildcats have cracked double-digit points in two of their three games, and the exception’s their 27-6 loss to Peru that was called midway through the second quarter. Whitko finished with just three double-digit scoring games last season, and just one in each of the two seasons before that. … In last week’s 49-12 loss at Rochester, the Cats trailed just 7-6 through one quarter, but gave up 28 points in the second period for a 35-6 halftime deficit. The Zebras (2-1, 2-0 TRC) converted a fourth-and-9 at the Whitko 19 with a 14-yard running play to open the second quarter, then scored from 5 yards out on the next play to begin their onslaught. … Sophomore quarterback Crew Ebbinghouse tallied on a 2-yard sneak to cap the Cats’ first possession of the night, but the potential game-tying extra point was blocked. Ebbinghouse also hit Trevor Freel with a 10-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to pull Whitko to within 35-12. He finished 9-of-16 for 126 yards and two picks. Riley Harman had five receptions for 75 yards. Freshman Hunter Long rushed four times for 69 yards — his first four varsity carries.
Whitko coach Brad Sprunger:
On last week — “I thought we came out and played really hard for a quarter and a half, but we had some injuries (Dillon Cassidy, Landon Smith among them; each questionable this week), and then they really exploited us. Up until then, we were hanging with them. I think the kids are optimistic. They’ve seen how well we can play.”
On Maconaquah — “They’re still really fast. That receiving corp’s pretty good and the quarterback’s a pretty good sophomore. If we can get to the quarterback and disrupt the offense a little bit, that’ll help.”
On Long’s production — “It was towards the end, but still great to see. He started at free safety and has been playing a lot of defense for us, but I think he’ll be the starting tailback for this week. He runs really hard. We’ve told guys all year if you play well in JV games, you can show you belong. We’re playing younger guys as much JV as we can.”

Triton (2-1, 1-0 HNAC) at South Central (1-2, 0-1 HNAC)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m., Satellite Field, Union Mills.
Series (last 30 years): Triton, 8-1.
John Harrell’s prediction: Triton, 38-14.
Last meeting: Aug. 18, 2023, Triton, 30-6.
About Triton: Coach Zach Whittaker’s AP No.9/IFCA 1A vote-getting Trojans beating visiting 1A Culver Community 49-8 in Week 3 … Jayden Overmyer rushed nine times for 127 of his team’s 283 ground yards and one TD (19 yards). Dante’ Workman one tote for 39 yards for Triton. Rushing TDs were also scored by Ben McFarland (1 yard), Vinnie Prater (3 yards), Ryder Gayheart (7 yards) and Connor Stetzel (2 yards) … McFarland completed 5-of-7 passes for 90 yards, two touchdowns and one interception … Tanner Witt-Hoyo had one reception for 34 yards. Jacob Hudson (3 yards) and Isaac Quintana (17 yards) caught TD passes … The Trojans were 4-of-5 on third down … Triton held Culver Community to 96 total yards (83 rushing) … Total tackle leaders were Wayne Reichert (7), Esai Lemler (5 with two tackles for loss) and Cohen Stayton (4) … The Trojans are IFCA No. 9 in 1A this week.
About South Central: Coach Buzz Schoff’s 1A Satellites lost 61-0 to visiting AP/IFCA 1A No. 1 North Judson in Week 3 … Clayten Strauch passed for 153 yards and four interceptions … Carter Holmquest had five receptions for 94 yards and Brad Beschinski five for 43 … Brayden Lautenbach made a team-best 3.5 tackles … North Judson is IFCA No. 1 in 1A this week.
Per Coach Zach Whittaker:
On South Central — I do have a lot of respect for South Central. We’ve played them every year I’ve been here … They don’t go away, no matter what … We’ve got make sure we’re solid on the back end of our defense because they will try to throw the ball and spread you out.
Defense — Our defense is going to be key to our success. Our defense is ahead of our offense at this point … We have this relentless-effort mindset of being physical. We always preach 11 helmets to the ball every single play. When we are playing with a relentless effort, we’re a tough defense.
On Culver Community game — I like that we bounced back (from a Week 2 loss at Bremen). We came out and executed how we wanted to and got a lot of people involved. We had seven touchdowns and seven different people scored. We had a lot of good effort all the way around … One thing I didn’t like was the penalties. We need to clean up those penalties because they can definitely hurt us.