Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Warsaw (8-0, 6-0 NLC) at Northridge (8-0, 6-0 NLC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Interra Field, Middlebury.
Series (last 40 years): Warsaw, 30-9.
John Harrell’s prediction: Northridge, 38-28.
Last meeting: Oct. 17, 2025, Warsaw, 34-19.
About Warsaw: Bart Curtis’ 5A USA Today/Network Indiana No. 1/Indiana Football Coaches Association No. 4 Tigers won 37-29 at Concord in Week 8 … Warsaw led 28-7 in the second quarter and took a 28-21 lead into halftime as the Minutemen twice in the final 1:07 of the second quarter … All the second-half points came in the third quarter — nine for Warsaw and eight for Concord … Michael Schenck (86 with two touchdowns), Tucker Reed (68) and Mark Haynes (49) were rushing yardage leaders … Grady Nelson returned a blocked punt and received a pass for a pair of TD’s … Micah Kohler had a TD catch … Haynes was 4-of-5 passing for 81 yards and two TD’s with one interception … Warsaw lost two of three fumbles … Total tackle leaders were Nelson (14), Jack Bradford (14), Matthew Flores-Ortega (12), Nathan Villa (12) … On the season, Haynes is 6-of-13 passing for 169 yards and four TD’s with two interceptions … Rushing yardage leaders are Reed (856 with 11 TD’s), Schenck (618 with six TD’s), Mason Silveus (311 with six TD’s), Haynes (309 with four TD’s), Wyatt Harman (304 with four TD’s), Brady Sauer (282 with two TD’s) … The receiving yardage leader is Reed (107 and four catches with two TD’s) … Tackle point leaders are Flores-Ortega (84), Villa (75), Ty Martin (73)(73), Bradford (58), Andrew Robertson (38), Ethan Sinclair (32), Cam Bause (30) … Bradford has intercepted four passes … The winner of the Warsaw-Northridge game will take the Northern Lakes Conference title and finish the regular season unbeaten …Warsaw leads 30-9 in the all-time series with Northridge … It’s fall break week at Warsaw … The Tigers sport a 38.0 offensive average and 15.8 defensive average.
About Northridge: Luke Amstutz’s 4A USA Today/Network Indiana No. 7/IFCA No. 8 Raiders won 45-7 against visiting NorthWood in Week 8 … Jake Scholl completed 13-of-19 passes for 250 yards and two TD’s … Rushing yardage leaders were Scholl (79 with three TD’s) and Kane Yeater (62 with one TD) … Receiving yardage leaders were Karsyn Rumfelt (116 on four catches with two TD’s) and Hayden Gorball (97 on seven catches) … On the season, Scholl is 104-of-152 passing for 1,885 yards and 22 TD’s with five interceptions ... Rushing yardage leaders are Scholl (653 with 16 TD’s), Yeater (334 with seven TD’s), Sloop (232 with three TD’s) and Keivontre Copeland (75 with one TD) … Receiving yardage leaders are Copeland (661 on 35 catches with eight TD’s), Rumfelt (466 on 28 catches with eight TD’s), Gorball (256 on 16 catches with two TD’s) and Payton Konecny (266 on 14 catches with one TD) … Eli Stec is 35-of-37 on extra points and 0-of-1 of field goals … Total tackle leaders are Colt Granberg (85), Braedynn Rolston (48), Chapman Brinks (47) and Malachi Graber (35) … Fumble recovery leaders are Jack Smith (3) and Rumfelt (2) … Tops in interceptions are Gorball (3) and Myhles Norman (2) … The Raiders gain 236 passing yards and 183 rushing per game and have only committed six turnovers … Northridge carries a 46.3 offensive average and 17.6 defensive average.
Per Coach Bart Curtis:
On Northridge — They’re a really, really good team. They’re just dynamite on offense and very, very, very good on defense. They're solid all the way around. They're not 8-0 by accident … It’s the pace that they play. They can get it up and they go quickly on offense and they’re multifaceted. They can run it and throw it … They tackle and get off blocks well … We’ll try to keep things as similar as possible with practice times. I think kids are routine-oriented. Obviously, it's already messed up with not being in school, but you know we need to be mature enough to adjust to that and still put positive, impactful practices on the field … It is a unique week for both teams, and you know it comes down to this. We've played well at times. We've not played well at times. Our kids have found a way to win some close games. That's a mark of their character and their ability to overcome bad things when they happen.
Nelson’s night — I'm not a big stat guy, but (Grady Nelson) had six solo tackles — three of them were for loss. He caught a touchdown pass. He returned a punt that flew up in the air for a touchdown, and then he made the game-saving interception late on (Concord’s) last drive with about four minutes to go. I would say that the impact that he had on the outcome of the game was absolutely huge.
On Concord game — We were fortunate to jump on them early. They're explosive offensively. We needed every point available. They are a pain for sure … We really didn't plan on fumbling three times. We lost one right before half that turned into points, and we lost one late in the game when we're trying to go up two scores. Obviously, it's a huge concern.
Tippecanoe Valley (7-1, 4-0 INSC) at Bremen (6-2, 3-1 INSC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Bunge Field, Bremen
Series: Bremen 9-6
Last Outing: Tippecanoe Valley defeated John Glenn 39-13, Bremen defeated Knox 37-28
John Harrell’s prediction: Bremen 28-24
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2025, Tippecanoe Valley 31-7
About Tippecanoe Valley: The Vikings will head into Friday night’s regular season finale having already clinched at least a share of the Indiana Northern State Conference, and a win on Friday night will give Valley its first conference championship in football since leaving the Three Rivers Conference in 2023. Last week’s 39-13 win clinched that share for the Vikings, and was the team’s fifth win in a row since losing 33-12 to Adams Central in Week 3. It was also the second straight game that Hunter Paxton and Hunter Randall both reached the century mark rushing the football, with Paxton totalling 153 yards and two touchdowns, while the Valley QB added 120 yards and a third score. Randall also completed two passes for 58 yards, the big one a 45-yard gainer to Max Harsh. Owen Omondi also reached the end zone on a run. It was announced during Sunday’s sectional pairings show that the team will begin its playoff run by returning to Jimtown. Valley beat the Jimmies 17-15 the first time the two schools played. A win on Friday night would give the Vikings its first eight-win season since 2023, the last of three seasons of at least nine victories.
About Bremen: Behind the Vikings, the Lions of Bremen have been one of the most impressive teams in the INSC this season. The team’s lone conference loss came at the hands of Jimtown, a game the Jimmies won 44-22. Outside of that game and the team’s loss to Michigan’s Buchanan, the high-scoring Bremen offense has put up 40 or more points in five of their six wins, and 37 in last week’s win over Knox. Logan Moser returned to the Lion lineup from injury in that contest and performed as if he never left, carrying the ball 33 times for a staggering 256 yards and four touchdowns. Derek Miller also cracked triple digits, scoring once on his way to a 111-yard night. Quarterback Jake Rodriguez can get it done with his legs as well, averaging just over 71 yards a game on the ground. A win for Bremen in this game will create a three-way tie at the top of the conference with the Lions, Vikings and Jimmies.
Tippecanoe Valley head coach Steve Moriarty:
On last week – I felt like we were able to contain their passing game really well and it held them off of the scoreboard. I thought our offense did a better job of executing than they did a week ago, which is what you want to see this time of year. We had some more great blocking.
On wrapping up the regular season – From Week 1 to Week 9, you can see the development of our fundamentals. We’re getting better at the little things and that’s what good teams do. These kids really are students of the game. They’re so mature and always trying to get better.
On Bremen – Field position and not having any turnovers will be key. I think it's going to be a windy night. Moser finally came back this week and he looked really good. They have multiple formations and we’ll need to adjust to them on the fly. We can’t be caught off guard and get surprised.
Mishawaka (5-3, 4-2 NLC) at Wawasee (1-7, 1-5 NLC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Warrior Stadium, Syracuse.
Series (last 40 years): Mishawaka, 6-0.
John Harrell’s prediction: Mishawaka, 38-17.
Last meeting: Oct. 17, 2025, Mishawaka, 36-14.
About Mishawaka: Keith Kinder’s 4A Cavemen won 36-9 at Goshen in Week 8 … Mishawaka led 17-3 at halftime … Rushing TD’s were scored by Kadyn O’Neal (3), Amir Dean (1), Ethan Flowers (1) with Max Hurtt booting three extra points and a field goal … On the season, Landon Snyder is 15-of-25 passing for 216 yards with three TD … Rushing yardage leaders are Snyder (700 with eight TD’s), Tommy Hoover (445 with four TD’s), O’Neal (429 with seven TD’s), Flowers (304 with four TD’s) and Dean (286 with three TD’s) … Receiving yardage leaders are Dean (95 on eight catches with three TD’s) and Liam Summers (61 on three catches with one TD) … Total tackle leaders at Layten Denaway (60), Alexander Demaegd (52), Amzy Roose (52), Abraham Preciado-Ramirez (48), Dean (44), Isaiah Hummer (39) and Tristan Almiray Garcia (34) … Roose and Akeem Chester both have three interceptions … Mishawaka holds a 25.4 offensive average and 27.8 defensive average.
About Wawasee: Mark Osmialowski’s 4A Warriors lost 28-24 at Plymouth in Week 8 … Wawasee led 24-14 going into the fourth quarter … Yardage leaders were Kaden Andrew (111 with two TD’s), Mason McKibben (57 with one TD) and Jaxon Brown (21) … Johnny Zachary was 10-of-26 passing for 80 yards … Jaylen Lowery had four receptions for 35 yards and Luke Nettrouer three for 30 yards … Total tackle leaders were Max Pena (13), Aidan Beer (6) and Dirks Miller (5) …. Mason Hatfield intercepted a pass … On the season, Zachary is 76-of-167 passing for 974 yards and four TD’s with 10 interceptions … Rushing yardage leaders are Andrew (440 with six TD’s), McKibben (217 with one TD), J’Ceon Evans (93) and Zachary (67 and three TD’s) … Receiving yardage leaders are Lowery (387 with two TD’s), Nettrouer (228 with one TD), Andrew (138 with one TD), Luke Lehman (93) and Evans (75) … Total tackle leaders are Pena (64), Westen Haab (55), McKibben (46), Beer (37), Brown (36) and Lehman (31) … Lowery has two fumble recoveries and Hatfield two interceptions … Wawasee posts a 15.1 offensive average and 33.4 defensive average.
Per Coach Mark Osmialowski:
On Mishawaka — (It) is a physical team. They are not as big across the board as what they've been in the past, but they play hard. They play with effort. They're physical, and we have to match that physicality … We've done a decent job defending Flexbone teams, so we’ve got to make sure we're preparing the right way the rest of this week, like we know we can.
Offense — We’ve got to clean up some of the mistakes, ball security issues, things like that. If we can play a clean game offensively and play defense like we know we can play, then it'll be a really good game.
On Plymouth game — I learned that we can be a very, very good team. We had three touchdowns called back (by holding penalties). We had two missed field goals. If we capitalized on those opportunities the scoreboard isn't what it was … (Plymouth) went 80 yards and scored (in the last minute).
Manchester (3-5, 2-4 TRC) at Peru (5-3, 5-2 TRC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Bengal Stadium, Peru
Series: Peru 8-4
Last Outing: Manchester lost to Maconaquah 55-14, Peru defeated Northfield 35-32
John Harrell’s prediction: Peru 42-17
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2025, Manchester 35-21
About Manchester: After stringing a pair of wins together, the Squires were sent back down to Earth by undefeated Three Rivers Conference leader Maconaquah on Friday night in what was a 55-14 loss suffered by Manchester. The loss assures the team will finish in the bottom half of the TRC standings this fall. Caden Young was the team’s main source of offense in the game, rushing for 76 yards on just six carries. He also led the team defensively with 19 tackles. The two Manchester touchdowns were scored by Hunter Hamilton, who ran for 53 yards, and Gio Nembhand, who carried the ball just two times but was still able to reach the end zone. Manchester will begin sectional play on the road at 1-7 Central Noble in two weeks.
About Peru: The Tigers head into this contest playing their best football of the season, having won three straight games, all against TRC foes. In fact, all five of Peru’s wins this season have come in conference play. Most recently was a 35-32 victory over a much improved Northfield team last Friday, a game where the Tigers were able to hold off a frantic fourth-quarter comeback by the Norsemen. Quarterback Aiden Sheets comes into the regular season finale having thrown for 620 yards and six touchdowns this season, and he also serves as the team’s leading rushing with 91.4 yards per game on the ground and nine more scores. Lukas Ulery is his lead man out of the backfield, averaging a touch over 80 yards a game.
Manchester head coach Brian Enyeart:
On last week – We did a lot of things right but that’s a team that you can’t really shut down. We wanted to force them into making it happen on long drives. Started off well but the wheels fell off. We turned it over a couple of times and they took advantage of it.
On Caden Young – We knew Caden was going to be our guy coming into the season. He missed some time, came back and then he got hurt again. He’s starting to look like the guy we expected him to be all year long and it’s showing. He’s put in a lot of work in the weight room. He’s a great leader and he’s always working hard and sets a great example for the rest of our team.
On Peru – It’ll be a hard-nosed, physical game. They have a ton of guys that they’ll bring at you. They do a great job of mixing up the run and the pass. We need to try not to do too much, just stick to our assignments. We can’t take the easy way out. We need eleven guys doing their job.
Triton (1-7, 1-5 HNAC) at North Miami (2-6, 1-5 HNAC)
When: Friday, 7 p.m., Tim DuBois Field, Denver.
Series (last 40 years): Triton, 3-2.
John Harrell’s prediction: North Miami, 38-14.
Last meeting: Oct. 17, 2025, Triton, 27-24.
About Triton: Andy Barker’s 1A Trojans lost 66-7 to visiting Pioneer in Week 8 … Triton railed 58-0 at halftime … Ryder Gayheart scored on a 3-yard run and Blake Ousley kicked the extra point in the third quarter … Gayheart (47) was the rushing yardage leader … Cayden Bradley was 6-of-13 passing for 48 yards and one interception … Lukas Nicely caught three passes for 27 yards … Total tackle leaders were Christian McIntosh (4), Gayheart (3), Nicely (3), Logan Collins (3), Channing Heckaman (3) and Noah Mondy (3) … On the season, Gayheart is 15-of-30 passing for 140 yards and two TD’s with two interceptions and Bradley is 14-of-29 for 137 yards and one TD with two interceptions … Rushing yardage leaders are Gayheart (626 with three TD’s) and Bradley (125 with one TD) … Receiving yardage leaders at Nicely (118 on 14 catches with one TD), Bradley (88 on nine catches with one TD) and Ousley (48 on four catches) … Total tackle leaders are McIntosh (65), Collins (43), Nicely (40), Brayden Gunnels (33), Ashton Jacobs (33), Ousley (32), Gayheart (31) and Heckaman (30) … Triton owns an 8.1 offensive average and 39.8 defensive average.
About North Miami: Joe Grant’s 1A Warriors lost 20-8 at Culver Community in Week 8 … Alan Wildermuth is the quarterback. The top rushers are Oliver Wildermuth, Cooper Pattison, Jenison Carr, Alexander Towles and Alan Wildermuth … Among the top tacklers are Alan Wildermuth, Logan Smith, Towles, Jayce Burns and Pattison … The Warriors are 2-1 in the last three meetings with Triton … North Miami possesses a 19.4 offensive average and 24.1 defensive average.
Per Coach Andy Barker:
On North Miami — On defense, we've got to prep for the Flexbone triple option. We’ll be spending a lot of time on what we call half-line drills … You're reading the dive, and depending on how we as defense play it, we'll determine who ultimately ends up with the ball … As the defensive coordinator, I’m always talking about trying to turn it into a sweep. We'll take away the dive, and then we'll attack the quarterback, and then we want him to get it out to the tailback to where we ultimately then force him to the sideline. Now it's easy to say but it’s harder to execute.
Fundamentals — It’s definitely blocking and tackling. It sounds so cliche because it kind of is, but at the end of the day, if you can't do those two things, then competing is going to be really hard. At times, we struggle to finish our blocks and tackling is the same way.
On Pioneer game — (Pioneer) is a top-five team in the state, and it showed. They played really well. In fact, I told the coach after it was all over, ‘I’m going to be pretty disappointed if you guys aren't in the (State Finals) again this year.’ That's just how good they are. It was a tough day for the boys and a learning experience.
