Hit reset and button up.
Nine weeks of regular-season games are in the rearview. Now, it gets serious.
Win or go home. No second chances. No mulligans. No redos.
It is Blitz’s favorite time of the year.
It’s about to get real. What better way to celebrate the eve of the postseason with some picks?
Last week: 15-2
Overall: 144-30
CLASS 4A
SECTIONAL 19
EAST NOBLE AT NORTHRIDGE. If the Knights come out flat, Northridge is good enough to hang around for a half in this one. That’s about it. BLITZ SAYS EAST NOBLE BY 22.
COLUMBIA CITY AT DEKALB. The Eagles have been itching for another shot at the Barons after they felt they let the first game between the two get away. How does DeKalb bounce back from a lopsided loss against Leo? Does Blitz have the nuggets to pick against the Barons again and upset many? Both good questions. BLITZ SAYS DEKALB BY 1.
WAWASEE AT NORTHWOOD. Too much Nate Newcomer at QB/RB, quite possibly the most fun name to say in this entire sectional. BLITZ SAYS NORTHWOOD BY 20.
ANGOLA AT LEO. One of the better matchups of Week 10. The Lions got the best of Angola in Week 2 by 20. Repeat performance? Leo gets the win, but the second time around is closer. BLITZ SAYS LEO BY 11.
SECTIONAL 20
HUNTINGTON NORTH AT SOUTH SIDE. Three years ago, South smoked a good Leo team 33-9 in the postseason. The Archers get another NE8 team to open the playoffs here in 2019. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH SIDE BY 12.
DELTA AT MISSISSINEWA. The lone defeat by the Indians came at perennial 2A power Eastbrook by seven points. Delta has just two losses, but Blitz likes the program Curt Funk has built over a decade at Mississinewa and will give it the edge. BLITZ SAYS MISSISSINEWA BY 4.
NEW HAVEN AT JAY COUNTY. Congratulations are in order for the Patriots, who got their first win of the season last week over Heritage. The positivity ends here, with New Haven poised to pick up a big W in Portland. BLITZ SAYS NEW HAVEN BY 24.
WAYNE AT MARION. Could the Generals really be an upset pick to down the Giants at home? Blitz isn’t too sure. If Wayne finds a way to limit the big plays, particularly out of running back Khalid Stamps and wideout Jakylen Thomas, it has a chance. But those are two big IFs. BLITZ SAYS MARION BY 9.
CLASS 3A
SECTIONAL 26
TIPPECANOE VALLEY AT SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON. Blitz foresees a back-and-forth game here with a couple of teams who can grind out yards on the ground. Let’s go with the home team with a defensive stop late. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON BY 2.
GARRETT AT JIMTOWN. Can the Railroaders put up enough points on the scoreboard to beat the Jimmies at home? This isn’t a vintage Jimtown squad, but it is still solid. BLITZ SAYS JIMTOWN BY 14.
LAKELAND AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN. This won’t end well. BLITZ SAYS MISHAWAKA MARIAN BY 33.
WEST NOBLE AT JOHN GLENN. Is Brandon Pruitt the most underappreciated Division I recruit in northeast Indiana in a decade? I mean the kid is a two-way monster, is committed to Navy in the American Athletic Conference and no one seems to notice beyond a 10-mile radius of Ligonier. BLITZ SAYS WEST NOBLE BY 13.
SECTIONAL 27
BELLMONT AT NORWELL. Can the Braves shock the area again and reach the sectional finals despite not winning a regular-season game? Rumor is Norwell was none too happy with Blitz last week after he picked Columbia City to beat the Knights. Blitz enjoys controversy, but he can’t pick Bellmont here. BLITZ SAYS NORWELL BY 16.
CONCORDIA AT MACONAQUAH. Blitz really wants to pick the Braves here. Truly an underrated team, Mac can run the football and frustrate opponents with its methodical style. But Concordia has weapons offensively and Blitz sees that as a big deal. BLITZ SAYS CONCORDIA BY 7.
PERU AT OAK HILL. One of these schools is in Miami County and the other school is in neighboring Grant County but half its school district is in Miami County. That’s your pointless trivia for the day. BLITZ SAYS OAK HILL BY 3.
NORTHWESTERN AT HERITAGE. A combined 1-17 has this matchup intriguing in all the wrong ways. Go Patriots. BLITZ SAYS HERITAGE BY 2.
CLASS 2A
SECTIONAL 35
WHITKO AT PRAIRIE HEIGHTS. Another battle of combined 1-17 teams. Go Panthers! BLITZ SAYS PRAIRIE HEIGHTS BY 5.
FAIRFIELD AT BLUFFTON. Blitz has a rooting interest in the Tigers, who have not impressed in two big games this year at home. Bluffton gets this win and next week and it is playing for a sectional crown. This pleases Blitz. BLITZ SAYS BLUFFTON BY 13.
CENTRAL NOBLE AT BISHOP LUERS. The quest of the Knights to prove that a two-win team can win a sectional title begins Friday at home. The challenge only gets more difficult from here. BLITZ SAYS BISHOP LUERS BY 21.
EASTSIDE AT WOODLAN. Can Woodlan find an offensive rhythm that has been missing for most of the season? It needs to if it is going to beat a Blazers team that is averaging over 31 ppg. Expect a high-scoring affair here. BLITZ SAYS EASTSIDE BY 4.
CLASS A
SECTIONAL 43
MADISON-GRANT AT TAYLOR. Is anyone coming to Blitz for the prediction of this game? Truly? Blitz has no idea. He will go M-G. BLITZ SAYS MADISON-GRANT BY 6 I GUESS.
WES-DEL AT UNION CITY. The Indians have won two straight entering the postseason. That’s good. That’s all the insight you’re getting for this one. BLITZ SAYS UNION CITY BY 17.
SOUTH ADAMS AT TRI-CENTRAL. Too much Starfires offense, defense and special teams. That pretty much covers it. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH ADAMS BY 32.
SOUTHERN WELLS AT MONROE CENTRAL. The lone potential threat to Monroe Central in this sectional has no problem with the Raiders. BLITZ SAYS MONROE CENTRAL BY 24.
SECTIONAL 44
SOUTHWOOD AT CHURUBUSCO. The Outside the Huddle Game of the Week. Can Jake Fulk find running room against Southwood’s stingy D? That’s what this matchup will come down to. Don’t hate Blitz for this Turtle Town. BLITZ SAYS SOUTHWOOD BY 4.
NORTHFIELD AT TRITON. A Norse victory sets up a battle of Wabash County next week, and also a competition between two schools who may eventually be consolidated into Wabash High School. Exciting stuff! BLITZ SAYS NORTHFIELD BY 7.
FREMONT AT NORTH MIAMI. Warriors beat Eagles in both real life and football. BLITZ SAYS NORTH MIAMI BY 14.
CASTON AT ADAMS CENTRAL. Congratulations, you made it to the end of Blitz’s picks! Did you skip ahead just to see the Flying Jets? Cheater! No need to worry AC fans, you breeze by Caston on Friday. BLITZ SAYS ADAMS CENTRAL BY 31.
These opinions represent those of Blitz and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Blitz on Twitter at Blitz_OTH
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