Now that nine weeks of the regular season are in the books for area prep football teams, it is time to look ahead to sectional play.
We continue our sectional football primers in Class 3A, with a myriad of squads capable of winning Sectional 26.
THE DRAW
Jimtown (4-5) at Fairfield (5-4)
South Bend Clay (3-6) at John Glenn (5-4)
Knox (9-0) at Lakeland (6-3)
Mishawaka Marian (5-4) at West Noble (9-0)
THE FAVORITE
KNOX (9-0)
The defending champion of the sectional and the No. 9 team in Class 3A in the final AP Media Poll of the season, the Redskins have been a force so far this season.
Knox handled business in the Hoosier North Conference, with its key dub coming against state-ranked LaVille on the road in Week 6.
The Redskins have a versatile offense that keeps defenses honest with a zone read attack as well as multi-back sets that can get the ball to multiple options. They are averaging over 40 points per game.
THE CONTENDERS
MISHAWAKA MARIAN (5-4)
Don’t let the overall record fool you. Marian competes in the Northern Indiana Conference full of bigger schools like Penn and Elkhart. In fact, the Knights have yet to play a 3A team or smaller this season.
Coach Mike Davidson has had considerable success in his six seasons at the helm, with four sectional and three regional titles. Last year was a struggle with just a pair of wins, but Marian seems to be on its way back up, evidenced by three-consecutive wins to conclude the regular season.
That said, it is an offense that has struggled for consistency, scoring just 20 points per game. Senior Bryce LaSane commands the unit at QB, with junior Brian Osman (857 rushing yards, nine TDs) the primary threat in the backfield.
The defense has plenty of juniors and seniors across the lineup, with junior linebacker Joe Boone (92 tackles, 11 TFL) and senior lineman Nickolas Cline the centerpieces.
WEST NOBLE (9-0)
The Chargers enter the playoffs with their first unbeaten regular season since 2019. That team lost to Marian in the second round, the team that just so happens to be the Week 10 foe for Coach Monte Mawhorter’s team.
Everything that West Noble does is predicated on the run game. It averages 240 yards on the ground, led by junior Seth Pruitt’s 1,337 yards and 24 touchdowns. Senior QB Drew Yates has added 656 yards and 10 scores with his legs, while also keeping defenses honest with 15 touchdowns and a 74 percent completion percentage through the air.
A pair of sophomores – McKale Bottles and Xavier Yates – are the primary pass catchers, but the Chargers have a wealth of guys who have shown the ability to find the end zone in the passing game. All told, six different players have scored multiple receiving touchdowns this year.
The defense is effective, although the secondary is very young. West Noble only forced eight turnovers all season, which could be a factor in close games against good opponents.
Of note, West Noble has never won a sectional title.
THE REST
GLENN (5-4)
The upper part of the bracket is wide open, with the Falcons having as good of a shot as anyone.
The importance of the run game and avoiding turnovers will determine Glenn’s success, or lack thereof, in the playoffs. Seniors Mason Kobelt and Chase Miller have combined for over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
However, Glenn has turned the ball over 11 times via interception, which could be a problem.
Speaking of INTs, how’s this for weird – quarterback Chase Miller has thrown all 11 picks for Glenn, but has amassed seven interceptions of his own on defense. Collectively, the Falcons have picked off 16 passes on the year.
LAKELAND (6-3)
It has been an exciting season for the Lakers, who have won their most regular-season games since 2018. But losses in two of their final three contests prior to the playoffs, coupled with drawing undefeated Knox, has dulled the enthusiasm a bit.
Despite that, Coach Ryan O’Shea has done a great job in Year 4. A positive for the future is that this team is still very young, which may not bode well for the playoffs considering experience is of paramount importance.
A pair of sophomores lead the way – quarterback Brayden Holbrook has throw for 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Sean Conley has rushed for 1,154 yards and 16 scores.
Another sophomore, Keyan Arroyo, is the squad’s leading pass catcher.
There is a bit more experience on the defensive side, but this is still a unit that has a lot of youth.
JIMTOWN (4-5)
You could make a case that Jimtown has played the most difficult schedule out of anyone in the schedule, except for maybe Mishawaka Marian.
All five losses have come to teams with a winning record, including undefeated Tippecanoe Valley, one-loss South Bend Riley and two-loss NorthWood.
Despite the sub-.500 record, the Jimmies are a team to watch in the upper half of the bracket.
FAIRFIELD (5-4)
The Falcons’ option attack can give defenses fits, but it does limit what Fairfield can do offensively if the opposition plays it well.
Fairfield averages 243 yards per game on the ground, with 21 of its 27 offensive touchdowns this season coming on the ground.
Breckan Maran is the leading rusher with 706 yards and 10 scores, while fellow junior Blake Metzger is averaging 8.3 yards per touch with five TDs.
The defense is particularly aggressive, evidenced by 63 tackles for loss and 20 sacks on the season. However, it is a risk-reward type style as Fairfield is allowing over 20 points per game.
SOUTH BEND CLAY (3-6)
Maybe the only team that would be a surprise if they advanced deep into this sectional. The Colonials have won three straight games, but two of those were against junior varsity squads at Glenn and Bremen.
Clay is a program that hasn’t won multiple games in a season over varsity opponents since 2014.
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