The regular season is over and now we enter the portion of the season where if you don’t bring your best each and every week, there’s a good chance your year is gonna end.
The mission is a simple one, win and advance or lose, turn in equipment and begin getting ready for a long off-season.
Let’s take a look at Class 2A, Sectional 35.
The Draw
Prairie Heights (0-9) at Manchester (6-3), 7 p.m.
Whitko (1-8) at Eastside (7-2), 7 p.m.
Central Noble (1-8) at Adams Central (9-0), 7 p.m.
Bluffton (8-1) at Churubusco (7-2), 7 p.m.
THE FAVORITE
ADAMS CENTRAL (9-0)
Winners of four straight sectional titles and 20 of their last 21 sectional games overall, the Flying Jets are the clear favorite in Sectional 35.
Coach Michael Moser’s team has beaten two of the potential contenders in this field, both relatively easily, a 32-21 win over Easstside and 47-17 over Bluffton.
There are no surprises with Adams Central. It is going to run the Wing-T down your throat, attack you over the top on occasion to keep you honest and push you around in the trenches, then challenge you to stop them.
Teams have rarely been able to.
THE CHALLENGERS
BLUFFTON (8-1)
The Tigers enter the playoffs on the strength of its best regular season since 2020. However, its one loss was by 30 points to Adams Central, a team it could very well see in the semifinals.
That’s the challenge for Coach Brent Kunkel’s team. How do they find a way to close the gap considerably with AC after playing them in Week 8? Bluffton has the offensive firepower in quarterback Axton Beste and skill guys like AJ Streveler, Cooper Craig and Khamel Moore, but can the Tigers match up physically? Can they clean up mistakes on defense and not allow Adams Central to control the ball and the line of scrimmage?
Thing is, Bluffton cannot look ahead to a potential rematch, as it has to face feisty Churubusco to open the playoffs on the road.
EASTSIDE (7-2)
Yes, it was early in the season when Adams Central had yet to hit its stride, but the 21 points that Eastside put up on the Flying Jets in Week 2 is the most anyone has scored against them this year.
Job Richman has been a monster for the Blazers. Against Adams Central, he put up 290 total yards between passing and rushing. So he could have another huge night if the teams meet again.
Luckily for Eastside, they will not see the Flying Jets, or Bluffton, for that matter, until the finals. The top of the bracket is set up for Coach Alyx Brandewie’s team to win the first two weeks.
THE REST
CHURUBUSCO (7-2)
Credit to the Eagles, who have proven Blitz wrong more times than he can count at this point in the year.
However, the road to a sectional title is brutal for the Eagles. They get Bluffton to start, then likely Adams Central. And that’s before they even get to the finals. Woof.
Winners of six straight games, Churubusco definitely has momentum, and has wins over Eastside and West Noble, but the draw did it zero favors.
MANCHESTER (6-3)
The Squires were very competitive in the Three Rivers Conference, with state-ranked Rochester winning the league, although Manchester didn’t match up with the Zebras.
Coach Brian Enyeart’s team is run heavy, with a trio of players who have rushed for at least 540 yards. Combined, the team has notched 31 rushing scores.
Yes, Manchester did receive a favorite draw with winless Prairie Heights, but Eastside will present a challenge in the second round. The Squires did play Bluffton in Week 2, losing 45-6, which makes it tough to pick them as a contender.
WHITKO (1-8)
Going to Eastside to start the playoffs isn’t a good draw, nor is allowing an average of 41 points per game.
Whitko’s only victory came in Week 1, an eight-point victory over winless Prairie Heights.
CENTRAL NOBLE (1-8)
Similar to Whitko, Central Noble’s only win came against Prairie Heights in Week 4. Over the last three weeks, the Cougars have allowed 62, 70 and 69 points in a trio of losses.
A trip to Monroe to take on Adams Central is not a good matchup to start the playoffs.
PRAIRIE HEIGHTS (0-9)
After a five-win campaign in 2024, the Panthers have struggled to be competitive this year. The offense hasn’t reached double digits in a game since Week 5, while the defense is allowing over 37 points per contest.
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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