Seven area teams remain. All that stands between them and a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium are two more victories.
Easier said than done.
With every round comes bigger challenges, more elite teams.
Who will find a way to advance at least one more week?
Blitz gives his picks.
Last week: 6-2 (.750)
Overall: 198-38 (.838)
CARMEL AT CARROLL. This game is precisely why Carroll Coach Doug Dinan stacks his non-conference schedule with Indy-area powers. To learn how to beat the best, you need to play the best. These two teams last met in 2014, with the Chargers losing by 50. A lot can change in 12 years. Fashion. Politics. A pig turning into a bear. And Carroll’s offense doing enough to win a shootout for a berth in semistate. BLITZ SAYS CARROLL BY 2.
WARSAW AT LAFAYETTE JEFF. A battle of contrasting styles, at least offensively. This one will come down to which defense is able to contain the other team’s strengths. Can the Bronchos contain the Tigers’ flexbone attack? Can the Tigers keep up and limit Jeff’s athletes? Some folks believe Blitz has been hard on Warsaw this year, not giving it its proper due. Let’s lean into that, shall we? It’s worked so far. BLITZ SAYS LAFAYETTE JEFF BY 6.
MUNCIE CENTRAL AT BISHOP DWENGER. It’s been fun for the Bearcats over the last week, having captured their first sectional crown in 20 years. But as referenced earlier, challenges get tougher with each successive round. Bishop Dwenger’s front line on both sides of the ball will be a big problem for Muncie Central. As long as the Saints don’t hurt themselves with turnovers and miscues, they should roll into semistate. BLITZ SAYS BISHOP DWENGER BY 20.
ANGOLA AT ANDREAN. Blitz forgot that these two teams met in the regular season last year, a 35-7 Andrean victory. The Hornets could not match the Fighting 59ers’ physicality in that game, and it won’t be able to again this year. It has been another nice run for Angola with its second-straight sectional title, but the road ends in Merrillville. BLITZ SAYS ANDREAN BY 23.
BLUFFTON AT HAMILTON HEIGHTS. The Tigers have accomplished a lot of firsts under Coach Brent Kunkel, who has pushed the program to heights it has rarely reached. One place they have never been is to a semistate. Does that change tonight? Heights has some weapons that will challenge the Bluffton defense, but it is nothing it hasn’t seen before when playing South Adams, a team the Tigers held to 15 points. It is regional, the challenge is greater, but Bluffton is up for the challenge. BLITZ SAYS BLUFFTON BY 7.
WHEELER AT EASTSIDE. This feels a lot like Bishop Luers’ matchup with Knox and Myles McLaughlin last year. Phenomenal running back who was shut down by a superior defense. Wheeler’s Levi Murray has rushed for 2,800 yards and 47 touchdowns this season. Slow down Murray and you beat Wheeler. That simple. BLITZ SAYS EASTSIDE BY 9.
PIONEER AT SOUTH ADAMS. These two teams met in semistate last year, and both may be better squads than they were a year ago. The Starfires will have revenge on their minds after the loss a season ago, and Blitz is unsure if Pioneer can get enough stops of the prolific South Adams offense to capture a road dub. Shiloh Rine is the guy to watch for Pioneer. If he has a big night, the Starfires could be in trouble. Plus, Blitz just wanted to type Shiloh Rine again. BLITZ SAYS SOUTH ADAMS BY 3.
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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