Andrean

The 59ers are scheduled to face Knox Friday in a Class 3A Sectional semifinal. Andrean defeated Knox 52-14 last year in a sectional championship game, but coach Phil Mason insists his players won't be overconfident heading into their showdown against the Redskins, who have won five of their past six games.

"We're not going to overlook anybody," Mason said. "We're gonna play hard and get our kids well-prepared. This is a team that's on a mission. We're treating every team like they're the best opponent we're gonna play all year."

Bowman

After coming home with the program's first IHSAA playoff win against Bishop Noll last week, coach Andre Kelly couldn't escape the hallways of the school without someone giving him a pat on the back.

"That was a program-building win and nobody expected us to win," Kelly said. "This is a basketball school, but there was football talk and everybody in the school was telling us how great of a job we did and I couldn't have been prouder for the kids."

With an underdog mindset, Kelly is preparing his team to face 8-2 Rensselaer this week.

"They (are) real good, they run a wing T and a spread," Kelly said. "But again, why not us? We are going to go out there and have fun."

Chesterton

Neither defense did much to stop the other when the Trojans topped Portage 31-28 earlier this season, but the rematch is on natural grass, not artificial turf, and the rain and mud could douse the offensive fireworks.

"Weather and field conditions will play a big part in the game, similar to the two games against Crown Point," Trojans coach John Snyder said.

Chesterton beat Crown Point 14-3 and 16-13 in those games.

Griffith

Think playoffs and you think Griffith Panthers, who are 49-15 under coach Russ Radtke in the postseason.

"It's a boat in the ocean and we must be at the bottom of a wave right now. But we got two or three more days to right the boat and get it back up by Friday night," Radtke said after an earlier practice this week. "I think we're in a good position. Injury-wise, we're all good now."

Griffith has beaten Morton, its sectional semifinal opponent, in 17 of the 18 on-field meetings all-time (one loss came from using an ineligible player in a win) and has eliminated the Governors from sectional play nine times since 1994. Morton won the regular-season matchup in August.

Hammond

Freshman RB/LB Jesse Woods, who suffered a torn MCL in his knee in Week 8, recently learned he will not be able to return this season, Wildcats coach Robert Robinson Jr. said. Hammond also recently lost an offensive lineman for the year because of academic ineligibility, giving senior Jacorey Relf a chance to start at left guard.

Despite the Wildcats' personnel changes, Robinson said he's confident about his team's upcoming Class 4A Sectional 9 matchup against Hobart.

Hobart

The Brickies have had so many injuries this fall that if Hobart was in Kentucky, coach Wally McCormack would probably have some seventh-graders playing varsity ball. But since Indiana rules forbid it, McCormack was forced to watch several freshmen play well in last week's 57-6 win over Roosevelt in the Sectional 9 opener.

Freshman Aaron Delgrosso, called "The Italian Stallion" by McCormack, made all seven of his extra-point kicks in the win. Classmate Ian Drobac scored a touchdown from his running back position.

"Hey, I guess the future looks bright," McCormack said. "When you have this many underclassmen playing this early then the coming years should be better."

Lake Central

When you've lost seven straight heading into sectional play you'll take anything from anybody, which is why Indians coach Bill Melby was doing his own version of Woodstock after last Friday's 7-3 win over Munster. Melby promised his junior varsity players he would slide head-first through the mud if they beat the Mustangs. Melby had mud all over his smiling face as he spoke to reporters after the win.

"Great heart. Great desire," he told his team on Friday. "This is why we want you to feel so stinkin' good."

Lowell

Red Devils kicker Boge Pejoski got a fever in class last Thursday and was sent home by a school nurse, which almost cost Lowell in its sectional opener at Plymouth. Since Pejoski missed Thursday's practice he was not allowed to play in the game at Plymouth on Friday night due to district policy.

Junior Cole Midgett kicked instead and while he made both extra points in the 14-6 win, no one was confusing him with a Swedish exchange student.

"They weren't pretty, but they went in," Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy said.

In the second quarter, up 7-0, Lowell had the ball on Plymouth's 1 on fourth down. Instead of kicking the field goal Kennedy went for it, and the Rockies stopped Lowell cold.

"That would've been big if we could've gone up 10-0," Kennedy said.

Merrillville

Over the last four games the Pirates have beaten Lake Central, their Class 5A Sectional 1 semifinal opponent this week, by a combined score of 108-19. Merrillville has won 10 straight over the Indians -- including the 2007 Sectional 1 championship -- heading into Friday's game in St. John.

"Our defense has been playing very solid football of late," coach Zac Wells said after last Friday's 31-0 win over Valparaiso. Over the last five weeks the Bucs have allowed only 34 points, with 20 of them coming from Chesterton in Week 9.

Morton

Coach Roy Richards was not happy when his senior LB Eddie Malatinka was kicked out of the game for head-butting a Highland player in the sectional opener last week. According to IHSAA rules Malatinka must sit out the semifinal against Griffith, serving a one-game suspension.

"This whole week is win one for Eddie," Richards said. "That is our theme here at Morton. We want to make sure we win so Eddie can play again. Nothing else is more important at our school."

Portage

Surprises? When the Indians get together with Chesterton, don't bet on it. There aren't too many secrets between Portage coach Mark Peterson and counterpart John Snyder. The two have been friends for decades, dating back to the 1980s when Peterson played at Iowa Wesleyan, where Snyder was an assistant coach.

"I don't foresee either of us doing a whole lot of different stuff," Peterson said. "We just continue to look for consistency, and if we can do that, I feel good about our chances, whether it's mud, grass or turf. The weather could be a limiting factor in the passing game."

Rensselaer

The Bombers (8-2) have won four sectionals in the past five years, while Friday's opponent, Bowman, will be playing in its second sectional game ever. Regardless, the Bombers aren't looking past this week's Class 2A Sectional 25 semifinal matchup.

"Bowman Academy looks very impressive on film," coach Chris Meeks said. "They have great athleticism, and their kids play very hard. Our kids are very focused knowing Bowman is a tough opponent. We look forward to a great game on Friday."

RB Justin Bohannon and FB Ben Ahler have combined for seven rushing touchdowns the past two weeks.

South Central

Assuming weather and field conditions are going to be poor, the ground-oriented Satellites may have an edge over a Whiting attack that involves much more passing.

"It's harder to catch the ball as opposed to running," coach Jud Tolmen said. "But it's not like this is the first time it's rained, so most teams are used to it and are adapting. Some people say offense has the advantage, some people say defense. I think it just comes down to the little things, doing your assignments."

Wheeler

There's no question the Bearcats relish another opportunity at North Judson after last-season's 31-28 loss in the opening week of sectional play, but coach Dan Klimczak doesn't think the emotion will distort his team's focus.

"We've been looking forward to this game for a long time, no doubt," Klimczak said. "But more than any revenge factor or anything, it's just about concentrating on ourselves and trying to get better. One of us has ended the other's season the last three years, so we know what's at stake."

The Bearcats and Bluejays met in the sectional opener in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Whiting

Whiting's powerful offense won't be a concern when the Oilers head to Union Mills on Friday. They've averaged 41 points per game the past three weeks.

In Week 4, Whiting held on for a 24-21 win over the Satellites, and the Oilers' focus this week will be on the controlled South Central run game that held them off the field enough to make it a close game in September. Oilers coach Jeff Cain knows the task ahead.

"South Central will be a challenge in preparing for their offense," Cain said. "They like to run the ball and are very effective passing the ball."

PREP FOOTBALL | FRESH SCOOPS

Editor's note: This is the final edition of Fresh Scoops for this football season.