Written by Reed Marchman, Froggy Sports Network 

Game of the Week

NORTHRIDGE (1-0) vs. COLUMBIA CITY (1-0)   

Northridge’s 62-point opener grabbed plenty of attention, but Columbia City is the kind of opponent that can tell us whether the Raiders’ offensive explosion is a sign of things to come.

The Raiders opened the Luke Amstutz era by setting a school scoring record against West Noble. Sophomore quarterback Jake Scholl was electric, while Keivontre Copeland immediately emerged as a dangerous receiving target. But Columbia City also made a statement, beating NorthWood 45-7.

That makes Friday’s matchup especially useful for evaluating Scholl. West Noble couldn’t consistently keep Northridge from creating big plays, but Columbia City is likely to spend considerably more time trying to make the sophomore quarterback operate patiently and beat them with sustained drives rather than allowing another avalanche of explosive plays.

If you ask me, though? (I understand you didn’t) I want this Lamborghini to stay in the fast lane and I don’t care how much the Scholl Toll (trademark on it’s way) costs.

The Raiders are currently ranked No. 19 in 4A and No. 11 in the South Bend area on MaxPreps, so expectations are already beginning to rise. A win Friday would give Northridge something more valuable than another gaudy offensive number: a quality win over another 1-0 team that already has playoff experience.

ELKHART (1-0) vs. WARREN CENTRAL (1-0)

Elkhart gets another major test Friday night. Against one of the best in the state, we might find out just how far ahead of last year this Lions team is.

Elkhart opened the year with a 22-20 win over Concord, with Micah Jarrell throwing three touchdown passes and Ta’Michael Brown providing the 61-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that ultimately proved to be the difference. Warren Central, meanwhile, went into Center Grove and came away with a 20-14 victory.

That Warren Central win is getting plenty of attention around the state. The latest High School On SI Indiana Top 25 has the Warriors sitting at No. 4 in Indiana, so this is a significant early opportunity for Elkhart.

The matchup I’d watch is Elkhart’s ability to create the same explosive plays it did against Concord without becoming dependent on them. Warren Central just held Center Grove to 14 points, and the Warriors’ defense will likely make Jarrell work for every opportunity. If Elkhart can establish enough consistency offensively to complement the big plays from Brown and company, the Lions have a legitimate chance to make this a statement game.

Elkhart fans undoubtedly see this as the kind of game that can change the conversation from “good start” to “this team might be a real problem.”

CONCORD (0-1) at JIMTOWN (1-0)

This is a fascinating spot for Concord because the Minutemen are coming off a loss, but they’re also coming off a game that demonstrated just how much potential this new-look team may have.

Concord nearly erased Elkhart’s lead in the opener, with Braylon Monroe and PJ LaRoche connecting for two touchdowns. LaRoche’s explosive playmaking gives Concord something I will be keeping my eye on all year, but Jimtown coming off of a win over Wawasee can really make waves with an opportunity at an upset over their rival on home turf.

An already tough task, Jimtown will have to do it without their best offensive weapon from Week 1. Nathan Guthrie scored four touchdowns against Wawasee before being ejected late in the game.

For Concord, the challenge is much less about proving it can score and more about proving it can finish. The Minutemen had a chance to steal Week 1 and couldn’t quite do it. A win Friday would erase the 0-1 start and, perhaps more importantly, reinforce the idea that last year’s deep playoff run wasn’t simply a one-year story.

FAIRFIELD (1-0) vs. GLENN (1-0)

Fairfield and Glenn both enter Friday night 1-0, but after some big changes.

Fairfield opened this season by running past Calumet New Tech 45-14, piling up 355 rushing yards. Miguel Gutierrez led the way on the ground while quarterback Kahler Maust accounted for four rushing touchdowns. Glenn also opened with a convincing win, beating Boone Grove 33-7.

Fairfield’s identity is already becoming pretty clear: they want to run the football and make opponents deal with them physically. Glenn’s job will be to prevent the Falcons from settling into that rhythm. 

If Fairfield can stay ahead of the chains, it can force Glenn to spend the night defending Gutierrez and the running game while creating opportunities for Maust. 

A formula we might see all season long.

GOSHEN (0-1) vs. SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON (0-1)

Goshen’s first game under Griff Heckaman didn’t produce the result the RedHawks wanted, but Week 2 presents an opportunity Goshen should be able to attack rather than simply survive.

Last August, it was at School Field where the RedHawks picked up their first win in 700 days against this Washington team. Although both teams are still building their winning culture and developing players, this rematch of last year’s 38-21 win could be the launching point for even greater results than last year’s first win.

Juniors Jamys VanHooser, Michael Aimone, and senior do-it-all QB/CB/P/KR/?!? Carter Diaz, who has been a starter for this team since he was a freshman, remains as the biggest X-factors. I will be very intently watching to see who else emerges as the future of this growing program throughout the season.

The key Friday will be whether Goshen can make the game look more like the football Heckaman wants to play. Against Angola, the RedHawks had stretches where they competed but couldn’t maintain it for four quarters. Washington should give Goshen an opportunity to establish the pace, stay aggressive, and let some of its youth to make plays alongside these well-established veterans.

For a new coaching staff, this is the kind of game where progress can become visible very quickly.

WEEK 2 — THE STORIES I’M WATCHING

Elkhart: Can the Lions turn the emotional Concord win into a 2-0 start what would be the program’s most exciting start in the last quarter-century?

Concord: Wake-up-call received. Now how well does this team put the heartbreak of Week 1 behind them will this new-look offense build on what we saw in the second-half?

Jimtown: Is it possible to replace Nathan Guthrie’s production for one night and keep their momentum for a win that would be program-defining?

Northridge: Was 62 points the beginning of something special, or just a spectacular opening night? Columbia City should tell us a lot.

Fairfield: Can the Falcons’ physical style carry over against another 1-0 team?

Goshen: Who is going to get the majority of the snaps at QB (will that be a sign for the rest of the season?) and who on both sides of the ball will emerge as the potential futures of this growing team?