FROGGY NIGHT LIGHTS

ELKHART COUNTY WEEK 4 REVIEW

NORTHRIDGE 64, WAWASEE 6

What’s better than breaking the program’s scoring record in your season opener? Doing it twice it your first season as head coach.

 

More evidence that Northridge is real came Friday night, when the Raiders absolutely buried Wawasee 64-6 in a game that also set a new school scoring record. Jake Scholl, Karsyn Rumfelt and Kane Yeater each found the end zone twice, while Hayden Gorball, Tre Copeland and Carson Duncan each added a touchdown.

 

The Raiders weren’t just explosive, either. Northridge finished with 265 passing yards and 232 rushing yards, continuing what has been an absurdly productive start to the season and balanced to boot.

 

And now we get the game we’ve been waiting for. I cannot wait to preview these teams on Thursday.

 

Next Opponent:

 

Northridge (4-0) hosts Concord (3-1)

 

ELKHART 46, SOUTH BEND RILEY 18

Elkhart is starting to look like a team that has figured some things out.

 

After getting hammered by Warren Central in Week 2, the Lions have responded with consecutive dominant wins. First came the 62-0 demolition of South Bend Washington. Then came Friday’s 46-18 win over Riley, and this one was driven by a defense that made life miserable for the Wildcats.

 

Micah Jarrell continued to show that he can hurt teams with his legs as well as his arm, rushing for 100 yards on 15 carries. William Smith added 39 yards on seven carries, while Frankie Willis and Coleman Bell also contributed on the ground.

 

The Lions scored in every quarter and held Riley to just 18 points, another encouraging sign for a team that has now won three of its first four.

 

A statement win over Concord already solidified this team as a contender in week 1, but now my sights are set on an eventual Penn matchup in the sectional playoffs which is starting to feel inevitable. Coach Curry won’t let his kids look that far, but everything I am looking at involve that context. It’s going to be fun to watch their development this season.

 

Next Opponent:

 

Elkhart (3-1) at New Prairie (0-4)

 

CONCORD 44, GOSHEN 3

Trap games don’t exist in Dunlap.

 

Braylon Monroe helped get things rolling, and Concord put together 212 passing yards and 175 rushing yards. PJ Laroche provided one of the night’s biggest plays, catching a 59-yard touchdown pass from Monroe just before halftime. More than anything, I came away from that game in awe of Jaron Allen. This sophomore was composed and electrifying and scored 3 times in 8 minutes of gameplay. That. Is. Absurd.

 

For Goshen, it was another tough night against a county opponent. The RedHawks have now lost three straight after their Week 2 shutout of South Bend Washington.

P.S. Big congratulations to Koehler and the Minutemen for their first game this season without giving up a safety! (3 safeties in a team’s first three games ties the highest number I could find in my research)

 

Next Opponents:

 

Concord (3-1) at Northridge (4-0)

 

Goshen (1-3) hosts Plymouth (1-3)

 

JIMTOWN 20, JOHN GLENN 13

After getting blasted by Edwardsburg 55-12 the previous week, Jimtown needed something positive and the Jimmies found it.

 

Jimtown held off John Glenn 20-13 Friday night, improving to 2-2 and snapping a two-game losing streak. The game came down to the final minute, with Nash Hamby scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just 26 seconds remaining. Murphy DiPiro added the extra point to put Jimtown ahead 20-13.

 

That’s a pretty important response from a team that had just suffered its worst loss of the season. Jimtown doesn’t need to pretend the Edwardsburg game didn’t happen. It just needed to show that one bad night wasn’t going to turn into a bad season.

 

Next Opponent:

 

Jimtown (2-2) hosts Bremen (4-0)

 

FAIRFIELD 35, LAKELAND 14

Fairfield responded to its frustrating 7-6 loss to Angola in exactly the way you’d expect a team built around the running game to respond. By running right over Lakeland.

 

Miguel Gutierrez rushed for 225 yards as the Falcons put together a 35-14 victory, moving Fairfield to 3-1 on the season. This team is +71 point differential so far this season and as one of the most dominant teams at 3-1, they’re going to need their best game against a powerhouse in Eastside.

 

Next Opponent:

 

Fairfield (3-1) at Eastside (4-0)

 

WEEK 4 — THE STORIES I’M WATCHING

Northridge: The Raiders are 4-0 and just set a school scoring record. But everything they’ve done up to this point leads directly to Friday night. Concord is coming to town, and this likely is the biggest matchup of the regular season for Northridge.

 

Elkhart: In the softer part of their schedule, Elkhart is taking care of business. Outside of the score, I want to see how Jarrell develops in his timing and rhythm because he is already a great improvisor, but against the best, consistency will be his biggest asset.

 

Concord: Forty-four points Friday gives the Minutemen 140 over their last three games. Now comes the measuring-stick game against Northridge, and there may not be a better way to find out exactly what Concord has than this one.

 

Goshen: The RedHawks have hit a rough stretch after opening the year with a win over Angola. Plymouth is next, and Goshen needs to find a way to get some momentum back.

 

Jimtown: After a 55-12 loss, the Jimmies answered with a fourth-quarter comeback against John Glenn. That’s the kind of response that can keep a season from getting away from you. Every team has to wrestle with complacency after wins like those and the best are able to do it by Monday. We’ll see if the Jimmies did.

 

Fairfield: The Falcons bounced back from a tough loss and can now re-establish their momentum. With their running game, they are incredible when closing out games, but can they mount a comeback if they find themselves down?