Games of the Week: Mishawaka at Marian, Valpo at Penn highlight opening night matchups

Schedules:2022 area high school football schedules

MISHAWAKA CAVEMEN AT MISHAWAKA MARIAN KNIGHTS

When/where: Friday 7 p.m. at Bob Otolski Field (grass) in Mishawaka.

Coaches: Mishawaka, Keith Kinder, fifth season, 35-13 … Mishawaka Marian, Mike Davidson, fifth season, 41-12.

Series: Mishawaka leads 17-6 after 41-16 victory last Aug. 20 at Mishawaka.

Last season: Mishawaka’s 8-3 campaign included 5-2 third-place finish in Northern Lakes Conference, continued with a 35-7 victory over Concord and ended with 48-25 Class 5A-Sectional 10 championship loss to visiting Michigan City … Marian’s 10-4 season included tie for first with Penn at 4-1 in the East-West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference, victories over South Bend Washington (49-14), Tippecanoe Valley (29-0) and Jimtown (40-7) for the Class 3A-Sectional 26 championship, a 33-6 victory over Hanover Central in the Class 3A-Region 13 title before a 17-16 loss to Brebeuf Jesuit in the Class 3A northern semistate.

Preseason rankings: In 5A, Mishawaka is No. 8 in both the AP and IFCA polls … In 3A, Marian is ranked No. 4 in AP poll and No. 5 in IFCA poll.

Players to watch: Mishawaka: QB Brady Fisher, RB Chaz Hardy, LB Aiden Hooton, L Dawson Nowacki … Marian: QB Bryce LaSane, RB Leopino Sete, DL Nick Cline, RB/LB Aidan Kelly.

SOUTH BEND ADAMS EAGLES AT NORTHRIDGE RAIDERS

When/where: Friday 7 p.m. at Interra Field (Field Turf) in Middlebury.

Coaches: Adams, Frank Karcewski, first season, making head coaching debut … Chad Eppley, second season, 10-5.

Series: Northridge leads 7-3 after 21-0 victory last Aug. 20 at TCU School Field, South Bend.

Last season: Adams’ 4-7 campaign included a 1-4 record in the East-West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference in the regular season, continued with a 35-14 victory over Goshen and ended with a 42-0 loss to visiting Michigan City in the Class 5A-Sectional 10 semifinals… Northridge’s 10-5 season included a fifth-place finish in the Northern Lakes Conference and a 5-4 regular season that was followed by five victories, including a 27-26 overtime Class 4A-Sectional 19 championship victory over Leo, a 25-7 Class 4A-Regional 10 championship victory over Mississinewa and a 20-14 northern semistate championship victory at New Prairie before a 45-14 loss to Mount Vernon (Fortville) in the Class 4A state championship Nov. 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Preseason rankings: In 5A, Adams is unranked in both AP and IFCA polls … In 4A, Northridge is ranked No. 13 in AP poll and No. 15 in IFCA poll.

Players to watch: Adams: RB Jeremiah Love, QB Toryn Day, WR Amari Wesson, OG Sean Brown … Northridge: QB Qade Carrington, WR/DB Jethro Hochstetler, WR/DB Kade Sainz, DL Max Petersheim.

SOUTH BEND SAINT JOSEPH INDIANS AT LAKELAND LAKERS

When/where: Friday 7 p.m. at Laker Field (grass) in LaGrange.

Coaches: Saint Joseph, Ben Downey, seventh season, 51-27 … Lakeland, Ryan O’Shea, third season, 5-15.

Series: Saint Joseph leads 17-2 following 27-0 victory last Aug. 20 at Father Bly Field in Leighton Stadium, South Bend.

Last season: Saint Joseph’s 4-8 campaign included 0-5 finish in East-West Division of the Northern Indiana Conference followed by victories over Logansport (15-14) and Kankakee Valley (21-0) before a 35-3 loss at New Prairie in Class 4A sectional championship Nov. 5 … Lakeland’s 3-7 campaign featured tie for second in Big Division of the Northeast Corner Conference before a 41-13 loss at John Glenn in the Class 3A sectional opening round Oct. 22.

Preseason rankings: In 4A poll, Saint Joseph is ranked No. 19 in AP poll and unranked in IFCA poll … In 3A, Lakeland is unranked in both the AP and IFCA polls.

Players to watch: Saint Joseph: QB Alex Ortiz, L Jack Aranowski, LB Austin Futa, S Daeh McCullough … Lakeland: QB Deion Marshall, RB Kham Malavianh, WR Owen Troyer, WR/DB Mark Wells.

BREMEN LIONS AT LAVILLE LANCERS

When/where: Friday 7 p.m. at Lancer Field (grass), Lakeville.

Coaches: Bremen, Jordan Leeper, seventh season, 42-28 … LaVille, Will Hostrawser, 10^th season, 70-31.

Series: Bremen leads 27-7 but LaVille has won last five including 14-12 in 2021 season opener at Don Bunge Field in Bremen and 14-6 triumph at Lancer Field in Class 2A sectional semifinals Oct. 29.

Last season: Bremen’s 7-4 campaign included a runner-up finish to Jimtown in the North-South Division of the Northern Indiana Conference race and a 28-13 sectional victory at Manchester before LaVille’s sectional victory ended a five-game winning streak … LaVille’s 9-3 season included a fourth-place finish in the Hoosier North Conference behind unbeaten champion Winamac and victories over Rochester (29-7), Bremen (14-6) and Pioneer (41-0) for the Class 2A sectional championship before a 35-8 regional loss at Andrean Nov. 12.

Preseason rankings: In 2A, Bremen is unranked in AP and IFCA polls while LaVille is ranked No. 12 in AP and No. 11 in IFCA polls.

Players to watch: Bremen: LB Austin McKenzie, RB Lance Moser, OL/DL Easton Reed, TE/K Angel Estrada … LaVille: QB Lucas Plummer, RB Paul DeWitt, RB Noah Richhart, OL-DL AJ Bedock.

VALPARAISO VIKINGS AT PENN KINGSMEN

When and where: Friday 8 p.m. at TCU Freed Field (Field Turf) in Mishawaka.

Coaches: Valparaiso, Bill Marshall, fifth season, 41-8 … Penn, Cory Yeoman, 20^th season, 191-51.

Series: Valparaiso has won the last three, including 35-7 last Aug. 20 at home, but Penn leads 24-9 with last victory 21-3 in 2018 season opener.

Last season: Valparaiso’s 10-2 campaign included a runner-up finish in the Duneland Conference to unbeaten Merrillville before victories over Hammond Morton (30-0) and Munster (42-0) for the Class 5A-Sectional 9 championship led to a 31-28 double-overtime loss at Michigan City in the Class 5A-Region 5 championship game … Penn’s 6-6 campaign included a share at 4-1 with Mishawaka Marian for the East-West Division title of the Northern Indiana Conference before victories over Elkhart (21-7) and Chesterton (10-7) for the Class 6A-Sectional 2 championship and a 39-7 loss at Merrillville in the Class 6A-Regional 1 championship game Nov. 12.

Preseason rankings: In 5A, Valparaiso is No. 4 in AP poll and No. 7 in IFCA poll … In 6A, Penn is No. 17 in AP poll and No. 12 in IFCA poll.

Players to watch: Valparaiso: QB Justin Clark, DL Zach Brown, LB Alex Rodriguez, WR Rocco Micciche … Penn: QB Nolan McCullough, LB Ryan Treber, LB Tommy Powlus, OL Auden Jones.

– John Fineran, Correspondent

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: High School football games of the week in South Bend area