Merrillville and Valparaiso join No. 1 Crown Point in Class 6A, and defending 2A state champion Andrean will try to win in 3A too.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Crown Point (10-1): Craig Buzea and the Bulldogs are poised to continue their remarkable run that includes four straight undefeated regular seasons and Duneland Athletic Conference titles. Their offensive line is strong and experienced with players such as seniors Tony Brooks, Zach Clark and Connor Cavalcante. They also have talented skill position players, including senior quarterback Tyce Custy (Lindenwood). The dynamic duo of running backs, senior Brayden Schutt and junior Max Gurnic, are back, as are senior tight ends Anderson Keller (Central Michigan) and Cooper Malaski. Senior defensive lineman Jashua Daniels, senior linebacker Ben Clark, junior linebacker Garrett Ortiz and sophomore linebacker AJ Summers are stalwarts on the other side of the ball. Senior Oliver Brewer is a top kicker/punter. In short, the Bulldogs remain the team to beat.
2. Merrillville (11-3): The Pirates broke through last season, reaching the Class 5A state championship game for their first appearance at that level since their 1976 state title. Reclassified to 6A, they remain elite this season, led by star senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr., who is eager to make another run after suffering a broken collarbone in the championship game. Senior running back Cameron Jordan also is a premier player. Senior linebacker A’marie Eller and senior lineman Josiah Horton should lead the charge on defense.
3. Andrean (13-1): Coming off the Class 2A state championship as well as the Northwest Crossroads Conference title, the 59ers should be the front-runners in 3A. Senior linebacker/running back Ethan Reyna (Purdue) headlines the extremely talented group. Junior linebacker/running back Javier McCoy is a major college prospect, and junior Vinny Zsuppon also returns at linebacker. Junior Tyler Vo is a top wide receiver, and junior Dylan Gore should take over at quarterback full time. Senior defensive end Landen Murray is yet another high-end player. Senior running back Brady Stovall, senior wide receiver/defensive back Mark Grubbs Jr., senior offensive lineman Magnus Severson, senior defensive back Mitchell Myers and junior defensive back Bruce Moorhouse also are among the returnees.
4. Valparaiso (2-8): The Vikings, who were reclassified to 6A, are prime candidates to return to their usual high level after their first sub-.500 record since 2014. Junior Rigby Gora should anchor the offensive line, and senior Jimmy Parisi is a productive wide receiver. Nine starters return on defense, including co-captains and senior linebackers Brody Wheeler and Evan Courtney. Senior defensive backs Nicolas Fry and JQ Varnado and junior defensive back Anwar Banks also return, along with senior linemen Ryan Cheek and Dean Papachronis. Sophomore Cooper Gear should take over at quarterback.
5. Michigan City (8-4): Charles Salary, a former star running back for LaPorte, moves to the Wolves after three seasons at Calumet. Senior offensive lineman Jeremiah Jones is an Indiana recruit. Senior offensive/defensive lineman Dezmon Howard, senior wide receiver/defensive back Meek Laurent and junior offensive lineman Jack Soller also are back for a team coming off its first sectional title since 2021.
6. Hobart (10-3): The Brickies should flourish again after winning their first sectional title since 2020. Senior quarterback Aleks Tatum sets the tone. Senior wide receiver/cornerback Bryce Tolliver (Northern Illinois) and senior defensive end/tight end Aiden Kasch are outstanding players. Junior running back/safety Miles White, senior wide receiver/safety Stephen Miller, senior linebacker Vontrell Jones, senior offensive/defensive lineman Brenton Thompson and junior wide receiver/defensive back Terry Earvin also all are back.
7. Lowell (9-3): The Red Devils should continue to build in Casey McKim’s second season as coach. Junior running back Tymothy James already has established himself as a playmaker. Senior wide receiver/defensive back Beau Ison, senior defensive back/wide receiver Gage Wimberly, senior kicker/punter Dylan Bisacchi, and senior offensive linemen Gavin Sodo and Julian Cuadra all return. Senior Gavin Gutierrez is expected to move back to quarterback after playing wide receiver last season.
8. Chesterton (5-5): The Trojans continue to seek their first sectional title. Senior linebacker Zane Westerlund should spearhead their efforts, and senior Bradley Robinson should make a significant impact at both wide receiver and cornerback. Coach Mark Peterson expects quarterback Hunter Boyd to further develop as a junior.
9. Griffith (9-2): Expectations are running high for the Panthers, the defending Greater South Shore Conference South champions. Coach Phil Mason has an eye on a sectional title, even with a field that includes Andrean. Their offensive line is a big, veteran group, led by senior Gavin Edwards (Northern Illinois). Seniors Stanley Lesko, Zavion Brown and Shawn Mitchell and junior Grayson Verbich also are back. Senior quarterback Ryan Bullion holds the team’s single-season record for passing yardage and is in line to become the career leader. He has a standout target in senior wide receiver/defensive back Jason Quillin. Senior running back/wide receiver/defensive back Desmond Neylon, senior running back/defensive back Mason Litke, senior wide receiver/defensive back Davon Thomaston, senior tight end/linebacker Jacob Hemphill and senior tight end/linebacker Mason Andree also return.
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10. Morton (6-4): The defending Great Lakes Athletic Conference champion Governors have an array of talent again. Junior wide receiver Corderro Bennett Jr., who has a slew of offers from top colleges programs, heads the group. Sophomore quarterback Amari Price is back after an impressive freshman season. Speedy junior running back Michael Walker Jr. could break out. The wide receivers also include junior Ameer Daniels, senior Marcus McBride and senior Matthew Candler. Junior defensive lineman Malik Candler should be a force. They avoid Class 5A sectional nemesis Merrillville, which ended their last three seasons. But as the Pirates move up to 6A, the Governors move down to 4A into a loaded sectional field.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
• Corderro Bennett Jr., Morton, junior, wide receiver
• Tyce Custy, Crown Point, senior, quarterback
• Gavin Edwards, Griffith, senior, offensive lineman
• Quentavious Fly, Bowman, junior, wide receiver/defensive back
• Rigby Gora, Valparaiso, senior, offensive lineman
• Dylan Gore, Andrean, junior, quarterback
• Jace Harris, Highland, senior, defensive lineman
• Michael Hill Jr., Merrillville, senior, quarterback
• Tymothy James, Lowell, junior, running back
• Jeremiah Jones, Michigan City, senior, offensive lineman
• Cameron Jordan, Merrillville, senior, running back
• Anderson Keller, Crown Point, senior, tight end
• Anthony Layman, Hanover Central, senior, tight end/linebacker
• Javier McCoy, Andrean, junior, linebacker/running back
• Sal Montes, Boone Grove, junior, quarterback/defensive back
• Landen Murray, Andrean, senior, defensive lineman
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• Brody Ramirez, Lake Central, senior, linebacker
• Reed Raymond, LaPorte, senior, running back
• Ethan Reyna, Andrean, senior, linebacker/running back
• AJ Summers, Crown Point, sophomore, linebacker
• Aleks Tatum, Hobart, senior, quarterback
• Bryce Tolliver, Hobart, senior, defensive back/wide receiver
• Tyler Vo, Andrean, junior, wide receiver
• Conner Welch, Wheeler, senior, linebacker/tight end
• Zane Westerlund, Chesterton, senior, linebacker