Howard County: Football Regional Championship Predictions

Eastern and Taylor have a chance to win another postseason trophy Friday night. Last week, both teams claimed their programs' first sectional championships. That’s a monumental achievement players and coaches will remember for the rest of their lives. But that high won’t carry them through Friday night’s games. To hoist another trophy under the lights, both teams will need to bring their A-game.

Let's dive into this week's matchups to see if Eastern and Taylor have what it takes to secure their first regional championships.

Eastern 8-4 vs 2A #4 Adams Central 11-1

Eastern’s resilience after an 0-3 start was on full display last week, as the Comets fought their way to a sectional championship victory over Tipton. That same tenacity will be crucial if they hope to beat one of the top teams in Class 2A.

Adams Central’s only loss came in their season opener against Garrett, fueling a dominant run that has positioned the Flying Jets as regional favorites. Last week, Eastern relied heavily on its ground game, a strategy that has often helped the Comets when their passing game has faltered. But while that approach worked last week, it may be less effective against Adams Central’s defense. This is one of those games where Eastern will need their offense firing on all cylinders to stay competitive. The Comets’ occasional imbalance on offense during the tournament is a major factor in why Adams Central is projected to win the regional title.

Winner: Adams Central

1A #1 North Judson 12-0 vs. Taylor 7-5

Taylor's remarkable 2024 season has defied expectations, transforming a historically struggling program into a formidable contender. This cultural shift has propelled the Titans into uncharted territory, but to continue their success, they must address key challenges in their upcoming game.

North Judson has faced minimal resistance this season, boasting an elite ground game and a dominant defense. Their offensive strategy centers on a powerful rushing attack, led by two players each averaging over 100 rushing yards per game. This dynamic duo presents a significant challenge for Taylor's defense.

Defensively, the Bluejays have accumulated an impressive 107 tackles for loss this season, consistently disrupting opponents' backfields. Taylor's offensive line will need to perform at its best to protect against this aggressive defense.

While Taylor's season has been extraordinary, containing North Judson's potent offense and penetrating defense may prove to be their toughest test yet.

Winner: North Judson

Last week: 2-1

All time: 30-6 (83.3%, started predicting games in week 5)