Howard County Football Week 6 Predictions
It’s hard to believe the high school football regular season is almost over. It’s also hard to believe we went 5-0 during our first week picking Howard County football games. As all five schools prepare for battles under the Friday night lights, let’s predict the winners of each matchup.
Muncie Central 1-4 vs Kokomo 1-3
Homecoming week is an exciting time during the high school football season, with daily themes leading up to the game under the Friday night lights. Kokomo's homecoming game will feature a matchup against North Central Conference rival Muncie Central. Last year, Muncie Central had no trouble defeating Kokomo, but this year's game is expected to have a different outcome.
Winner: Kokomo
West Lafayette 3-2 vs Western 0-5
Western's struggles continued last week in a 21-6 loss to Hamilton Heights. One unusual aspect of Western's season is its inability to score multiple touchdowns in a single game. There's no better time for the Panthers to turn the tide than in their Week 6 matchup against West Lafayette. The Red Devils' defense has tightened up over the past couple of weeks, allowing only 19 points. That alone makes West Lafayette the favorite to secure its fourth win of the season.
Winner: West Lafayette
3A #15 Northwestern 5-0 vs 3A #16 Maconaquah 5-0
Northwestern is off to its best start since 2016. Tigers head coach Caleb Small wasted no time reviving a program eager to win consistently. Standing in the way of Northwestern maintaining its unblemished record is the undefeated Maconaquah Braves. The Braves have allowed only 13 points this season, but the likelihood of Northwestern surpassing that mark is high as the Tigers aim for a victory over one of the best teams in Class 3A.
Winner: Northwestern
Clinton Central 3-2 vs Eastern 1-4
Eastern, like Kokomo, is celebrating homecoming Friday night. Comet fans always go all out to support their team for the annual game. Eastern will need all the support it can get during a tough battle against conference rival Clinton Central. The Bulldogs' offense has been on a roll this year, but that won’t be the case Friday night, as Eastern aims for a homecoming victory.
Winner: Eastern
Taylor 2-3 vs Sheridan 3-2
Taylor's 2024 campaign can be divided into two segments: winning the first two games of the season and then losing the next three. This losing streak could negatively impact the Titans' morale. To snap the streak, the Titans must stay positive as they face a tough road test against Sheridan. Sheridan has blown out Taylor in the last three meetings. While Friday night's game shouldn't be a blowout, the Blackhawks are expected to win.
Winner: Sheridan
Last week: 5-0
Overall: 5-0 (started in week 5)
