FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Plenty of reasons to expect a weird weekend

Oct. 12—It's the last week of regular-season high school football in Indiana, which often means that weird things are capable of happening.

The Friday the 13th scenario might contribute to the madness too.

It's the next-to-last season of regular-season high school football in Illinois, with a Game of the Week showing up across the state line.

And according to a sportswriter's phone, you might want to have a raincoat handy.

—Sullivan (4-4) at West Vigo (2-6), 7 p.m. — The Vikings consider the Golden Arrows among their biggest rivals, but West Vigo hasn't won in this series since an 8-7 decision in 2012.

This is one of the places where weirdness could kick in, however. The Vikings are at home and the Arrows could be looking ahead to their sectional.

—Northview (6-2, 3-0) at Indian Creek (5-3, 3-0), 7 p.m. — Four years ago, when the Western Indiana Conference finished its season with crossover games, the Braves won at home over the Knights when both teams were undefeated in conference play.

The Creek hasn't won a game against Northview since then, but with the WIC Gold championship up for grabs I guarantee coach Mark Raetz has reminded the Knights of that 2019 game — the final score was 32-28 — several times this week.

—Attica (0-8, 0-6) at South Vermillion (7-1, 6-0), 7 p.m. — If head-to-head is a tiebreaker in the Wabash River Conference, the Wildcats have already won it, but so what?

This is not the most one-sided game (on paper) this week, but the parents and grandparents of the South Vermillion reserves should still make sure not to miss it.

—Covington (4-4, 2-4) at Riverton Parke (3-5, 2-4), 7 p.m. — Fifth place in the Wabash River Conference is probably not a big enough prize for this game, which should be a lot of fun.

The Panthers may still have some unfinished goals in mind, which could give them an advantage.

—Seeger (6-2, 5-1) at North Vermillion (5-3, 4-2), 7 p.m. — Second place in the WRC goes to the winner of this one (again, if there's a head-to-head tiebreaker), which should also be worth seeing.

The Falcons haven't lost to the Patriots at home since 2009.

—Phalen Academy (1-6) at Linton (7-1), 7 p.m. — Here's the most one-sided game of the week on paper, the product (one assumes) of two teams needing to fill an open date with whatever possible foe might be available.

Parents and grandparents of the Linton starters need to be in their seats at kickoff time, and can probably take their bathroom breaks by the middle of the first quarter.

—North Central (2-6, 0-2) at Eastern Greene (4-4, 1-1), 7 p.m. — These Southwest Conference rivals have split their last six games against each other, and this is another game with substantial weirdness potential.

Of course the Thunderbirds are guaranteed to come out ahead (and behind).

—Terre Haute North (0-8) at Brebeuf (3-4), 7:30 p.m. — Is there enough weirdness and bad luck for the home team to enable the Patriots to snap their losing streak (and then enjoy a bye week)?

Brebeuf could certainly be looking ahead, since their game at Northview next week could decide that sectional.

—Terre Haute South (4-4, 2-2) at Columbus North (3-5, 2-2), 7:30 p.m. — It's the longest bus ride since August for the Braves, and an important one to boot.

South has won three straight games and would love to keep that momentum going for postseason play. Third place in Conference Indiana also will be decided.

—Mount Carmel (6-1, 5-0) at Marshall (1-6, 1-4), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — The Lions are in a similar position to North's Patriots, and have the advantage of being at home if the weirdness strikes.

The Golden Aces still haven't clinched the Little Illini Conference title, though, and need to keep winning for purposes of playoff seeding.

—Paris (4-3, 3-2) at Robinson (2-5, 2-3), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — The Tigers would need plenty of help to move up very far in the Little Illini Conference standings, but their playoff fate is in their own hands.

And with Casey looming in the regular-season finale, the Tigers need to boost their chances this week against a team of Maroons looking for a strong finish to their own season, which is why this is Game of the Week.

—Tecumseh (Ind.) (0-8) vs. OPH (0-7) at Palestine, 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — For as much success as Tecumseh has enjoyed in other sports recently, having its football team in this situation (allowing more than 60 points per game the last four weeks) is strange.

But, as noted, strange is a given this week, so maybe the host Panthers can take advantage.

Saturday

—Fountain Central (5-3, 4-2) at Parke Heritage (2-6, 1-5), 3 p.m. — Normalcy returns, perhaps, although the Wolves could probably appreciate a strange outcome.

The Mustangs are hoping to share second place in the Wabash River Conference, while Parke Heritage could share the fifth spot.

—Dugger Union (4-3) at Indiana School for the Deaf (8-0), 4 p.m. — Playoffs begin in Indiana 8-man football, and the Bulldogs may have been matched against the top seed.

The Deaf Hoosiers won 50-6 earlier, and that was just their sixth-best offensive total of the season.

—Galva (0-7) at Martinsville (6-1), 4 p.m., 3 p.m. CDT — The Bluestreaks won 42-38 at South Fork last week to assume first place by themselves in the southern division of Illinois 8-man football.

Taking care of business in this game would be good for Martinsville, which finishes its season against unbeaten Champaign St. Thomas More.

—Olney (0-7, 0-5) at Casey (6-1, 4-1), 8 p.m., 7 p.m. CDT — The Warriors somehow stopped getting poll votes in the Illinois Class A poll after losing on a late field goal to a ranked Class 3A team on the road.

Unfair? Possibly, but Casey's playoff picture is not clouded by those voters.