The IHSAA football state tournament has arrived, and Howard County teams are ready to begin their pursuit of a state championship. With the regular season complete, Kokomo, Northwestern, Eastern and Taylor will take the field for the first round of sectional play, where every game brings win-or-go-home stakes. Western received a first-round bye and will begin its postseason in the next round.
From key matchups to players who could make the difference, there are plenty of storylines to follow as the local teams begin their postseason runs. Here’s a look at this week’s sectional openers and Jay’s predictions for the first round of tournament play.
Rankings are from the USA TODAY Network Indiana high school football poll.
Sectional 20 — First Round
Muncie Central (6-3) at Kokomo (4-5)
Kokomo looks to avenge a 30-24 regular-season loss to Muncie Central when the teams meet again in the first round of Sectional 20. The Bearcats outgained the Wildkats 398-245 in the first meeting, with junior quarterback Mason Ferguson throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Kokomo’s senior quarterback threw two touchdown passes but also had two interceptions.
For Kokomo, 25 points could be the key to pulling off the upset. The Wildkats have been held to 24 points or fewer in every loss this season and average just 12.4 points per game against teams with winning records. Although beating the same team twice in one season can be difficult, Muncie Central’s balance and consistency give the Bearcats the edge.
Winner: Muncie Central
Sectional 28 — First Round
West Lafayette (2-7) vs Northwestern (5-4)
Northwestern looks to build on last week’s 41-0 win over Northfield, which snapped a three-game losing streak, when it hosts West Lafayette in the first round of Sectional 28. The Red Devils are coming off a 38-0 loss at Hamilton Heights and have struggled on the road, going 1-4 away from home this season. West Lafayette senior quarterback Blake Biddle threw five interceptions in the loss, a performance the Red Devils will look to put behind them.
Northwestern junior quarterback Colin Cook ranks eighth in the state with 2,320 passing yards, giving the Tigers a potent weapon through the air. Senior Ayden Giles is coming off a dominant performance against Northfield, totaling 198 rushing yards and two touchdowns while recording nine tackles and two sacks on defense. Northwestern’s ability to balance its passing and running games could be key to advancing to the sectional semifinals.
Winner: Northwestern
Sectional 35 — First Round
Tipton (5-4) vs Class 2A No. 8 Eastern (Greentown) (9-0)
Class 2A No. 8 Eastern opens sectional play after finishing a perfect regular season with a 41-7 win over Clinton Prairie. Tipton snapped a three-game losing streak with a 29-28 win over Western but has lost four of its last six games. Injuries to key players, including junior quarterback Quinn Tolle, have added to the Blue Devils’ struggles.
Eastern has won three of the teams’ previous four sectional meetings. Senior quarterback Gibson Eagle leads an offense averaging 42.9 points per game, while Tipton allows 34.1 points per game. The Comets’ defense has allowed just 13.8 points per game against teams with winning records, giving Eastern an advantage as it looks to extend its perfect season.
Winner: Eastern
Sectional 43 — First Round
Taylor (1-8) vs Class 1A No. 1Pioneer (9-0)
Taylor enters the postseason after a 38-0 loss to Delphi, while Class 1A No. 1 Pioneer is coming off a 35-9 win over Class 1A No. 4 North Judson. The teams are heading in opposite directions, with Taylor struggling to find consistency and Pioneer emerging as a favorite to win the state championship.
The matchup presents a steep challenge for the Titans, who must find a way to slow down one of the state’s most productive offenses. Taylor allows 41.3 points per game, while Pioneer averages 43.7, highlighting the challenge facing the Titans’ defense. Taylor will need to limit big plays, create stops and find ways to sustain drives offensively to keep the game competitive. Pioneer’s strong finish to the regular season, capped by a win over one of Class 1A’s top teams, further illustrates the gap Taylor must overcome.
Winner: Pioneer
The postseason brings a new level of intensity as teams across the area look to keep their seasons alive. With several Howard County teams facing tough first-round matchups, the opening round will provide an early test of which teams are ready to make a run through the sectional tournament.
The Kokomo Post Sports team will be on site for Muncie Central vs. Kokomo, bringing updates, highlights and coverage from the Wildkats’ postseason opener. Follow The Kokomo Post Sports for the latest results and complete coverage of local teams throughout the postseason.
Jay’s Stats
Last week: 4-1
2026-27 sports season: 34-9 (79.1%)
