Howard County Football Week 8 Preview and Predictions
The 2026 high school football season reaches Week 8 Friday night with another important slate of games for Howard County teams. With the regular season entering its final weeks, teams are looking to build momentum, strengthen their conference position and make a push toward the postseason.
After going 5-0 in each of the past three weeks, I’ll look to keep the perfect streak alive in Week 8. Here’s a closer look at this week’s matchups, the key storylines and my predictions for which Howard County teams will come away with a win.
Rankings are from the USA TODAY Network Indiana high school football poll.
Muncie Central (5-2) vs Kokomo (3-4)
Kokomo will look to bounce back Friday night after its three-game winning streak was snapped by a 40-7 loss to Class 5A No. 7 Lafayette Jefferson last week. Muncie Central enters with three straight wins, including a 75-7 victory over Anderson. Friday’s winner will claim second place in the North Central Conference standings.
Muncie Central has a balanced offense that can challenge Kokomo on the ground and through the air. The Bearcats average 131.6 rushing yards and 209.4 passing yards per game, while senior John Fisher leads the team with 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Kokomo has averaged just 8.7 points per game against teams with winning records, creating a significant challenge for the Wildkats on both sides of the ball. Muncie Central’s offensive balance and recent momentum are expected to be enough to give the Bearcats the edge Friday night.
Winner: Muncie Central
Lafayette Central Catholic (3-4) vs Western (2-5)
Western enters Friday night’s matchup with Lafayette Central Catholic looking to bounce back from a 42-0 loss to Logansport in its last game. The Knights snapped a four-game losing streak last week with a 31-26 win over West Lafayette, giving them momentum heading into Friday night.
The Knights’ passing attack could present a major challenge for Western. Lafayette Central Catholic averages 294.7 passing yards per game, while Western’s pass defense has struggled to slow opposing quarterbacks this season. The Panthers’ run-first offense also managed just 83 rushing yards and no touchdowns against Logansport. Western will need to improve on both sides of the ball to avoid dropping another Hoosier Conference game.
Winner: Lafayette Central Catholic
Northwestern (4-3) vs Rochester (3-4)
Northwestern enters Friday night’s matchup with Rochester looking to snap a two-game losing streak after falling 54-35 to Oak Hill at home last week. Rochester has lost three straight, including a 22-8 loss at Northfield last week. The Tigers have allowed at least 54 points in each of their last two games, while Rochester has scored just 28 points during its three-game skid.
Rochester has struggled to stop the run in its losses, allowing an average of 262 rushing yards per game. Northwestern should look to take advantage by establishing the run and controlling the pace of the game. The Tigers will need a stronger defensive performance against a Rochester offense that has struggled recently. However, home-field advantage gives the Zebras the edge.
Winner: Rochester
Class 2A No. 7 Eastern (Greentown) (7-0) vs Class 1A No. 12 Sheridan (5-2)
Class 2A No. 7 Eastern enters Friday night’s matchup with Class 1A No. 12 Sheridan after a 56-12 win at Linton last week. Sheridan also enters with momentum after defeating Delphi 52-12. The Comets and Blackhawks currently occupy the top two spots in the Hoosier Heartland Conference standings, making Friday’s matchup especially important in the conference race.
Eastern has one of the state’s top scoring offenses, ranking 23rd in scoring and 22nd in average margin of victory. The Comets have consistently pulled away in the second half throughout the season, while Sheridan has scored at least 42 points in four of its last five games. Eastern’s consistency on both sides of the ball should be enough to slow Sheridan’s balanced offense and give the Comets another conference victory.
Winner: Eastern
Tri-Central (0-7) vs Taylor (0-7)
Taylor and Tri-Central enter Friday night’s matchup still searching for their first win of the season. Taylor fell 55-6 at Clinton Prairie last week, while Tri-Central was shut out 42-0 at North White. Both teams are 0-7, with Taylor hosting its Homecoming game Friday night.
Taylor’s offense has been more productive than Tri-Central’s throughout the season, led by senior running back Slater Farmer, who has rushed for 329 yards. Tri-Central’s offense has struggled all season, scoring just six points. Taylor’s offensive advantage should give the Titans the edge and put them in position to earn their first win of the season.
Winner: Taylor
Week 8 features several important matchups for Howard County teams as the regular season enters its final stretch. With conference standings taking shape and the postseason approaching, teams will look to build momentum and strengthen their position heading into the final weeks.
The Kokomo Post Sports team will be at Taylor on Friday night for the Titans’ Homecoming matchup against Tri-Central. Follow along for updates and coverage as Taylor looks to celebrate Homecoming with its first win of the season. We’ll have more coverage from around Howard County as Week 8 action unfolds.
Jay’s Stats
Last week: 5-0
2026-27 sports season: 26-7 (78.8%)
