Class 5A Sectional 1

Portage (6-5) at Merrillville (10-1)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Radio/Internet: WEFM-FM (95.9), rrsn.com, WGVE-FM (88.7), regionsports.com.

Breaking it down: Merrillville's 49-27 win over the Indians in Week 4 marked its highest scoring output of the season as well as the most points the Pirates allowed to a Duneland Athletic Conference team this season. "(The Indians) were a good football team (then) and we played well enough to win," Pirates coach Zac Wells said. "They had a lot of big plays in the game and we had a few turnovers on our side of the field that they turned into points. We can't give them those types of opportunities. Hopefully we're at the point where we're pretty solid in all facets of the game. Execution is what it's all about at this point." Turnovers were an issue for Merrillville during the regular season, but it has not given up the ball in the postseason. Wells said his defense will not adjust its game plan to take away do-it-all Indians junior Jake Dixon. "A lot of people focus on (Dixon and QB Zach Huston), but they have a lot of other explosive players," Wells said. "If you fall into the trap of focusing on one of them, then the other will beat you, or focusing on both of them, then someone else has the chance to beat you." Indians coach Mark Peterson is encouraged by the fact his team scored 27 points on the Pirates, yet was stopped twice on fourth-and-goal plays. He hopes his defense can maintain some of its sectional momentum -- it has two consecutive shutouts -- in order to slow the Merrillville offense. "We're excited to play in a game of this magnitude and feel very positive with some of the consistency we've started to reach that we deserve to be here," Peterson said. "I think the kids have developed some confidence. Unfortunately, it's taken some time, but we've grown up in the last three weeks. We feel very positive that it'll be a very good game." -- Jim Peters

Class 4A Sectional 9

Morton (10-1) at Hobart (4-7)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Radio/Internet: WZVN-FM (107.1), rrsn.com, WJOB-AM (1230), heyregion.com.

Breaking it down: Hobart coach Wally McCormack was matter-of-fact when asked about tonight's game. "We've changed our name, we are no longer the Brickies. We are the Washington Generals," McCormack said, referring to the basketball team that showed up to lose to the Harlem Globetrotters for decades. The fact that Hobart lost to Morton 49-13 on Oct. 9, when the Governors were without two of their best players, is more fuel for Hobart to play the underdog theme to the hilt. "We had two or three kids withdraw from school because they were so afraid of playing them," McCormack joked. "We have to play the '85 Bears and that's what they were before they got Eddie (Malatinka) back. What are they now?" While Hobart went 2-7 in the regular season, the Brickies are on a three-game winning streak, after losing seven straight. Here's what is in Hobart's favor. In this series the home team has won the last six games. The Brickies are seeking their first sectional championship since 1997 and 20th overall. Morton has never won a sectional. "They are confident now, we didn't run into that a month ago, that will be an issue," Morton coach Roy Richards said. "I think we're going to get their best punch. But everything has to go wrong for us to lose. If we go over there and not take it serious and make mistakes, we could be in trouble. We're playing for something we've never had before. We're just emphasizing us. That's what we can control." Kendall Gunn led Hobart in last week's 35-6 win over Hammond, rushing for 128 yards and three touchdowns. In Morton's 34-20 win over Griffith last Friday, Cody Moczynski scored three touchdowns and Dominique Peterson had an 85-yard kickoff return for a late touchdown. "We're the Washington Generals now," McCormack said. "We hope people are calling us Buster Douglas on Saturday." -- Steve Hanlon

Class 4A Sectional 10

Concord (8-3) at Lowell (10-1)

When: 6:30 p.m. today.

Radio/Internet: WTMK-FM (88.5), rrsn.com, WWCA-AM (1270), regionsports.com.

Breaking it down: Lowell is seeking its seventh consecutive sectional title. These two teams met most recently in 2007, when Lowell defeated Concord 31-21 in a sectional championship game. In 2005 and 2006, Lowell went 1-1 against Concord in regional play. This year's Concord team limped into the playoffs with a three-game losing streak but rebounded with blowout wins against Logansport and South Bend Riley. Concord and Lowell have one common opponent: Plymouth. The Minutemen lost to Plymouth 41-27 in Week 7 of the regular season, and Lowell defeated Plymouth 14-6 in its sectional opener. Concord's offense uses a shotgun, spread formation, and junior QB Anthony Yoder is a formidable passing and running threat, Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy said. "Our defense is gonna be all spread out defending their formation, so we're gonna have to run to the football as a unit," Kennedy said. "Our tackling needs to be at a premium. And they don't just throw the shallow routes. They throw the deep ball as well, so we need to keep the ball in front of us." Kennedy also hopes the Red Devils can limit Concord's offensive opportunities by dominating the time of possession. Last week, Lowell accomplished that mission in its 24-7 victory over South Bend Washington. Red Devils running back Brandon Grubbe had 55 carries for 294 yards and three touchdowns en route to becoming Northwest Indiana's all-time rushing leader. "Their offensive line comes off the ball better than any team we have played this year," Concord coach Tim Dawson said of Lowell. "Their defense is very physical (and) in your face. We must be able to make big plays on offense and special teams and attempt to get a few stops on defense to have a chance to win." -- Nate Ulrich

Class 3A Sectional 17

Culver Academy (9-2) at Andrean (8-3)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Internet: regionsports.com.

Breaking it down: Defense will be the key tonight, and it just depends whose defense will dominate the game. Culver has not allowed a point in two sectional games, while the 59ers have allowed 13 points and eight first downs in their sectional games. "If we play like we did against Lowell in Week 9, it will be over early," Andrean coach Phil Mason said. "If we play like we did against Knox last week, it will be scary." In last week's 28-6 win at Knox, Andrean fumbled the ball three times and was penalized for 60 yards. Senior quarterback Richard Schmidt threw for three touchdowns and had a 39-yard scoring scamper. Andrean's defense only allowed 77 yards last week. Culver runs an option offense out of a Wing T set. QB Josh Wright is quick and dangerous when he gets to the outside. Culver doesn't throw the ball very often, but when the Eagles do they have a big target in 6-foot-5 WR Jawann Brescacin, who averages 25 yards per reception. Mason knows his special teams have to improve after last Friday, where the Niners dropped and fumbled two punt returns, had a punt blocked and allowed a kickoff return to be brought back to their own 9. "We were atrocious," Mason said. "We have to continue to play good defense, run the ball effectively and have good special teams. If we can run the ball, that will open things up for the rest of our offense. We want to keep everything balanced." This will be Andrean's last game at Father Eckert Field regardless of what happens. The way the tournament draw works out, the 59ers will be on the road for both the regional and semistate if they continue winning. -- Steve Hanlon

Class 2A Sectional 25

Wheeler (11-0) at Rensselaer (9-2)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Breaking it down: How good is Wheeler? The Bearcats get another chance to silence remaining skeptics who say they haven't beaten anybody good yet when they take on the defending sectional champion Bombers. "We do not get into schedules. We couldn't care less who they play," Rensselaer coach Chris Meeks said. "Looking at (Wheeler), they execute very well. They know exactly what they want to do. They're very disciplined. They have outstanding skill athletes like they always do and I'm equally impressed with their line. Everybody talks about how big we are. We have a 6-10, 315-pound kid (Ben Davisson), but other than that, they outsize us." Wheeler coach Dan Klimczak is preparing his defense for a more diversified Rensselaer attack.The Bombers clearly remain a run-first team with Ben Ahler and Justin Bohannon, but QB Nick Green gives them the ability to throw when they want to put the ball in the air. "They're more multifaceted than in the past," Klimczak said. "They're able to spread you out a little more. They're a very athletic, very physical team. To be successful, we'll have to be able to match them in the trenches and match their intensity level because it's probably going to be the highest we've seen. Emotions will be running very high at their place." How will the Bearcats react in a hostile environment if they face some adversity? Klimczak thinks they'll be fine. "I'm not worried about the wheels falling off," he said. "I'm very confident we'll respond in pressure situations. It's what we've prepared for all year." The teams share three common opponents -- North Judson, Kankakee Valley and North Newton. Both were 3-0 against them. "Wheeler's an outstanding football team," Meeks said. "But I really like ours, too." -- Jim Peters

Class A Sectional 33

Culver Community (7-4) at Whiting (7-4)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Radio/Internet: WJOB-AM (1230, tape delay, after Morton-Hobart), heyregion.com, sportsjuice.com, midamericabroadcasting.com.

Breaking it down: For the first time in three years, Whiting has strung together four consecutive wins, allowing just 4.5 points per game while recording two shutouts and outscoring its opponents 138-18 in that span. But the Oilers needed two blocked kicks and a Juwan Simmons 73-yard kickoff return for a touchdowns in last week's 14-12 victory over South Central in the sectional semifinal. "South Central won the battle, but our special teams came up big," Whiting coach Jeff Cain said. If Simmons, who has 42 receptions for 814 yards and 10 total touchdowns, or fellow junior WR Steve Kieltyka can get into the open field, Culver will be in for a long night. The forecast calls for perfect football weather, as the rain will finally stay away in a clear night at 57 degrees for kickoff. "All of this rain lately has been a blessing because we are prepared for those conditions, but weather won't be a factor in the game," Cain said. After losing their last three regular-season games, the Cavaliers have put it together to win both of their playoff matchups, including a 20-13 win last week over two-time defending sectional champ Triton. "That win was an eye-opener for them," Cain said. "They've got a good coach over there and they run the option and play-action pass pretty well, so we've got our work cut out for us." Whiting is seeking its first sectional championship since 1997 and is in its first title game since 2005, when the Oilers lost to West Central 45-21. "This is what the kids play for," Cain said. "In the recent past it hasn't worked out, but after 12 weeks under our belt, our freshmen and sophomores aren't considered those anymore." -- Paul Honeycutt