The Merrillville (IN) varsity football team will play a home playoff game against Valparaiso (IN) on Friday, November 15, at 7 p.m.

What: Indiana High School Football
Who: Merrillville (IN) vs Valparaiso (IN)
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch live on NFHS Network

High School Football Preview: Valparaiso vs. Merrillville Playoff Showdown

This Friday, Valparaiso and Merrillville will face off in a high-stakes playoff rematch, set to take place at Merrillville’s home field. The last time these teams met, Merrillville came out on top, delivering a decisive 35-7 victory. Now, with both teams riding high on impressive seasons, fans can expect an intense and competitive game.

Season Records and Rankings

• Valparaiso: Overall record of 8-3, 5-2 in conference play
• Merrillville: Overall record of 10-1, 6-1 in conference play

Merrillville has maintained a slight edge in conference standing, holding the third rank in Class 6A for Indiana, compared to Valparaiso’s tenth rank. With Merrillville’s nearly perfect season, boasting a 91% win rate, and Valparaiso’s respectable 72.7%, both teams have shown they’re a force on the field.

Scoring Trends and Team Averages

• Valparaiso: Averages 26.7 points per game, with consistent scoring across all quarters. Notably, they tend to start and finish strong, scoring 6.9 points in the first quarter and 6.8 in the fourth.
• Merrillville: Averages 35.2 points per game, showing significant strength early on with 12.4 points in the first quarter and peaking at 14.4 points in the second.

Merrillville’s ability to establish a lead early, combined with Valparaiso’s steady pace, could make for an interesting dynamic, especially if Valparaiso can keep Merrillville from breaking away early in the game.

Head-to-Head Analysis

In their October 4 matchup, Merrillville defeated Valparaiso 35-7, capitalizing on their strong first half where they scored 27 of their total points. Valparaiso struggled to get their offense moving, scoring just one touchdown in the first quarter and none afterward. With adjustments from that game, Valparaiso will look to avoid a repeat outcome.

Key Statistics and Team Leaders

• Rushing: Valparaiso averages 178.1 rushing yards per game, led by #4 Thomas Burda with 115.1 yards per game. Merrillville averages a slightly higher 182.8 rushing yards per game, with #2 Jac’Quarious Johnson contributing an average of 94.3 yards per game.
• Passing: Valparaiso’s #8 Kellan Hosek leads with 143.7 passing yards per game, while Merrillville’s #17 Jordan Sanders averages 101.2 yards.
• Defense: Both teams are evenly matched in tackles per game, with Merrillville slightly edging out with 60.4 per game compared to Valparaiso’s 60.0.

Defensive leaders include Valparaiso’s #11 Brendan Gaghan with 8.8 tackles per game and Merrillville’s #35 Aarion Kuykendall with 6.4 tackles. With such closely matched defensive stats, this aspect of the game may be critical.

Common Opponent Comparisons

Both teams faced similar opponents this season, including Andrean, La Porte, Michigan City, Chesterton, Crown Point, Portage, and Lake Central. Valparaiso went 8-1 against these shared rivals, while Merrillville held a 6-1 record. Notably, Merrillville’s single loss came against Crown Point, while Valparaiso also suffered a loss to them with a similar score deficit.

Keys to the Game

For Valparaiso, the focus will be on finding a way to contain Merrillville’s early-game explosiveness and converting on scoring opportunities, particularly in the second and third quarters, where they’ve historically struggled. A stronger defensive stand and more efficient offense will be essential.

For Merrillville, repeating their previous game plan of establishing an early lead could be critical. With their balanced attack and home-field advantage, Merrillville will aim to keep Valparaiso on their back foot from the start.

As both teams battle for a place in the next round of the playoffs, Friday’s game promises to be a thriller between two highly competitive teams.