Week four is highlighted by the match-up of undefeated teams Andrean (3-0) and Munster (3-0). There are two mismatches not worthy of picks including Michigan City (2-1) and Valparaiso (2-1), North Judson (3-0) and Culver Military (2-1).  Take Valpo and North Judson and forget about it. The Gary teams are hard to pick because you never see them play but I'd take almost everybody over Horace Mann.

Rensselaer and South Central are in over their heads at Tipton and Adams Central respectively.

Munster has dominated everyone they've met so far rolling by 3A Gavit 54-13, 4A Morton 41-13 and 5A Lake Central 41-13. The Mustangs have an experienced team and a balanced offense with 59 first downs, 676 yards rushing and 342 yards passing, almost perfect ratios considering how much they've  been in the lead (they didn't need to pass) in all these games.

Halfback Steve Smith (5-11, 200) isn't fast but he's run for six TDs  behind a good-sized offensive line led by senior tackle Chris Herr (6-2, 223). The Mustangs have other runners in junior Brian Hayes (6-0, 178) and junior Nick Cosme (6-0-, 193) but they are largely a power team from a running standpoint. What has elevated them this year is wide receiver Mike Helfen, a star wide receiver and kick returner who  has scored three TDs including an 85-yard kickoff return.

But Munster's defense has also scored three TDs, indicating that the opposition has contributed to its demise against the Mustangs.

Andrean has averaged just over 32 points per game in the early going after a 13-2 season in 2001. They have scored 14 first quarter  points in each of their first three games against Hobart, Bishop Noll and Griffith. All-state candidate Brett Goins (31 of 56, 363 yards, 6 TDs) made the big play in overtime last week, a 15-yard pass to sophomore Tommy Finn that gave the 59ers a 26-23 win over Griffith in a game they should've won in regulation time.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN:  That Andrean allowed 248 yards rushing last week is a bad sign for this game. Munster can run the ball with Smith and the 59ers will be hard-pressed to stop it. I think Andrean takes a 7-0 lead but the Mustangs win the battle along the offensive line.  Munster takes the lead in the second quarter and, with the help of a turnover TD, the Mustangs beat Andrean  for the first time since 1999 in a relatively low-scoring game.

MUNSTER    20,   ANDREAN     14


Other games     WEEK 4  (3-week totals 25 of 34, 73.5%)

 Noll (1-2) 27,  Calumet (1-2) 20: Calumet's loss to Lake Station had to be discouraging. Bishop Noll may have righted themselves last week against Gavit.

Morton (2-1) 28,  Whiting  (2-1) 14: Morton's only loss is to Munster and Munster may go 9-0. Whiting should never beat Morton.

Griffith (1-2) 24,  (Mishawaka)  Marian  (1-2) 12: Marian lost 37-0 and gave up 296 yards rushing last week to Three Rivers, Michigan (1-1), a team that isn't a top-10 squad.

River Forest (0-3) 20,  Lake Station (1-2) 12: Lake Station broke their 19-game losing streak last week but they don't have enough defense to control River Forest and Ricky Price.  RF needs this one. Lake Station needed the one last week.

Clark  (0-3) 8,  Gavit (0-3) 7:  Gavit has the better team but they've scored only 27 points all season and they've gained only 17 first downs. I don't know what's wrong. Clark can't throw the ball to save their lives but they have battled for a quarter or two against three pretty good offensive teams (Griffith, Morton and Hammond). It's an upset but Clark wins a defensive struggle.

Kankakee Valley (2-1) 21, North Newton (0-3) 14: KV wins against a rival. It won't be easy. KV was winless last year.

LaPorte (2-1)  17, Chesterton  (3-0) 12:  LaPorte defensed Valparaiso very well last week and Chesterton is big and strong but one-dimensional. LaPorte has more speed.

Portage (3-0)  27, Merrillville (1-2) 14: The Pirates have to be still reeling from their loss to Crown Point last week. Their secondary people, routed by Clayton Richard and McCutcheon in week two and shredded in the late going by Crown Point and Matt Cowan in week three. Now they face the DAC's top passer in Adam Hasiak.

Crown Point (3-0) 26, Hobart (1-2) 7:  Hobart's only scored 30 points all year. Crown Point, at home, has far too much offense.

Lowell (2-1)  10,   Highland (2-1) 9: The defenses are better than the offenses here. Key injuries on both sides.Two of the last four meetings have gone to overtime.

(South Bend) St. Joseph's 35, East Chicago (0-3) 21:  St. Joseph's has a good secondary and they'll intercept more than one pass. EC has too much youth on the offensive and defensive lines and they can't settle on one QB.