The postseason is here, and it begins with a familiar Northern Lakes Conference rivalry.

NorthWood hosts Plymouth Friday night in the opening round of Class 4A Sectional 18, with the Panthers looking to defend their home field and the Pilgrims hoping to keep their season alive. It’s our Sports Michiana Game of the Week, streaming exclusively on IHSAATV.

The teams met September 11th in a game that went down to the wire as NorthWood escaped with a 31-24 victory. Now, the stakes are even higher as the longtime NLC foes meet for the first time in the postseason since 2018.

NorthWood enters the sectional opener at 5-4 overall after finishing 4-3 in the Northern Lakes Conference. Plymouth is 2-7 overall and went 1-6 in league play, but the records don’t tell the whole story. Both teams have played their share of close games, with five games apiece decided by a touchdown or less. That history suggests Friday night’s matchup could be another tight battle.

The Rockies will have to overcome a difficult recent stretch against their Panthers. NorthWood has won 10 of the last 11 meetings between the schools, with Plymouth’s most recent victory coming in 2024.

The Sports Michiana Game of the Week kicks off Friday at 7 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Important viewing change: Per IHSAA guidelines, our postseason broadcasts are not available on YouTube or Facebook. Friday’s Plymouth at NorthWood sectional opener will stream exclusively on the Sports Michiana page at IHSAATV.

The easiest way to find the broadcast is to visit sportsmichiana.com/watch. You’ll be redirected directly to our IHSAATV broadcast page.

Make sure you update your viewing routine before kickoff so you don’t miss a minute of postseason football!