Patriots to open at home

INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots open postseason play at home for the fourth consecutive year.

In the IHSAA football sectional pairings show Sunday night, Jay County High School received a matchup with the New Haven Bulldogs Oct. 25 to begin the Class 4A Sectional 20 tournament.

Jay County (0-8) has played at Harold E. Schutz Stadium to begin sectional each of the last three years, including a 35-21 loss to Leo last season. The Patriots beat the Logansport Berries 22-21 in the 2017 opener before falling to the Wayne Generals 9-6 in the semifinal. A 41-21 loss to Greenfield-Central put an end to the JCHS season in the 2016 sectional opener.

The Patriots, who have lost eight straight games to start the year for the first time in program history, meet the 3-5 Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Oct. 25. The winner advances to the semifinal against either No. 4 Marion (7-1) or Wayne (0-8).

The top half of the sectional bracket has Huntington North (2-6) traveling to take on South Side (1-7), while No. 8 Mississinewa (7-1) hosts No. 10 Delta (7-1).

Semifinal games will be Nov. 1, and the sectional championship is Nov. 8.