For the first time since November 2025, Friday night lights are finally back in the South Bend Tribune coverage area. There are four defending IHSAA sectional champions − Concord (5A), LaVille (1A), Penn (6A) and South Bend Saint Joseph (4A) − and the Minutemen and Huskies also won regional titles.
Saint Joseph opens its season on the road at 7 p.m. ET against Lakeland, while Concord hosts cross-county rival Elkhart at the newly re-opened Jake Field at the same time. The South Bend Tribune’s Scott Davidson will be in Dunlap for coverage.
The Kingsmen host Valparaiso at 7:30 p.m. ET in their first game since losing a 2025 regional championship game 41-30 to Fort Wayne Carroll. The Lancers are up to Class 2A with new head coach Matt Thacker, and they open the season at 7 p.m. ET at Triton.
Perhaps the most intriguing game in the coverage area is Mishawaka vs. Mishawaka Marian, set for 7 p.m. ET at Marian. The Knights are led by first-year head coach Joe Calderone, who was previously on head coach Keith Kinder’s Cavemen staff. Kyle Smedley will have coverage for the South Bend Tribune.
Below were our live scores and updates from all the week 1 IHSAA football action across the South Bend area!
Week 1 South Bend area IHSAA football scores, updates
Mishawaka at Marian
FINAL:
Running clock:
Mishawaka rolling:
Mishawaka scores first:
Checking in:
South Bend Adams at Culver Academy
Adams wins!
South Bend Saint Joseph at Lakeland
Valparaiso at Penn
Elkhart at Concord
7:22pm: Elkhart with a safety to go ahead, 2-0, with 4:30 left in Q1.
Wawasee at Jimtown
Angola at Goshen
Churubusco at Bremen
John Glenn at Boone Grove
LaVille at Triton
NorthWood at Columbia City
Full South Bend area week 1 football schedule
All times Eastern
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Scores, updates of South Bend area week 1 IHSAA football games
Reporting by Austin Hough, Kyle Smedley and Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin Hough, Kyle Smedley and Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
