2005 Crown Point Football Preview: Jansen, Ernest to lead high-powered offense with help from big line, loaded linebacking corps

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

8-12-2005

CROWN POINT (8-12-2005) - Don't bother to ask Crown Point coach Chip Pettit about Merrillville. The Pirates, the preseason No.1 in NW Indiana, are CP's arch-rivals and the favorites both in the Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) and the eight-team sectional one playoffs in October and November. But there's this other team that's got the Bulldogs attention this month. Another rival. Another neighbor.

CP has lost to Lowell five of the last six years and you get the impression they're a little tired of it.

"I would hope so," said Pettit Monday. "We know that Merrillville is down the line. But let's make no mistake. Our focus is totally on Lowell. The entire season isn't wrapped up in our first two games. But we're not thinking about anybody but Lowell."

With good reason. Lowell's 25-15 victory at Crown Point last year and the Devils' 20-14 win in Lowell in August of 2003 were nagging losses for the Bulldogs. Games they could have and should have won. Nights that stuck with them most of the season. The Red Devils, who return 14 starters off last year's Class 4A Sectional nine championship team, host CP in seven days in the most anticipated opening night game of the 2005 season in Lake County.

Like Lowell, CP's focus is also roping together a team that outsiders feel is very gifted offensively. Crown Point returns almost all their offensive skill players, more linebackers than they can use and a couple of big leaders in the offensive line. But two position changes may be the key to the early part of the season. Pettit has switched former linebacker Jon Sertich to strong safety and former tight end Chris Rutherford to defensive end. Jon Sertich was moved for the best of all possible reasons. CP had too many linebackers.

"That's a nice problem to have," smiled Pettit. "We wanted Jon in a position where he can use his speed and not worry so much about having to take on fullbacks and linemen," said Pettit. "I think he really likes the change. There's some comfort in knowing that you've got one of your best tacklers 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage with no one to block him."

The switch of Rutherford to defensive end is another example of taking a player from a well-stocked position and dropping him in a pond that needs a big fish.

"Chris played a lot of tight end last year and he'll still play TE in certain situations," explains Pettit, who was looking for a replacement for graduated all-area star Justin Sprehe. "Mike Damjanovic is extremely quick. I don't want to say he's playing at Justin Sprehe's level but he's that type of player. He's hard to block. Rutherford's a little more of a sturdy, anchor-type defensive end. That's a position switch that's worked out."

The loaded position on the 2005 Bulldogs is clearly linebacker, even with Sertich heading out to the perimeter.

"That's a good problem to have," Pettit says. "We've got (Matt) Schillo, (Nick) Ciochina and (Vince) Lewis. Vince will be a three-year starter and there's not much he hasn't seen. He's really good in taking control and making sure that everybody has their assignment."

"With that said, Schillo is our emotional leader," added Pettit. He's fun to be around because he's always got it cranked up. Defense is an emotional deal. Those two together are a pretty good combo. Nick Ciochina will be the other outside linebacker and the other LB-safety will be Chris Wilson or Jordan Rhye."

"We've got five linebackers and they've all had a good summer. We're optimistic about all of them and now we need to see them against different colored jerseys. They're all kids who are between 5-10 and 6-foot, all between 180 and 200 pounds except for Vince Lewis. He's about 220. It does give us flexibility to confront formations."

"Nick Conway is back and Nick, we feel, came into his own last year," said Pettit. I expect him to be a top-of-the-conference defensive lineman. He'll be very important for us because we're replacing two ends and we're looking for another tackle."

When Petit took over five years ago, he looked at a 50-60 man roster and said privately that CP just won't be able to compete in the big school Duneland Athletic Conference until they get those numbers up in the 80s and 90s. Not counting freshman, the 2005 pre-season roster includes 85 players. That's how you end up with five linebackers and an assembly line of offensive line hopefuls.

"We've got (Bryan) Gertsch (6-3, 240) and Marcus Robinson back along with Mark Davis (6-1, 200)," said Pettit. "Robinson and Gertsch are guards. Gertsch started the second half of the year at tackle. Marcus is up to 280 pounds. "We're looking for them to take the lead in the line this year and be anchors on the line."

"Mark has had reconstructive surgery on both shoulders and I don't know if he'll be able to play this year. The first one he had done is pretty much back. The second one is taking more time. We don't want Mark to have to go through (re-habbing) what he did last year. He's a team captain and he doesn't have anything to prove to anybody. We'd like to get him on the field but if not, he'll continue to help the younger kids."

"Andrew Krumwied has taken the lead at the center position. He's a basketball player and he's a little tall for the position. Probably better equipped for tackle but we felt we needed a kid with a little more talent at center. We're seeing a lot more odd defenses with somebody right over the nose and we felt we needed someone with a little more athletic ability to handle that."

"We've got four kids at the tackles to fill two spots," said Pettit. "Kurt Wermers (6-4, 255), Zach Cecich (6-2, 210), Zac Brumm (5-10, 220), they're sophomores and Steve Williams (6-2, 255). He played some defensive tackle last year. The three sophomores are as good a set of three young linemen as we've had. Cecich and Wermers are further along than (2005 grad and Western Michigan freshman) Steve Ellingsen was as a sophomore."

"Brumm is a little undersized but he's as good a football player pound for pound as anybody we've got who is a sophomore," added Pettit. I don't know where he's going to fit in but if he keeps playing as well as he has, we'll find a spot for him somewhere. I think he'll eventually end up at defensive tackle."

The secondary is much more experienced than it was in 2004 and it will need to be because foes wont run on CP as easily and will turn to the air.

"Jeremy Plummer, Matt Ernest and Ryan Forney will play the corners," said Pettit. "Ryan's also going to play some WR for us. At this point, we'll leave him (Ernest) on the field at corner and at WR all the time. I think the skill kids that don't take the physical pounding, they can run all day. We're not going to use him on kickoffs. Kickoff return kids have to slam up into that wedge at full speed. That's high risk and we don't want him to do that. On a punt return, a kid can use his quickness and it's tougher to get a shot on him. Now, I'm not saying he'll never be back there, but in punt returners, I want kids back there who I'm sure will make good decisions."

On offense, CP will use one running back and an 'H' back, an all purpose blocker and receiver who will only occasionally run the ball.

"We've got Tommy Parks (5-11, 200) and Danny Byrd (5-6, 190) there," said Pettit. "Danny is also our long snapper. The big thing there is that you've got to run into linebackers at full speed and you've got to be versatile enough to get out of the backfield and catch passes out in the flat. They'll give us a nice combination. Sertich and Kaiser will split the tailback position. Brad Mallers will handle extra points. Donny Kaiser will kick off and kick field goals. I just feel that with Donny running the ball, we need a viable kicking option if he gets hurt."

After rolling up 2,000 passing yards in 2004, the Bulldog passing attack returns almost everyone, hopefully with the same results. "Ernest, Tommy Isailovich and Ryan Forney (5-8, 160)," said Pettit. "Ernest's numbers speak for themselves. He's unbelievably gifted. Tommy and Ryan will compliment him well. Matt Jansen? He's got all the skills and he's experienced. We just talk to him about how great players make the players around them great. Not that he doesn't try to do that already but he just needs everyone to feel that he has confidence in them so they can do their best."

CROWN POINT (2005)

Coach Petit (18-25, 4 seasons)

Enrollment: 2,190 - Class 5A - all games - 7 p.m.

*2004 Record: 4-7 (lost Sectional 1 semifinal at home 34-19 to eventual sectional champion Merrillville)

Crown Point 2005 Schedule

8-19 (F) at Lowell (WWCA-AM 1270)

8-26 (F) Hobart (WWCA-AM 1270, WEFM 95.9 FM)

9-2 (F) MERRILLVILLE (WJOB-AM 1230)

9-9 (F) at LAKE CENTRAL

9-16 (F) at PORTAGE

9-23 (F) VALPARAISO

9-30 (F) LaPORTE

10-7 (F) at CHESTERTON

10-14 (F) MICHIGAN CITY

Crown Point 2004 Record (4-7)

8-20 (L) 15-25 Lowell (9-4)

8-27 (L) 17-21 at Hobart (9-2)

9-3 (W) 7-3 at Merrillville (11-2)

9-10 (W) 27-6 Lake Central (1-9)

9-17 (L) 17-24 Portage (8-4)

9-24 (L) 14-35 at Valparaiso (6-5)

10-1 L) 23-37 at LaPorte (7-4)

10-8 (W) 17-14 Chesterton (5-5)

10-15 (L) 17-26 at Michigan City (4-6)

5A, Sectional 1

10-22 (W) 46-3 Lake Central (1-9)

10-29 (L) 19-34 Merrillville (11-2)

*Key losses from 2004: OG - Steve Ellingsen (1st-team all-area); DB-WR Mike Smith - 20 catches-261 yards; 12 KO returns-18.3; 11 punt returns-10.8, 57 tackles; DE-Justin Sprehe - 61 tackles, 5.5 sacks; P-Nick Soltis - 33 punts - 31.3 avg.

*Key returning players for 2005: Matt Jansen (QB) 133-242, 1,976 yards receiving, 15 TDs, 10 interceptions; (all-time CP records in completions, attempts and total yards). Matt Ernest (WR) 47 catches, 1,031 yards receiving, 5TDs, 52 tackles, 5 interceptions (2nd all-time at CP in receptions and yardage); Jon Sertich (TB-S) 119 carries, 695 yards rushing , 5 TDs, 62 tackles, 4 sacks; Donny Keiser (RB-PK-P) 71-401 yards, 4-of-6 FGs (long-43), 10 punts (45.7); Vince Lewis (LB) 94 tackles; two-year starter Matt Schillo (LB) 72 tackles; Nick Ciochina (LB) 57 tackles; Jeremy Plummer (DB) 44 tackles; Marcus Robinson (OG) started 11 games; Nick Conway (DT) 49 tackles, 2 sacks; Brad Mallers (PK) 13-17 XPs, 3-of-3 field goals.