'No Injuries' highlight Bulldogs-Trojans football scrimmage at Crown Point 

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

8-12-2006

HIGHLAND (8-12-2006) - It's very hard to get much from the scrimmages that Indiana high schools play.  Most times you just line up the names with the numbers.  Friday night's Crown Point-Highland scrimmage was one of those times.  In perfect weather in Crown Point, both the Bulldogs and Trojans were respectable Friday night in the annual pre-season scrimmage, the final 2006 dress rehearsal for both schools.
    
  "Nobody got hurt," said Crown Point coach Chip Petit.  "We've got a cookout for both teams and we're gong to start preparing for Lowell.  In that respect, we got what we needed to."

The Crown Point Bulldogs have 103 players on their 2006 roster drawn from three grades.

Junior QB Blake Mascarella #6 has a strong left arm for throwing, or handing off to key players like senior RB Tommy Parks #49.

Soph RB Nick Bruno showed some running prowess against Highland in the Aug. 11 scrimmage.

Crown Point's DL Nick Hladic #93 closes in for a tackle of Highland's RB Emilio Covarrubias #37 in scrimmage play Aug. 11.

This scrimmage was notable for what did not happen.  Nobody appeared to be injured seriously on either side.  In the 2005 scrimmage, Crown Point quarterback Matt Jansen was injured and missed six weeks.  Nothing like that happened Friday, partly due to a QB protection rule.  Quarterbacks wore different color jerseys from all the other players and the whistle blew immediately when a defender touched the passer.

Crown Point's Blake Mascarello hit a couple of passes to senior wide receiver Matt Ernest, one for a  40-yard touchdown.  The lefty QB was was 8 of 13 for 140 yards and three TDs.  Tommy Parks (5-11, 205), looking bigger and stronger than he was in 2005, was used at tailback and ran well, gaining 46 yards on six carries.  But CP was very basic.  They did not use many of the three and four wide receiver sets they will certainly use once the season begins.  Starting halfback Jon Sertich carried the ball twice.

"It's a long season," said Pettit.  "Jon's going to get his carries.  Jon's started at tailback for two seasons now.  I didn't see any reason to use him a lot tonight."

Both teams seemed relatively content to run the ball.  Highland QBs Adam Musielak (6-1, 181) and Jordan Graf (6-1, 171) did not embarrass themselves, but neither was asked to throw the ball much.  Musielak was 8-of-10 for 70 yards.  Sophomore halfback Johnny Tyler (5-9, 161) scored two late Trojan TDs.  The Bulldogs gave up some yardage early and late in the evening but with so many new starters on both sides it was very hard to tell when the 'true' first string was on the field.

"I thought Blake threw well," said Pettit.  "There were a couple he'd like to have back, but that happens.  The biggest thing was I thought he looked more confident conducting his business."

The CP first string offensive line will be senior Andy Krumwied (6-5, 245), Kurt Wermers (6-5, 270) Matt Polus (6-1, 240), Matt Childress (6-2, 245) and Cody Blue (6-2, 210).  Krumwied moved from center to guard with Polus taking over at center.  Tight end Zach Cecich (6-2, 220) made his debut at defensive end, although he will still be used at his 2005 position, tight end.  Pettit acknowledged it is a gamble to take Cecich and Zach Brumm (5-11, 220) off the offensive line but he said publicly that these changes might be coming even before the 2006 season.

"It could be (a gamble), " he said, "but offensively and defensively we play two very different styles and we are looking for two very different types of kids.  On defense, we're looking for more speed and pure strength and on offense, we want the taller, rangier more explosive types."

Senior Danny Byrd (5-9, 206), a former fullback, made his debut on the defensive line and Pettit cited another motivation here.

"Last year Danny and Tommy shared that H-back position (the runner in a one back set) and I really don't want two seniors sharing time at the same position," he said.  "I want to groom a younger player as a backup to get ready for next season.  Tommy (Parks) was going to get a lot of carries and I wanted to give Danny a chance to get on the field.  Danny's versatile enough to move to the defensive line.  He's quick."

One offensive standout was sophomore halfback Nick Bruno (5-6, 140), a wrestler and baseball player, who ran well.  Soph QB Marcus Shrewsbury tossed a late TD pass to soph tight end Nik Pusara (6-2, 180) and soph fullback Mike Kozlowski scored a late TD.

The big question was at linebacker, where five CP defenders graduated last June and no set lineup was in place as of Friday.  Adam Kukulski (5-11, 180), Joe Patrick (6-1, 175), Brandon Bork (5-10, 165) and Lance LeMere (6-0, 185) were among those who played.  Nick Cottrell (5-9, 205) sat out due to injury.

But Crown Point had about 90 players in uniform while Highland had about 40.  It's a mistake to make any overall judgements based on the scrimmage.  Crown Point was the physically bigger and stronger team, but they did not dominate until the latter stages when reserves were inserted.  The Bulldogs will need to be better against Lowell next Friday in the 2006 season opener.

"I think we have great respect for Lowell," said Pettit.  "The games are so competitive.  It's a border community, a rivalry.  It's the 'leather helmet' game.  Does their state championship add to that?  Sure it does.  I would venture to say that Crown Point and Lowell have never met coming off as good a season as the two schools had last year."

DOG NOTES:  The official CP football roster showed 21 seniors, 38 juniors and 44 sophomores as of Aug. 11, a total of 104 players in three grades.  That's quite a few, but it won't be the largest roster in the Duneland Athletic Conference.  Merrillville's roster, as of Aug. 11, had 117 players including only one freshman, defensive tackle Travis James (5-11, 215) and 54 sophomores.  By comparison, Lowell has 57 players on the roster.

Crown Point sent no one to Lafayette to scout the Lowell-Jefferson game in advance of the two teams' season opener on Aug. 18.  They didn't have to.

"We'll meet and exchange films tomorrow morning," CP coach Chip Pettit said late Friday.  Lowell almost certainly scouted CP-Highland as they will play both.

Seniors Mike Damjanovic (6-0, 220) and Eric Manley (6-3, 240) were both on the sidelines with leg and foot injuries, which both said would not keep them out of the season opener against Lowell.  Damjanovic is a returning starter on the defensive line, while Manley was in the running for a starting offensive line position.  Junior linebacker Nick Cottrell (5-9, 205), who is also in the running for a starting spot, did not play due to injury.  It is less certain that Cottrell will be available against Lowell.

There was no place-kicking in the scrimmage but Petit said that Mike Lipton (6-0, 165) will do the booting for the Bulldogs. 

"Matt Ernest will punt," Pettit added.  "We used him on kickoff and extra points when (2006 graduate Donny) Keiser was hurt two years ago."

Griffith scored seven touchdowns on Merrillville in their scrimmage Friday in Merrillville, but that's very deceptive.  When Griffith used to scrimmage Crown Point, they ran all over the Bulldogs, too.  It's Griffith's offense.  The Panthers score on everybody in scrimmages.

"We don't prepare for the option," said Merrillville coach Zac Wells last week.  "So they could go right through us.  We just want to get our work in.  Chesterton plays it at the lower levels.  Crown Point plays a little of it.  That's why Griffith isn't a good scrimmage team for us.  We'll never see the option again."

Valparaiso quarterback Alex Sarkisian completed 17 of 25 passes in the Vikings' scrimmage against Lake Central.  Valpo's 1,000-yard rusher Hollis Ballard played, but did not carry the ball at all.