CROWN POINT (8-04-2011) Senior Tyler Kral probably said it best.

"Since I've been here," CP's starting defensive end said Monday on Crown Point's football field Monday, "I've wanted to get a picture in the trophy case. For winning the DAC or the sectional. We haven't done that yet."

So while Crown Point was 8-4 last year and saw excellent offensive numbers and good wins over Lowell, Lake Central, Portage and Munster, the lack of any type of championship left one big goal for this season.

"We always plan on playing late in the (post) season," said defensive end Billy Van Cleef. "You think about playing into November. Is it really hot now? Yeah, but we get used to it. I think that's going to make us tougher mentally and that's what it takes to win games late in the season."

It also takes a returning starting quarterback most of the time and some of CP's high hopes surround two-year-starting quarterback Joe Hopman, who threw for 20 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions in 12 games last season. While Blake Mascarello and Matt Jansen (back at CPHS as a varsity assistant) played parts of three years, you probably have to go all the way back to now-coach Chip Pettit 20 years ago to find a three-year starting QB at Crown Point.
 

"We'll do really well," Hopman said confidently, "because I think we all have the right attitude and that's what it takes. The games we lost last year we shouldn't have lost. That was on us. I don't see why we should lose those games this year."
 

Taking away a 45-20 home loss to Chesterton, which the boys would like to forget, the Bulldogs lost to arch rival Merrillville 24-21 and twice to DAC champ Valparaiso 10-7 and 16-6. Valparaiso was 13-1 last fall and no one in the DAC played them as well as Crown Point did.
 

"This summer we went down to Indianapolis," Kral said, "and we scrimmaged against Center Grove, Pike and Fishers. Some of the best teams in the state. It opened our eyes. But I think we can compete."
 

Teams go as far as their seniors carry them because nobody has the urgency that seniors do.
 

"I don't even know if I'm going to be playing football after this year," admitted Kral, who is the defending DAC wrestling champ and the third place state finisher at 215 pounds. "I don't know if I'll be playing football or wrestling in college. I might be throwing (in track). This might be it."
 

"It's the last time you'll play with the people you grew up with," said Van Cleef, who will be one of 10 returning starters for the Bulldogs. "You may go and play at the next level but you aren't playing with your friends anymore."
 

"Its exciting," said Hopman of the run-up to his final season. "It's nervous. You want to make it your best year because you're not coming back."

DOG NOTES: Crown Point will have an intra-squad scrimmage Tuesday night (Aug. 9) at 6:30 p.m. at the Crown Point high school stadium. Ticket prices at CPHS for varsity football will be $6 this season. Tickets for all sectionals at all levels will also be $6.

Crown Point will scrimmage Andrean on the night of Aug. 12, but Bulldog fans might want to head north. Merrillville's scrimmage is against Lowell on the same night. CP opens at Lowell and their week three foe is always Merrillville.

 

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Revised: August 04, 2011 .