Bulldogs' 2nd half rally falls short in 21-14 loss to Valparaiso Vikings

A USA-365.com Special Report by Dave Woodworth

 RUSHING:
VALPARAISO (37 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs, 1 fumble) Andrew Kittridge (RB) 22-89 yards, 2 TDs; Stephen Sims (RB) 9-41 yards;
Paul Andrie (QB) 5-(-2) yards; Ryan Nix (WR/P) 1-(-5) yards.

CROWN POINT (29 carries, 108 yards, TD, 1 fumble) Jake Lindeman (RB) 8-26 yards, TD; Tristan Peterson (RB) 9-41 yards; Pete Parks (RB) 2-7 yards;
Joe Hopman (QB) 8-26 yards; Tyler Wells (TE) 2-8 yards.

PASSING:
VALPARAISO: Paul Andrie (QB) 9 of 23, 135 yards, TD.
CROWN POINT: Joe Hopman (QB) 15 of 36, 191 yards, TD, INT; Zach Plesac (RB) 0 of 1, 0 yards.

RECEIVING:
VALPARAISO: Stephen Sims (RB) 4-49 yards; Andrew Kittridge (RB) 1-49 yards; Ryan Nix (WR) 2-23 yards; Markee Allen 1-4 yards, TD.
CROWN POINT: Tyler Wells (WR) 6-53 yards; Zach Plesac (WR) 3-51 yards, TD; Braxton Rice (WR) 5-68 yards; Pete Parks 1-19 yards.

PENALTIES:
VALPARAISO: 7 for 56 yards
CROWN POINT: 5 for 45 yards

TOTAL YARDS:
VALPARAISO: 258 yards, 11 first downs, 1 fumble lost.
CROWN POINT: 299 yards, 14 first downs, 2 Turnovers (1 fumble lost).

CROWN POINT (9-23-2011) Valparaiso dominated the first half and took a 21-0 lead over the host Bulldogs en route to a 21-14 DAC victory Friday night. The Vikings marched 80-yards on their opening possession with a balanced attack featuring running backs Andrew Kittridge and Stephen Sims, along with some short passes from senior quarterback Paul Andrie. Kittridge scored the first of his two touchdowns on the night with a one yard plunge with 6:11 left in the first quarter. Ryan Nix connected on the first of three PAT kicks for a 7-0 lead over CP.

The Bulldogs first possession produced a couple of first downs, but they had to punt from their own 40. Valpo then turned the ball over to the Bulldogs on a Paul Andrie fumble at the Vikings 30 yard line. Bulldogs QB Joe Hopman connected with 6-foot-6 wide receiver Braxton Rice on a 23-yard reception, putting the Bulldogs at the Vikings 7-yard line with a first and goal. But three more plays went no where as the Vikings pass defense came up with some good plays. Brett Bayer's 22-yard field goal attempt was wide left and a prime late first-quarter scoring opportunity was lost for the Bulldogs.

Valpo then marched another 80-yards on a 12-play drive, capped by a Andrie to Ryan Nix 4-yard pass and a 14-0 lead with 8:24 left in the second quarter.

Crown Point's next drive ended after just three plays when Joe Hopman was tripped up from behind following a 3rd down running play and the loose ball was recovered by Valpo at the CP 38 yard line. Kittridge scored his second TD of the night four plays later from 7-yards out for a 21-0 lead with 6:31 left in the first half.

In the third quarter both teams exchanged two possessions and then on a 4th-and 13 from Valpo's 38-yard line, the long snap to punter Ryan Nix was low and Nix was tackled for a loss before he could punt the ball away. Crown Point finally got on the board four plays later when Joe Hopman connected with Zach Plesac for a 19-yard TD pass to close to within 21-7.

Crown Point gradually began to dominate the second half, seemingly moving the ball at will into Vikings territory. Several scoring opportunities were seemingly there with Hopman trying to connect with his tall receivers like 6-foot-1 Zach Plesac and 6-foot-6 Braxton Rice. But stubborn defense near the end zone kept the Bulldogs frustrated until late in the fourth quarter when CP took over 1st-and-10 from the Vikings 36 with 2:35 left in the game. Hopman hit Braxton Rice for a 17-yard gain and then Hopman called his own number for an 18-yard scramble that fell just short of the end zone corner. Jake Lindeman punched the ball in from the one yard line with 2:08 left in the game.

An on-side kick was recovered by Valpo, but penalties moved the ball back to the Vikings 35 yard line. A series of penalties and a defensive stop resulted in one more scoring chance for CP from their own 38 yard line with 1:11 minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs ran off seven more plays before a 1st-and -10 pass from the Vikings 27-yard line with 13.8 seconds remaining was intecepted in the end zone by the Vikings junior cornerback CJ Gear (5-9, 154) with 5.5 seconds remaining in the game.  Vikings QB Andie took a knee to end the game with a 21-14 victory over Crown Point.

DOG NOTES:  The Vikings' win moves Valpo into a three-way tie for second place in the Duneland Athletic Conference with Merrillville and Chesterton, all with 3-1 conference records behind first place Lake Central (6-0, 4-0 DAC). Lake Central beat Michigan City 35-9, while Merrillville beat LaPorte 47-24 and Chesterton lost a region marquee Saturday night game to Portage 21-17 to mix up the DAC race.

CP faces LaPorte in their Homecoming game this Friday, Sept. 30.

Internet radio USA-365.com will broadcast the CP-LaPorte game Friday night as Frank Sprankle joins veteran announcer Mark Smith in the press box.

Visitors can listen to the USA-365.com high school football audio archives for 2011 games at http://www.usa-365.com/CP_Football_MP3_2011_Audio_Archives.

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Revised: October 31, 2011 .