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6A Crown Point (3-2)
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A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith
10-01-2020
Week
7 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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6A Crown Point (3-2)
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10-01-2020
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| On the road in a low-scoring game, it may come to Crown Point's kicker Sammy Brewer to make the difference when the Bulldogs ride the bus to LaPorte Friday night. (Photo by Mark Smith) |
When:
7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, 2020
Where: Kiwannis Stadium, 901 East Street, LaPorte (2 blocks east of LaPorte high school). The 4,500-seat football stadium is not at the high school but it isn’t very far.
Tickets:
$6
Enrollment: CROWN POINT - 2,861; LaPorte – 1,756.
The growth of Crown Point is highlighted by the comparison between these two
schools. In 1986, according to the IHSAA, Crown Point had 1,774 students and
LaPorte had 2,150 teenagers, according to the IHSAA directory. In 2002, LaPorte
had 1,884 kids while Crown Point was home to 1,894 boys and girls. CP has gained
almost 1,000 students in the last 18 years. LaPorte has stayed the same size.
WEATHER: Cold. Not breezy. Not frisky. Not crisp. Cold. Weather-wise, the fall is here. Daytime temperatures Friday will sit in the mid-50s, which puts the game-time kickoff ‘number’ in the upper 40s. There will be a northwest wind at about 10 miles-an-hour. We’re talking chilly.
PARKING: I don't know how many tickets will be made available for Crown Point people this Friday. But I don't think it's going to be an issue because a lot of CP folks probably won't be making the trip to LaPorte County. LaPorte is in a neighborhood on the west side of the city much like Highland is. You can park at LaPorte high school and walk to the game. It's less than two blocks. You will see the lights. Just follow the crowd.
THE SITUATION: I know you are
hearing about Covid-19 cancellations and postponements. It’s okay to be
concerned.
Notre Dame is having issues with as many as 39 players in quarantine or
isolation, according to the South Bend Tribune. Even the National Football
League’s Tennessee Titans are struggling with this pandemic situation.
At Plymouth, head varsity coach John Barron has
reportedly tested positive for the virus this week so Plymouth is out of action
for a couple of weeks, losing games with Concord and Goshen.
If you go, tonight might be the night to get truly creative with your virus mask
and headwear. Staying virus free and staying warm might work hand in hand
tonight.
With that said, if you are an older fan or parent. LaPorte is a beautiful place.
It's great to watch a game there. But this might be the night to stay home. It
will be warmer next week at home when the Bulldogs host Chesterton.
Duneland Athletic
Conference (DAC)
Conference, Overall Record, Points scored -
allowed
MERRILLVILLE 3-0 5-0 196 - 53
Valparaiso 2-0 3-0 84 - 44
Chesterton 3-1 3-3 133 - 108
CROWN POINT 2-1 3-2 78 - 76
Michigan City 1-1 3-1 157 - 48
Portage 1-3 2-4 122 - 179
LaPorte 1-3 1-5 77 - 180
Lake Central 0-4 1-5 67 – 141
October 2
Chesterton at Lake Central
CROWN POINT at LaPorte
Michigan City at Portage
MERRILLVILLE at 3A No.1 Bishop Chatard (5-1)
Valparaiso (idle)
October 9
Lake Central at MERRILLVILLE
Chesterton at CROWN POINT
LaPorte at Michigan City
Portage at Valparaiso
DAC (6 weeks): With the Covid-19
cancellation of this week’s regularly scheduled Valpo-Merrillville game, we may
not have an undisputed DAC champ this fall. If the Vikings defeat Portage and
Lake Central in the final two weeks and finish 4-0 in the DAC, they would
effectively tie Merrillville if the Pirates finish 5-0 with wins over Lake
Central and Chesterton.
I believe that a 4-0 Valparaiso and a 5-0 Merrillville would be officially a
tie. Both teams won all their league games and neither defeated the other. I’ve
been told for year that there are no tiebreakers in high school sports standing.
Both schools are considered co-champions.
This is a rare occasion. The ‘tie’ scenario has not actually come to be yet.
Merrillville still has to defeat Chesterton (3-3, 2-1 DAC), which has an outside
shot at first place as well. Even Crown Point and Michigan City could
conceivably tie for the title. But it seems certain that two or three DAC teams
will share first place this fall.
2020 (5A) LaPorte (1-4)
3-8, (2019), 4-7, (2018) 7-4 (2017), 9-2 (2016)
Coach Jeremy Slowery (2nd year) 4-13 … DAC games in CAPS
8-22 (L) 0-14 (4A) at New Prairie (4-2)
8-28 (L) 14-35 (6A) Penn (2-4)
9-4 (W) 7-37 (5A) VALPARAISO (3-0)
9-11 (L) 21-45 (5A) CHESTERTON (3-3)
9-18 (W) 28-16 at LAKE CENTRAL (1-5)
9-25 (L) 7-33 MERRILLVILLE (5-0)
10-2 (Fri.) (6A) CROWN POINT (3-2)
10-9 (Fri.) at (5A) MICHIGAN CITY (3-1)
10-16 (Fri.) at (6A) PORTAGE (2-4)
5A Sectional 9
11-2 (Fri.) sectional quarterfinal vs. Munster (1-5), Valparaiso (3-0) or
Michigan City (2-1).
LaPorte’s sectional hopes are in the draw, which
will occur next Thursday. The Slicers need to draw Munster while Michigan City
plays Valparaiso. I don’t give LaPorte much chance of beating BOTH Michigan City
and Valparaiso. But if the Slicers draw Munster, they could reach the Sectional
5 title game against EITHER Michigan City or Valparaiso. I think that alone
would be a small victory for the LaPorte boys.
LaPORTE Update:
LaPORTE – LaPorte obviously isn’t saying this, but they’re building for next
season. On offense, where the Slicers have had little success, is a quarterback
in sophomore RJ Anglin (6-1, 155) and the tailback is junior Collin Berquist
(6-1, 200), who has run for 600 yards. The ends or wide receivers are also two
physically imposing underclassman, Garret Ott-Large (6-4, 230) and Evan Cizewski
(6-5, 215).
The LaPorte offensive line is anchored by center Esteban Marcano (5-10, 262) and
the right side is senior guard Connor Donnelly (6-1, 192) and senior right
tackle (6-4, 230) and the Slicers have run the ball 80% of the time. Anglin (20
of 44, 365 yards, 4 TDs, 6 interceptions) has potential but he only throws seven
or eight times a game.
The Slicers have a lot of promise defensively as well. LaPorte appears to use
the 3-5-3 formation that Crown Point plays defensively. In the game against
Valparaiso, LaPorte was young but physically imposing with noseguard Adam
Ackerman (6-2, 295), and tackles Jordan Steinhiser (6-1, 315) and Gabe Quinn
(6-4, 275). Three of the five Slicer linebackers are also underclassmen
including sophomore inside linebacker Brennan Balka (6-3, 210). The Slicer
cornerbacks are unusally tall with seniors Marcus Gray (6-1, 157) and Robbie
Kiner (6-3, 160).
I say LaPorte is building for next year because that’s when all those dominant,
experienced players at Valparaiso graduate and Class 5A Sectional 9 returns to
‘normal’. But this is not a bad Slicer team. LaPorte has lost to New Prairie
(4-2), Valparaiso (3-0), Chesterton (3-3), Merrillville (5-0) and Penn (2-4),
all quality teams. The Slicers weren’t quite ready for the schedule they’ve
played. But this is the home finale for LaPorte. If the Slicers can get a lead
Friday, you might see a different team.
2020 (6A) Crown Point (3-2)
6-5 (2019), 5-7 (2018) 7-5 (2017) 6-6 (2016)
Coach Kevin Enright (9th year) 50-44...all DAC games in CAPS
8-21 (L) 0-6 (4A) Lowell (5-0)
8-28 (W) 31-0 at (4A) Highland (3-2)
9-4 (L) 7-42 at (6A) MERRILLVILLE (5-0)
9-11 (W) 16-7 (6A) LAKE CENTRAL (1-5)
9-18 (W) 24-21 (6A) PORTAGE (2-4)
10-2 at (5A) LaPORTE (1-5)
10-9 (6A) CHESTERTON (3-3)
10-16 at (5A) MICH. CITY (3-1)
6A Sectional 1
vs. (Lafayette) Jefferson (6-0), Merrillville (5-0) or Lake Central (1-5)
Just like LaPorte, CP’s sectional hopes hinge on
next week’s draw. If Merrillville draws Jefferson just like they did last
season, CP would match up with Lake Central, a team they’ve beaten seven times
in a row. Nobody’s come within two touchdowns of Merrillville and Jeff averages
48 points a game. The Bulldogs are unlikely to defeat Jefferson and Merrillville
in back-to-back games. But if they only have to play one of them, it could be a
November to remember.
CROWN POINT Update:
CROWN POINT - The Bulldogs got a week off
after two wins and I think it helps them going into the final three games. I’ve
said several times that I believe that that a week off at mid-season (even
though they didn’t want it) helps the offensive and defensive linemen who can
rest their bodies and take time to go over their play.
Plus, no matter how optimistic and upbeat I may have sounded in last week’s
preview of the (now cancelled) CP battle with second-ranked Valparaiso, there
was an outside chance that the Bulldogs would have been smacked down by an
uncomfortable margin. Now, CP, with confidence still intact, heads into the
final three games with a real-world chance to build a winning streak. A road win
this Friday and the Bulldogs will ride the happy bus back to Lake County.
at Kiwanis Field - Capacity: 4,500
SAGARIN RATINGS: CROWN POINT by 4.
I think this spread is a little low. Crown Point only averages 15 points a game
and LaPorte averages just 13 a game. That suggests that the scoreboard won't get
a workout on this night. But looking at recent games. CP has won 16-7 and 24-21.
The Bulldogs’ offense may be slowly improving. CP losses were to Merrillville
(5-0) and Lowell (5-0). LaPorte scored 21 points total in the first three games
but they ticked up to 56 points the last three weeks. Neither team is going to
roll up points like the Kansas City Chiefs, but I think the winner Friday wins
by a TD or more.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
LaPORTE
(10-02-2020) LaPorte is powerful up front, but CP’s alternating the short
passing of Will Pettit and the option runs for JJ Johnson will cause difficulty
for the Slicers.
LaPorte uses a lot of double-wing mis-direction running plays and it will take
CP a few series to adjust to it. The Slicers will get a TD from Collin Berquist
early for a 7-0 home team lead.
CP will gain field position consistently and the Bulldogs will open it up. A
TD pass from Pettit to Walters will even the score and a Sammy Brewer field goal
puts the Bulldogs ahead 10-7 at the half. Crown Point’s strength has been yards
per carry (5.8 over 154 carries) and ball security. They have just four turnovers
(only one fumble) all season. LaPorte has 13 turnovers in six games. Walters
will score a second TD to expand the lead and turnovers will set up two more
field goals in the fourth quarter.
LaPorte will get a late TD pass from RJ Anglin and they won’t get blown out. But
this is a good matchup for the CP defense and they will get out with a
relatively low-scoring victory.
CROWN POINT 23, LaPorte 14