Game
time: 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Radio-TV: WGVE (88.7) FM - live
Weather: Looks like the first cold night of the season. Low
50s, dry.
History: This is the 50th meeting of Valparaiso and Crown Point and
the Vikings lead the series 34-14-2. Annually, this is Crown Point's
toughest foe.
Directions/Parking: Valpo high is off Campbell Street. From US 30, head
North on Route 2 into downtown Valparaiso. Turn left (west) in the
downtown area and head to west side of town. Campbell street is about an 1/8 of
a mile from Route 2. Turn right (north) one mile to the school. Valparaiso
doesn't have enough parking for big football games. You need to be there by 6:15
to be in the lot.
Valparaiso is the defending region champion and the area's top-ranked
team. They have won 26 of their last 33 games with four of those losses to
Penn. After losing 31-7 in the 2002 season opener to undefeated, top-ranked
Penn, the Vikings out scored the next four foes 150-10, although
they only beat undefeated Chesterton 17-10. Their offense is based on
four-year varsity senior QB Jason Renn (54 of 90, 905 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs)
throwing the ball to 6-foot-4 wide receivers Jeff Samardzija (18 catches, 458
yards) and Adrian Demko (13 catches, 206 yards). You have to find a way to
neutralize those connections. Chesterton held Samardzija and Demko to a combined
two receptions but, in truth, a lot of that was wet, damp conditions that made
it hard for Renn (8 of 16, 79 yards) to throw.
Valpo's running attack is only average so far, although the Vikings got 165 yards on 33 carries when they needed it last week. The Vikings may have found a running back in Chance Garbison (5-9, 188), who gained 45 yards on 9 carries last week and 50 yards on 10 carries against Michigan City the week before. But Valpo is a big play team and, while they got no TD passes against Chesterton or Penn, they got 11 against the other three teams.
The
Viking defense is underrated, allowing only five TDs in five games, four to
Penn. Linebackers Nick Windsor (6-1, 225) and Mike Dorulla (6-0, 187) and
defensive end Ben Tritle (6-3, 216) are tough on the run and the VHS line, while
inexperienced, has been tough on the run. LaPorte did not gain any rushing yards
in a 23-0 loss to the Vikings.
Samardzija is a key man in the secondary and the sheer size of the Valpo
defenders (Demko is a deep back in passing situations) creates a lot of passing
problems. Three-year veteran Carl Gioia is an excellent kicker with three field
goals and a 40-yard punt average. To give you an idea of what the VHS coaching
staff thinks he can do, Gioia missed a 56-yard attempt last week.
CROWN POINT is coming off their best game of the season, a 19-15 loss to Portage (5-0) and the Bulldogs should get DE-FB Troy Bush back in the lineup for this game. CP almost executed the textbook upset last week, scoring first in the game and scoring on the opening drive of the second half. Portage never led until the final three minutes and the Indians had to make some very good offensive plays to take the victory.
Bulldog
balance was excellent with nine passes going to tight end Sean O'Drobinak, seven
to end Bobby Rutherford and four to fullback Chris Kutanovski. CP has become a
very difficult team to defense but they seem to wear down as the game goes on.
The Bulldogs have been outscored 63-43 after half-time this season. CP has
too much offensive talent to have scored only six TDs in the second half all
year.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: On a colder night, I think Crown Point will
continue to emphasize 6-2, 220-pound Dave Swenson running from the tailback
position. The Bulldogs have to control the ball and limit Valparaiso's
possessions, something they did a good job of against Portage. You don't get
many chances to go deep against Valpo because of their secondary and a good pass
rush but short passes, especially to O'Drobinak, should be there. The Bulldogs
may have found a new pass receiver in Kutanovski, but they only had 80 yards
rushing against Portage and that's not enough on the road against a top-10 team.
Valpo hits a couple of field goals and leads maybe 13-7 at the half. VHS is
strong where CP is weak, in the secondary. Renn will eventually get the ball to
Demko and Samardzija for three TDs.
CP won't be able to run and Matt Cowan will throw 30 times. The Bulldogs don't have the defense to control this game and the offense will be asked to do too much.
Valparaiso 34, CROWN POINT 21
DOG NOTES: Junior Dave Metsch (5-11, 190) seemed to do a good job at fullback last week. Merrillville is the only team to score a first quarter point on CP this season. The Bulldogs have allowed six TD passes in the last four games. Since they entered the DAC 10 years ago, Crown Point has never won more than two league games in any one season against the foursome of Merrillville, Hobart, Portage and Valparaiso. This year's team is 2-1 heading to Valpo.
The CROWN POINT stat sheet
RUSHING
Bobby
Rutherford - 38 carries, 359 yards, 3 TDs
Matt Cowan - 49 carries - 271 yards, 4 TDs
Dave Swenson - 32 carries - 120 yards, 2 TDs
RECEIVING
Bobby
Rutherford - 20 catches, 355 yards, 5 TDs
Sean O'Drobinak - 18 catches, 231 yards, 3 TDs
Chris Kutanovski - 5 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD
PASSING
Matt
Cowan - 46 of 82, 692 yards - 9 TDs - 1 INT
KICKOFF RETURNS
Bobby
Rutherford - 5 for 118 yards (23.6)
Steve Etter - 7 for 139 yards (19.9)
Ben Derks - 2 for 16 yards (8.0)
PUNT RETURNS
Bobby
Rutherford - 2 for 51 yards (25.5)
Matt Cowan - 3 for 8 yards (2.6)
KICKING
Chris
Kutanovski - 17/20 extra points; 1/2 FGs (37 yards)
KICKOFFS: 25 (49.7- yard average)
PUNTS: 21 (34.4 yard average)