Griffith (1-1) at Andrean (2-0)
Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 - 7 p.m.

TICKETS:   $4
Radio-TV:  WJOB (1230) AM - live
AT & T Cable Channel 3 - Tape-delay: 10:35 PM Friday;

Monday and Wednesday (7 p.m.)

WEATHER:  Uncomfortable.  Upper-70s

PARKING:   You'd better get to Andrean early. They have little parking and Griffith will bring lots of fans.

HISTORY:  Griffith has won five of the seven meetings with Andrean since 1985 but the 59ers won 28-6 last year in Griffith.  Griffith won at Andrean 36-22 on Sept. 1, 2000.


MERRILLVILLE - Griffith has been confusing so far. They began the year coming in off a 10-3 sectional championship season. Returning fullback Derrick Duffy gained 1,466 yards and scored 14 TDs last year. With 20 seniors on the varsity including returning linebacker Sonnie Kierta (5-9, 181), who had 51 solo tackles last year, the Panthers were supposed to start fast.

And while the defense has allowed a total of just 17 points to Clark and Hobart, Hobart beat the Panthers 10-0. Griffith gained 279 yards and 17 first downs in losing to the Brickies, a statistical contradiction. With 552 yards rushing in two games, Griffith hasn't failed on offense, they just haven't converted enough opportunities. With all due respect to Hobart, you wonder if last week's result was a fluke and Griffith will come back strong this Friday. Andrean has dominated two games, beating Hobart 30-20 and Bishop Noll 42-0. Do not get the impression that Hobart came close to beating the 59ers. The 30-20 game was 27-0 beginning the fourth quarter.

Andrean graduated several linemen off last year's 13-2 team but they have allowed just 115 yards rushing through two games. Andrean has won 51 of their last 67 games over the last six seasons while Griffith has won 21 of their last 27 and the Panthers were 98-27 in the 1990s.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN   - Neither team will stop the other. The Griffith offensive line, led by junior Aaron Cavazos (6-4, 245) will create opportunities still sticking to the initial impression that Andrean isn't as physical up front as they were last year. To me, the key against Griffith in most years is to take away the fullback. Tackle him on every play, no matter what. QB Brad McFarlane and halfback David Martin are formidable, but Derrick Duffy (6-1, 187) can dominate the game if you don't key on him. Andrean linebacker Rob Caldwell (6-1, 210) will probably attempt to play with an ankle injury but his loss would be significant.

The 59ers are very experienced in the secondary with two-way players Aaron Babb, Nick Stockwell and Rocco Marcinak so Griffith, which has completed just 5-of-12 passes all year (and completed just 21 passes all last year)  will not be throwing, even with a good tight end in senior Jeremy Glover (6-1, 211).

This will be a seesaw game with both sides having the lead in both halves. In the end, the great skill of Andrean with QB Brett Goins throwing to Babb, Ty Harangody, Rob St. Germain and others will wear out the Panther defense, which simply doesn't face that type of aerial attack. Whenever Andrean attempts to pull away, Griffith's ground game will keep it close.

Rushing leader Derrell Tinner (26 carries, 275 yards, 4 TDs) will score a crucial TD putting the 59ers over the top but it will be the inability to stop Brett Goins and his receivers that will decide this game.

ANDREAN 35, Griffith 28

Here's a look at the previous 4-years of match ups between these two teams:

         ANDREAN -  28,    Griffith   -  6

GRIFFITH  (8-31-2001)  Brett Goins hit 13 of 27 for 218 yards and a TD, giving the 59ers more than enough offense.  It was only 14-6 going to the fourth quarter when Goins scored on a QB sneak and freshman Tommy Finn scored his first career TD on a 28-yard run.  Griffith, which was missing three starters due to injury and suspension, gained only 121 total yards.

         Griffith 36,   ANDREAN -  22

MERRILLVILLE (9-1-2000)  Tyler Radtke intercepted a Brett Goins pass and ran it back 27 yards for a TD breaking a 22-22 fourth quarter tie and boosting Griffith to a two TD win.  Griffith rushed for 340 yards but the 59ers outgained Griffith 382-373.

        Griffith - 28,  ANDREAN - 27

GRIFFITH  (9-3-99)  Sean Medsker's 72-yard run with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter rallied the Panthers to a one point win. The 59ers led 19-12 in the first half behind 113 yards rushing and two TDs from Tom Felus.  Tyler Radtke ran for two TDs and passed for a third for Griffith.

    Griffith 15,  ANDREAN  -  14

MERRILLVILLE  (9-4-98)  An odd game that featured a scoreless second half. Andrean led 14-0 before Dave Lopez ran a kickoff back 83 yards for a score. Lopez' 68-yard run and Lopez' own two-point run was decisive in an unusual (for these two teams) game where both teams combined for just 358 yards.