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Class 5A, Sectional 1 Quarterfinals:
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Week
10 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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Class 5A, Sectional 1 Quarterfinals:
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10-17-2007
When:
Friday, October 19, 2007
Where: Munster High School, 8118 S. Columbia, Munster, IN (about 1-block east of Calumet Avenue and three blocks south of Ridge Road)
Tickets:
$5
Weather:
Upper 50s, wet field. Good for this late in the
year.
Parking: Munster's football field is
on the east side of Columbia Ave, across from the high school. Park in the
high school and adjoining Wright Middle School parking lots.
It isn't that long a walk, and for the level of
crowd that will show up Friday, there is plenty
of parking around and behind the school.
Freshmen: Michigan City at CP - Wednesday, Oct.
17 - 6:00 p.m. (season finale)
Rivalry:
These schools were former league rivals in the
old Lake Suburban Conference (1970-1992). This
will be the 30th meeting of Munster and Crown
Point and the Mustangs lead the series 17-12.
Munster is facing CP in the post-season for the first time in history, largely because Munster has been a Class 4A school in the five class Indiana high school system while Crown Point has been a 5A school. This might also be the last post-season meeting of CP and Munster. Not only is Munster guaranteed to be a Class 5A school for only the next two seasons (I think Morton may be bigger than Munster next time the IHSAA counts heads in 2009), but CP won't be a 5A school much longer. It seems almost certain that in 2009, the IHSAA will have more than 320 football-playing schools. There are 316 already with another half dozen set to come on line soon.
Forgive me if you've read this here before, but once the number of football playing schools goes to 321, the present six week, five class format goes into the trashcan. That isn't a rumor. It's impossible to hold a six week, five class single-elimination one-game-a-week tournament. The format will change and the most likely change is a sixth class. If there is a sixth class, Crown Point, one of the 20 largest schools in the state will become a Class 6A and that, among other things, would talk them out of any post-season games with Munster.
Munster football is going through a down
period. They are 15-24 since the start of the
2004 season and they've lost four games by seven
points or less this season. That's especially
frustrating because the Mustangs could have
thought of this season as a return-to-glory
campaign.
Before 2004, Munster was 32-17 in the five-year
span from 1999 through 2003.
The Mustangs are a relatively young school,
which in a football context, is an oddity
because they were a success from day one.
Munster was 8-2 in the debut season of 1966 and
26-9-3 in their first four nonconference years.
The record shows that when Munster joined the old Lake Suburban Conference in 1970, they were 25-2-1 in league play over the first four seasons, a level of excellence that is almost never achieved by a new school in any league. In the 1970s, Munster ruled the Lake County, Indiana portion of the high school football world with 78 wins and 22 losses and in the early days of the state football tournament (1973-to-present) the wild horses got quite a reputation for hard-running, hard-hitting play.
The Mustangs were 71-37 in the 1980s, but they almost always could never get past the regional level. After being eliminated by Hobart in 1979, 1983 and 1985, Munster won perhaps the school's greatest win on the night of Nov. 14 1986, when they edged Hobart 24-21 in two overtimes before a standing room only crowd at Munster to take what, to this day, is the school's only regional championship.
The Mustangs were banished to faraway DeKalb (about 15 miles from the Ohio state line) for a semistate game played in a light snowstorm. On a Saturday night in the school's first-ever game played outside Northwest Indiana, Munster battled to the end, losing 14-6, ending a 9-4 season.
Like most places in Indiana, 'the land of the Indians' Munster was Indian territory until the early 1800s when the US government moved the Pottawatomi Indians off the mid Lake County area and sent them to Oklahoma. What is now Munster was called Strathmore, on early railroad maps because it took 'one strath more' (apparently a railroad term) to get there.
A fellow from the Netherlands named Jacob Monster (Americanized as 'Munster') settled in the area and opened a general store on a road by a sandy ridge area that later became what is now Ridge Road. In the pioneer days, there were no post offices, so mail was delivered to the postal depot in the local general store. So, to send mail to the central Lake County area, you had to sent it to Munster's General Store.
When the town was incorporated in 1907, the name Munster was officially in honor of a working man who ran the general store and gave folks their mail in the early days.
The average family income in the town of 21,000 is higher in Munster than it is in any other place in Lake County and noticeably so. It's near $75,000, according to the latest census. The high school's athletics clearly reflect that. Obviously, Munster dominates in tennis and that is the ultimate individual sport. Munster has also had tons of success in baseball, basketball and softball where traveling teams help build talent. Baseball was the 2002 state champion while softball and basketball have been blocked from state tourney success only because of the load of top teams in Lake County.
Football is unique among team sports in that you cannot play on summer teams. You cannot dominate and build confidence during off season play. So, being from an affluent community doesn't really help you there. Munster has also been locked into an area in football where they are surrounded by top programs like Andrean, Griffith and now Lowell. But those are excuses and I would guess the Mustangs don't want them. There's a tendency when the team doesn't win much to blame the coach, but that's an excuse as well. Munster simply has to be much better than average to compete in the league they play in.
Everybody feels sorry for the Mustangs being the smallest Northwest Indiana team and with good reason. There is no time in the foreseeable future where Munster will beat three DAC teams and win a sectional in the present format. But change is coming. I believe in two years that Munster could be a large 4A in a six class system. That would immediately make them sectional contenders and better in the eyes of football watchers in NW Indiana.
Its also better to have Leroy Marsh as head coach. In an era when leadership matters, Marsh has carried himself with class through winning and losing seasons for 27 years. There will be no on-the-field incidents or behind the scene scandals when Munster plays and Leroy Marsh is the reason why. Munster is a glorified 4A school in the 5A bracket. They are in over their heads. I do not believe Munster can win three playoff games. But the most dangerous man is the one with nothing to lose. The Mustangs' first game in 5A Sectional will be against the defending champions. No one outside of Munster will pick them to win. That's the position that all high school teams want to be in.
Class 5A Munster (3-6)
Coach: Leroy Marsh (171-117, 27th season)
Enrollment: 1,582
2006 record: 5-5*
Sectional titles: (5) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993,
1996
Regional titles: (1) 1986
Semistate titles: (0)
State titles: (0)
*Lost 56-20 to Griffith in the 3A Sectional 17
championship game
Munster Mustangs (3-6, 2-4 NWCC)
(L) 10-14 Lake Central (5-4)
(W) 42-8 Wirt (0-9)
(W) 49-0 HIGHLAND (0-9)
(L) 28-31 ANDREAN (6-3)
(L) 14-21 at Morton (5-4)
(L) 29-34 at Griffith (6-3)
(L) 7-41 at Hobart (6-3)
(L) 19-37 LOWELL (8-1)
(W) 27-15 at Kankakee Valley (3-6)
5A Sectional (1) One
Oct. 19: vs. Crown Point (7-2)
Oct. 26: at Merrillville (8-1) or Chesterton
(6-3)
Sectional draw: Not good. Its very hard to finish the season with Kankakee Valley and then play Crown Point in the post-season. There is a significant difference in size and strength there. The Mustangs did stand in with Lake Central at the state of the year. Munster's schedule is not good enough for Class 5A. They need to schedule ALL 5A schools as nonconference games because, again, it's very hard to finish the season with KV and then play CP.
Class 5A Crown Point (7-2)
Coach: Chip Pettit (48-28, 7th year at CP)
Enrollment: 2,400 (est.)
2006 record: 12-1*
Sectional titles: (3) 1981, 1988, 2006
Regional titles: (1) 1988
Semistate titles: (0)
State titles: (0)
*Lost 28-21 (OT) at LaPorte in the regional
championship game
Crown Point Bulldogs (7-2, 6-1 DAC)
(L) 14-23 at Lowell (8-1)
(W) 22-20 Hobart (6-3)
(W) 20-17 Merrillville (8-1) OT
(W) 24-13 at Lake Central (5-4)
(W) 27-0 at Portage (5-4)
(L) 17-21 Valparaiso (5-4)
(W) 35-21 LaPorte (3-6)
(W) 42-24 at Chesterton (6-3)
(W) 35-21 Michigan City (2-7)
5A Sectional (1) One
Oct. 19: at Munster (3-6)
Oct. 26: home vs. Chesterton (6-3) or at
Merrillville (8-1)
Nov. 2: home vs. LC (5-4), Portage (5-4) or
Valparaiso (5-4)
Sectional draw: In the Indiana state
football tournament, you want to open the
playoffs with a sub-.500 team on the road
because it gets you a home game later. CP also
gets a team that is not accustomed to 5A
competition and that's an even bigger plus. The
Bulldogs' schedule has seven winning teams on it,
and mathematically, if you play in a league,
you can't really do any better than that.
CP 1,000-yard rushers (last 3 seasons)
2007 - Russell Chick - 254
carries, 1,580 yards, 18 TDs (9 games)
2006 - Jon Sertich - 235 carries, 1,492 yards, 9 TDs (13 games)
2005 - Donny Keiser - 157 carries, 1,046 yards, 14 TDs (12 games)
Crown Point 1,000-yard rushers - state
tournament era*
1997 - Brian Parker - 258
carries, 1,702 yards, 24 TDs (11 games)
2007 - Russell Chick - 254 carries, 1,580
yards, 18 TDs (9 games)
2006 - Jon Sertich - 235 carries, 1,492 yards,
9 TDs (13 games)
1987 - John Young - 215 carries, 1,480 yards,
19 TDs (11 games)
1995 - Geremy Milner - 226 carries, 1,059 yards, 9 TDs (11 games)
2005 - Donny Keiser - 157 carries, 1,046 yards,
14 TDs (12 games)
1989 - Mark Minch - 157 carries, 1,013 yards,
14 TDs (9 games)
*1973 to the present.
CROWN POINT (7-2, 6-1) at MUNSTER (3-6, 2-4)
Sagarin ratings: Crown
Point by 16
MUNSTER -
I'm a little
surprised at this spread since one of CP's wins is over Merrillville and
Munster's wins are KV (3-6), Wirt (2-7) and Highland (0-9). But the
Mustangs have been close in a lot of games. They led Lake Central by 10
before losing on opening night and the Mustangs did score 19 points on a Lowell
team that has only allowed 79 all year.
The Mustangs ran the ball for over 200 yards last week against KV and they traditionally are a running team. But, to win against a team like Crown Point, the wild horses need to gallop under some passes and they have a big left-handed quarterback in junior Joe Gill (6-4, 195). Gill (78-of-166, 758, 2 TDs) has been inconsistent as a passing force, but he was 18-of-31 for 212 yards on Sept. 14 against Griffith. Gill was 69-of-167 for 788 yards and 12 TDs last year. He is very capable if you can't get a good rush on him.
One wide receiver is junior Aaron Estrada (5-9, 165), a state finalist wrestler, who has two TD catches and is a deep threat. Munster halfback John Jurkash (5-9, 190) has nine TDs on a team that's scored 30 offensive touchdowns. He's a hard runner with decent speed. Jason Han (5-8, 160) is a little smaller and faster. The Mustangs have traditionally run from the 'old school' Wing-T formation, which is basically a misdirection offense.
Once they get you to respect straight ahead runs, they 'counter' you in the opposite direction and break a big play. The line was to be anchored by seniors Max Tratar (6-5, 230), and Mitch LaRock (6-0, 238). They are not as large as most of the teams CP has faced, so they must not get into a pattern with play-calling.
Senior Billy Haase is a good kicker from inside 40 yards and junior defensive back Ian Boswell has run two kicks back for TDs.
Munster's defense
has been outgunned at times as they have allowed more than 30 points four times.
Andrean, Hobart, Griffith and Lowell have all gained over 300 totals yards
against the Mustangs. The good news is that only good teams have gained
big yardage on Munster. That's also the bad news, considering the foe this
Friday.
Munster has good defensive backs in Boswell, Estrada and Joe Abu-Aita (6-2,
206), so they will bring eight men to the front against the run and dare you to
throw the ball. Their problem is that they need a great effort up front
for four quarters or even the eight man front eventually gets worn down.
No one in NW Indiana runs the ball better than CP because of the offensive line, anchored by center Matt Polus (6-2, 260) and including Kurt Wermers (6-5, 270), Cody Blue (6-3, 230), Matt Childress (6-2, 260), Nick Colonna (5-11, 240) and others. Everybody knows CP is running the ball and yet Russell Chick (5-10, 180) has gained 100 or more yards in every game this year and he has gained over 200 yards each of the last three weeks. Chick's numbers are school-record caliber and if he's getting tired, it isn't obvious. The CP senior has 1,580 yards on 254 carries with 18 touchdowns and his average per carry of 6.2 is stunning, considering the fact that he's an effort runner, who doesn't get 50 and 60 yard runs. If CP wins the sectional championship, Chick will reach the 2,000 yard mark.
QB Blake Mascarello is throwing less in 2007, but the job is getting done. Mascarello threw for 2,000 yards and 26 TDs in 2006. This season, he's 76-of-135 yards for 968 yards, 12 TDs and just eight interceptions. In recent games, Mascarello has been able to spread the ball around to all his receivers, including tight end Zach Cecich (25 catches, 415 yards, 7 TDs), fullback Mike Kozlowski (11 catches, 98 yards, 2 TDs), ends Ron Burton (11 catches, 130 yards) and Danny Osojnicki (7 catches, 89 yards) and Chick (17 catches 156 yards). It's a short passing, ball control game, but the Bulldogs are very close to being 9-0 with it.
Junior soccer star
Michael Lipton is 26 of 29 on extra points and he's made four field goals (20,
22, 38, 39) in five attempts. Punter Mike Kozlowski averages 34.6 per
boot.
CP's defense has had some problems against the pass, allowing 1,168 yards and
nine TDs though the air while grabbing just five interceptions. The
Bulldogs have allowed 1,219 yards rushing, but over 400 of that came in the
first two games against Lowell and Hobart.
The Bulldogs have used many on the defensive front, including most of the
offensive line. The constant at defensive end has been Nick Hladek, who
has 64 tackles and eight QB sacks. Defensively, the Bulldogs have moved
junior Kyle Land (5-9, 225) into the regular rotation at noseguard between
seniors Zach Brumm (40 tackles, 3 sacks) and Hladek. Occasionally, Wermers
(6-5, 270) also can step in when his size and strength is needed.
Injured linebacker Nick Cottrell (29 tackles) had minor surgery on his hand and he figures to sit out again this week. Word is he'll try to play in Week 11, if CP advances. CP's versatile 5-linebacker base formation includes outside linebackers Anthony Stahl and Tony Conway, who can be blitzers or pass coverage people. Senior wrestler Andrew Szymborski leads the Bulldogs with 73 tackles and fellow inside linebacker Lance LaMere has 63 stops. Junior safety Nick Bruno has 66 tackles and three interceptions and Osojnicki at cornerback, CP's only two-way player, has 53 stops.
CP has seen three good passers in the last month in Valpo's Alex Sarkisian, Chesterton's Alex Beierwalter and Michigan City's Nathan Scully. They are primed to defend a passing attack.
What will
happen...
MUNSTER:
John Jurkash (5-9, 190) will get the ball early after scoring three TDs last
week in Jasper County. QB Joe Gill (6-4, 195) will take some first down shots
deep into the Bulldog secondary, because of the success Valpo and Michigan City
had throwing against CP. Munster has to score early to have a chance,
because they're going to lose the battle of field position as the night goes on.
Munster often uses only one wide receiver, but they won't hold to that pattern
here, because they aren't going to be able to run for consecutive first downs
against the Bulldogs very often.
When they go to multiple wide receiver formations however, the Mustangs will have great trouble protecting the QB. If Munster does not score in the first 12-15 minutes, the game will quickly get away from them as the Bulldogs open the scoring on a second quarter TD by Russell Chick and a Michael Lipton field goal will up the count to 10-0. A screen pass to Mike Kozlowski will be significant in a second quarter drive leading to another TD by Chick and a 17-7 halftime lead. CP will come out of the halftime break with a scoring drive, a TD pass from Blake Mascarello to Zach Cecich to up the count to 24-0.
Munster is going to try some quick slant passes to speedy junior Aaron Estrada (5-9, 165) on first or second down. Estrada has breakaway speed and will get into the end zone. As the game goes on, the Mustangs' only success will come when Gill rolls out to throw. Munster will again move the ball through the air in the fourth quarter, but safety Nick Bruno will intercept a pass and score the final TD.
CP must match Munster's emotional level at the start of the game. If they do that, the Mustangs will wear down. Munster may whip out some trick plays early, because they can't let CP get the lead and run the ball 50 times against their smaller defense. The Mustangs have to get a double-digit lead early to have a chance, because they will not be able to come from behind to win this game.
Crown Point 31, Munster 7