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4A Hobart (1-0) at 5A Crown Point (1-0) |
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Week 2 - Football Game of the Week Preview
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4A Hobart (1-0) at 5A Crown Point (1-0) |
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8-26-2011
When:
Friday, August 26, 2011 - 7:00 p.m. Kickoff
Where: Crown Point High School, 1500 S. Main, Crown Point
TV/Radio/Internet:
WLTH (1370) AM, WEFM (95.9) FM, live updates of all local scores all night on
WLPR (89.1) FM. Live Internet audio stream on
www.USA-365.com.
TICKETS: $6 (new ticket price this season for CP). And a note to
the future: it's $7 a ticket at Morton this week. Just so you know what's
coming.
ENROLLMENT: CP 2,532; HOBART 1,255
WEATHER: Low-80s in the late afternoon. It may be warm at kickoff
and it will be warm on the artificial turf. It’s still summertime. The boys
have to keep in mind that you beat yourself if you wear down in the heat. Slight
chance of rain which won't affect the game much.
Both sides figure to run the ball much more than they throw it on this night.
Still waiting for real football weather but it may be awhile. One warning: CP’s
field is mosquito heaven in late summer. Be prepared.
PARKING: This is the home opener and it’s a summer night, but
Hobart does not fill the stadium like they used to. There should be plenty of
room for all who wish to attend. St Matthias Church just west of the school has
extra parking if you get there late. They could get away with more but I believe
they still charge one dollar.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: It's a nonconference game that isn't against a
sectional foe, so, nothing is at stake. This isn't the game of the week in
Northwest Indiana either. Hobart defeated Gary West Side last week but it was
only 33-6 and the Brickies aren't expected to come into Crown Point and push CP
around. To be brief, the Bulldogs are expected to win, and it isn't the end of
the year for Hobart if they don't.
HISTORY: Hobart leads the series 46-13-2, but most of that goes
back to another era when Hobart dominated everybody. This is an example of two
schools whose football fortunes have changed directions in the early 21st
Century.
In the 1970s, CP was 0-10 against the Brickies and the Bulldogs were 0-4-1
against the Brickies in the 60s. After a 27-13 CP win in October of 1952, Crown
Point did not defeat Hobart for 46 years until CP won 24-7 on Sept. 11, 1998.
Under coach Don Howell (314-73 in 33 years), the Brickies made a state wide name
for themselves and their town.
The eastern Lake County town 30 miles from downtown Chicago
won state titles in 1987, '89, '91 and '93, and the Brickies won 19 sectionals
in a row from 1979 to 1997, a record that is unlikely to ever be broken in this
area.
Hobart is called the "Brickies" because they used to make bricks there.
Brick-making was a big deal in the 1800s and early 1900s once it dawned on
everybody that homes and buildings didn't have to be made out of wood. The
original Hobart Brickyard, where bricks were made, was the long gone Kulage
Brick Works, established in the 1880s, on the north side of town.
The founder of Hobart (George Earle) made bricks and that's
why he came here and started the town. The sawmill and gristmill he built needed
a dam for power and the lake crated by that dam, is what is now called Lake
George. Earle, an Englishman, name the town after his brother Frederich Hobart
Earle. Hobart was on the old stage coach line around Lake Michigan between
Detroit and Chicago. Those trails became railroad paths in the 1800s and Hobart
sent bricks, lumber, milk and farm products to the big city. Bricks were made in
Hobart and shipped as far as Chicago. National Fireproofing, the last descendent
of the brickyards (they later made building tiles used for fireproofing homes),
closed in the mid 1960s. As Gary became a steel hub in the early 1900s (and as
the interstate highway bypassed Hobart), Hobart became a residential area.
It's my understanding that Hobart football players worked
at the brick yards during the summer when football at the high school began in
the 1930s and 40s. Hard working Hobart boys were "Brickies." The brick yards
obviously haven't existed for decades now and the name is a throwback to another
time. It is part of Hobart's unique history. There are other high schools in the
state called Bulldogs, Pirates, Vikings and Indians. No one else is the Brickies.
If you look closely, the school mascot is not a football
player, he is a bricklayer.
When Hobart High School moved from the old World War II era
high school and the World War II era stadium (the old Brickie bowl) in the
downtown area to its new $80 million dollar school on 10th street, the new
football stadium was named "The Brickyard."
Not in any connection to the famous "Brickyard" race track
in Indianapolis, but due to Hobart's brick heritage. The story of Hobart, Indana
is, in small proportion, the story of Northwest Indiana.
Hobart grew as a town with steel workers from Gary in the
1900s. Neighbors Merrillville to the west (in 1993, Hobart annexed some of the
then-unincorporated mall area land near US 30 and I-65 that most people think of
as Merrillville) and Valparaiso to the east became natural rivals. There truly
is no special connection that I know of between Crown Point and Hobart.
This nonconference football game has no special meaning
except where new Hobart head coach Ryan Turley is concerned. Turley, a former
Hobart player under Don Howell during the school's glory years, was on the Crown
Point High School staff for seven years as strength and conditioning coach.
Before that, the Hobart grad also helped coach Chip Pettit begin the program at
Wheeler 10 years ago, so CP is Turley's second high school home.
Hobart and Crown Point had a classic state playoff game on
Nov. 2, 1984 when both teams were 10-0. Hobart won 20-7 and the two schools did
not meet again until CP joined the DAC in 1993. They have not met in the
post-season since 1984 and cannot because Hobart is a 4A school and Crown Point
is 5A and soon will be 6A.
This is the next to last time Crown Point will face the Brickies for the
foreseeable future. CP begins a home-and-home series with Mishawaka in 2013.
It's best for both schools as the enrollment disparity between CP and Hobart
will probably continue to grow in this decade.
Crown Point Bulldogs
Coach Chip Pettit (63-47, 10 years)
2010: 8-4 2009: 3-7, 2008: 3-7
Sectional titles: 1998, 1991, 2006
Regional title: 1991
Lost 2010 5A sectional 1 championship game 16-6 at Valparaiso
Aug. 19 (W) 27-6 at Lowell (0-1)
Aug. 26 Hobart (1-0)
Sept. 2 Merrillville (0-1)
Sept. 9 at Lake Central (1-0)
Sept 16 at Portage (0-1)
Sept. 23 Valparaiso (0-1)
Sept. 30 LaPorte (1-0)
Oct. 7 at Chesterton (0-1)
Oct. 14 Michigan City (1-0)
Hobart Brickies
Coach: Ryan Turley (1-0) 1st year
2010 record: 5-6
Sectional titles: (19) 1979-1997
Regional titles: (15) last in 1996
Semistate titles: (9) last in 1996
State titles: (4) 1987-89-91-93
*LAST YEAR: Lost 4A sectional 10 semifinal 58-13 to Morton
All games start at 7 p.m.
Aug. 19 (W) 33-6 West Side {0-1}
Aug. 26 at Crown Point (1-0)
Sep. 2 at GRIFFITH (0-1)
Sep. 9 KANKAKEE VALLEY (0-1)
Sep. 16 at ANDREAN {1-0)
Sep. 23 LOWELL (0-1)
Sep. 30 MUNSTER (0-1)
Oct. 7 at Morton {1-0}
Oct. 14 at HIGHLAND (0-1)
Class 4A Sectional 10
with Clay, Riley and Washington, KV, New Prairie, Mishawaka and Lowell
HOBART (1-0) Update:
Hobart got an easy win from overmatched Gary West Side in week one and I'm sure
they consider this game a true barometer of how they'll do this season. They
want to run the ball with a strong line led by juniors Gerry Valenzuela (5-11,
265), Jeff Noworolink (6-6, 310) and senior tight end Pete Otero (6-1, 245)
leading the way for QB Sam Kosich (5-10, 170) halfback Zac Randall (5-7, 165)
and fullback Ian Drobac (6-2, 200). And they'll use kicker Aaron DelGrosso to
back the other side up and sink some field goals.
Kosich was 5-of-9 for 65 yards last week with one
TD to Otero, but also a 78-yard interception. DelGrosso was 4-for-4 on extra
points and booted a 30-yard field goal. Randall gained 101 yards on 20 carries,
scoring two TDs.
The Hobart defense held West Side to minus yardage rushing, but they were not
tested. The Brickies gave up 133 yards passing against a West Side team that
trailed all night. They'll need to hog the ball because they can't expect to
stop CP's passing game in perfect weather conditions. Hobart does not have a lot
of experience on defense other than Anthony Brugos in the secondary, Drobac at
linebacker and Otero at defensive end.
In a game like this, they are going to need the
offense to get 15-20 first downs to keep CP's attack off the field.
CROWN POINT (1-0) Update:
The Bulldogs should have scored more than 27 points last week at Lowell,
given six Lowell's turnovers. Defensively, CP allowed just 162 yards as inside
linebacker Jordan Krajci (5-10, 180) recovered two fumbles and made six tackles.
Cornerback Austin Stanley made seven tackles and scored on a 40-yard
interception. Safety Logan McRae (6-2, 185) had an interception and five
tackles.
Other than CP's nose guard Cameron Tanner (6-2, 260) and end Pete Parks (6-2,
250), the Bulldogs are small defensively by design. The trick is to block their
3-5-3 set, which disrupts line blocking. Lowell did have some success running in
the second quarter, but as they fell behind, they could not make any big plays
to get back in the game. The Bulldogs may be vulnerable to straight-ahead
rushes, but it will be difficult to go wide on them without great speed.
CP's offense will be their strength with
quarterback Joe Hopman, a three-year starter, halfback Jake Lindeman (5-10, 190)
and Parks at fullback. We have not yet see Tristan Peterson (5-11, 160) and if
Lindeman keeps playing well, we won't. Lindeman gained 115 yards on 24 carries
last week. Hopman was 7-of-16 for 119 yards. CP did not fumble in 31 rushing
attempts, and that was a strength of theirs last year (CP lost five fumbles in
12 games in 2010) as well.
I thought Crown Point was conservative in week
one. They didn't have to do much as the Devils gave them all the possessions
they wanted. WR Zach Plesac and FB Peter Parks, expected to be two of CP's top
receivers did not gain a yard through the air. As Hobart stacks the line to stop
the run, that will change.
Hopman's numbers were not great in week one, but
as long as he does not throw an interception (he threw 12 in 2010) CP is very
much okay with that.
Crown Point is very strong in kicking. Senior
soccer player Brett Bayer was 9 of 11 on field goals last year and 2-of-3 last
week, including a career-best 44-yard boot. Bayer is pretty consistent from 40
yards in and he could make a 50-yarder off the artificial turf.
CP did not appear to suffer any major injuries in the first game of the year.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN...
Hobart (1-0) at CROWN POINT (1-0)
CROWN POINT (08-26-2011) If Hobart's Brickies have their way, this game will come down to where the Brickies can run the ball at Crown Point. If Hobart looks at the CP-Lowell game they will see Lowell self-destructing and they will convince themselves they can succeed where the Devils failed if they simply hold onto the ball. Hobart will play very conservatively banking on their kicker to back the Bulldogs up.
Hobart's Ian Drobac (6-2, 200) and Zac Randall
(5-7, 165) will get a lot of chances early against an undersized CP front.
Hobart's strong field goal kicker Aaron DelGrosso will hit a 35-yard field goal
to give the Brickies the early lead, but CP will quickly respond. CP's Joe
Hopman will find fullback Peter Parks on a swing pass for a 20-yard TD in the
second quarter and Jake Lindeman will finish a long drive with a short run for a
14-3 halftime lead.
In the second half, Joe Hopman will find Braxton
Rice and Zach Plesac with TD passes and Hobart struggles to move the ball. Zac
Randall gained 103 yards on 16 carries, but he isn't facing West Side this week.
Hobart has always had trouble in this series because they play a very weak team to start the season while CP does not. It's tough for Hobart to be ready for a diversified attack in the second week when they see a one dimensional (pass-first) assault in the opener. If the Brickies' Sam Kosich has to throw the ball 20 times, Hobart can't win here. He will and they won't.
CROWN POINT 28, Hobart 10