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Crown Point (2-1) at Lake Central (3-0) |
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Week
4 - Football Game of the Week Preview|
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Crown Point (2-1) at Lake Central (3-0) |
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09-06-2007
When:
Friday, September 7, 2007
Where: Lake Central High School, 8400 Wicker AVE, St. John, IN (about 1-mile south US-30 on US-41)
Tickets:
$5
TV/Radio/Internet:
WWLO (89.1) FM,
and www.USA-365.com.
Weather: Low 70s, wet field, chance of rain. Our 'Indian summer' heat wave is supposed to end by Friday. The temperature is supposed drop from 95 degrees at midday Wednesday to the low 70s or upper 60s by kickoff Friday night. Bad weather favors LC because it limits the CP passing game.
Parking: Lake Central was not built to handle 3,000 students
so it stands to reason that the LC complex isn't built to handle a game of this
magnitude. If it rains, there will be room for everybody. If it
doesn't, you need to arrive before 6:30 so you can park in front (the east side)
of the LC building. If you are late, you'll have to park on the east side
of US 41 or at the far south end of the LC complex, which requires significant
walking. Bring an umbrella, because unless you park very close to the
field, you can't walk back to your car at half-time.
Junior Varsity:
Lake Central at CP, Saturday, Sept. 8. - 10:00 a.m.
Freshmen: Merrillville at CP - Thursday, Sept. 6 - 6:00 p.m.
Freshmen: CP at Lake Central - Thursday, Sept. 13. - 6:00
p.m.
The Series: CP leads the series 27-22-1 and CP has won six
games in a row. The last LC win was the 63-36 LC sectional quarterfinal
win over CP on Oct. 23, 1998, still the highest scoring non-overtime playoff
game in NW Indiana history. Lake Central on Friday is in exactly the same
spot they were in 12 months ago. In September of 2006, the Indians were
coming off an upset of Portage and sitting with a 3-0 record. Folks were
talking about bringing back the glory years of Lake Central football. What
happened? The Indians got stomped 31-14 by Crown Point and finished at
4-6.
This Friday's game is another chance to climb to the mountaintop. LC needs
to get there, because with rival Munster as the new season opener, LC won't be
starting 3-0 in future years. Lake Central, which is a descendent of the
old Dyer Central high school, faced Crown Point for 33 consecutive seasons from
1966 to 1999. They are now a permanent fixture on
the CP schedule and, even if the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)
goes to a Class 6A in 2009, LC and CP will be in the same sectional. In
fact the only thing than can beak up these two schools, which are separated by
less than five miles, is a continued influx of boys and girls. LC seems
confused about the future, but if CP grows to over 3,000 kids, there are many
who support a 1,000-1,500 teen Winfield high school southeast of the city
limits. That would split up CPHS and gets its enrollment under control.
That should eventually happen at Lake Central as well. They're going to be
having class out in the parking lot if they don't plan for a new high school in
Schererville or Dyer.
Lake Central is the largest school in Northwest Indiana and the fifth largest in the state. The listed enrollment of 2,978 is a number from last June so LC is over 3,000 students and growing. Did anybody see the last count of citizens earlier this year? Schererville (28,381) is now larger than Crown Point (23,493). CP (23,493), Schererville (29,381), Dyer (15,481) and St. John (11,710) combined are now larger than Hammond (78,292). Merrillville (32,836) is larger than East Chicago (30,594), LaPorte (21,231) or Michigan City (32,116). And Lowell is physically (read: wide open spaces) the largest school district in the state of Indiana.
The fastest growing communities in this part of the state are 1.) Winfield and 2.) St. John. There is no waiting. Crown Point begins an expansion of its 2,400 kid high school next spring. Lake Central is building an extra wing but it won't be enough. There will be a new high school in South Lake County in the next 20 years and, among other things, that will change the face of the CP-LC rivalry.
LC was a powerhouse in the 1990s with a 74-36 record and the 1993 teams lost 34-28 to Bloomington South in the 5A state championship game. LC also lost 10-7 at Marion in the 1990 Northern Semistate championship game. Those teams, coached by Elmer Britton, were, along with Hobart, the dominators of that era.
I do not know what caused the LC program to decline in years like 2003 (1-9), 2004 (1-9) and 2006 (2-8), but I do know that it is very hard to get up off the floor in the DAC. Nobody goes from 2-8 to 8-2. The league is too strong for that. The DAC has gone through a cycle with Valparaiso's top teams early in this decade with Jeff Samardzija, Merrillville's elite squads in 2003 and 2004 with Dexter Larimore and James Aldridge. Then CP stood tall in 2005 and 2006 with players like Matt Ernest and Jon Sertich.
Lake Central joined the DAC (in 2003) at a time of peak talent. But with Merrillville and CP growing, this decade's prominence may become the norm. No matter what they say publicly, LC has to be having doubts if they can ever dominate the DAC like they did when they were a fixture at or near the top of the old Lake Suburban conference in the late 80s. Is the window of opportunity open for the Indians to make an upward move? Is it now or never? I'll get back to you on that after Friday night's game in St. John.
Class 5A Crown Point (2-1)
Coach: Chip Pettit (43-25, 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 (2-1, 1-0 DAC)
8-17 (L) 14-23 at Lowell (3-0)
8-24 (W) 22-20 Hobart (2-1)
8-31 (F) 20-17 Merrillville (2-1) OT
9-7 (F) at Lake Central (3-0)
9-14 (F) at Portage (2-1)
9-21 (F) Valparaiso (1-2)
9-28 (F) LaPorte (2-1)
10-5 (F) at Chesterton (3-0)
10-12 (F) Michigan City (2-1)
5A Sectional (1) One
Oct. 19: vs. Valparaiso, Portage, Chesterton, Lake Central, Michigan City,
Munster or Merrillville.
Schedule analysis: Crown Point's schedule looks tougher every day. Non conference foes Lowell (3-0) and Hobart (2-1) are the two favorites in the Northwest Hoosier Conference. Everyone in the DAC is above .500 except Valparaiso. The Bulldogs are 2-1 and they could be 3-0 or 0-3. I can't know what the future holds, but when the post-season begins in October, Crown Point will have played the schedule that will have prepared them for the Sectional One schedule.
Class 5A LAKE CENTRAL (3-0)
Bill Melby (9-14, 3rd year)
Enrollment: 2,978
2006 record: 4-6*
Sectional titles: (4) 1990, ‘93, ‘94, 99
Regional titles: (2) 1990, 1993
Semistate titles: (1)1993
State titles: (0)
*Lost 49-3 to CP in the 5A Sectional 1 quarterfinals
Lake Central Indians (3-0, 1-0 DAC)
(W) 14-10 at Munster (2-1)
(W) 31-6 East Chicago (0-3)
(W) 14-6 Portage (2-1)
9-7 (F) Crown Point (2-1)
9-14 (F) at LaPorte (2-1)
9-21 (F) Michigan City (2-1)
9-28 (F) at Chesterton (3-0)
10-5 (F) Merrillville (2-1)
10-12 (F) at Valparaiso (1-2)
5A Sectional (1) One
10-19 (F) vs. Portage, Merrillville, CP, Valparaiso, Michigan City, Chesterton
or Munster.
Schedule analysis: LC's DAC schedule challenges them, but they don't do themselves any favors by playing Munster and East Chicago in the first two weeks. It's okay to play smaller schools (CP does), but Munster and EC are basketball powers, not football forces. LC can go 2-0 against the non-league slate and then finish 4-6 as they did last year. They set themselves up for a fall by not finding someone like Bishop Chatard or Indianapolis Cathedral to begin the year. LC is the fifth largest school in the state. They should schedule at least one state power so they can gear up for the DAC.
CROWN POINT (2-1) at LAKE CENTRAL (3-0)
Sagarin ratings: Crown Point by 12
ST. JOHN -
Keep in mind that Merrillville was a 21-point favorite over Crown Point last
week. The Sagarin ratings are inconsistent early in the season because of a lack
of overall data. Lake Central is 3-0 because of its defense, which has
allowed just 22 points to three opponents. No team has run for over 100
yards on LC and nobody has a rushing TD against them yet.
Senior defensive end Danny Manick (6-4, 245), Akong Banu (5-10, 255) and Mark
Characa (6-0, 297) lead a group that wants to prove they can handle a good
offensive line. Junior John Bowden (6-0, 197) and senior Tony Morang (6-0,
222) back up the big front and speedy Dillion Jamroz ((5-9, 175)) adds speed to
a secondary led by Austin Macek (5-10, 187).
LC had six sacks against Portage and seven against East Chicago. They have
not allowed a point in the first or third quarter so far and that's a blueprint
for winning.
On offense, LC is largely a new team this year, but junior QB Bo Dempsey (15 of
31, 237 yards) has largely avoided mistakes and let the defense get a chance to
win. The Indians are a ground-based team with Morang running the football
behind an offensive line led by center Ben Stepanian (6-0, 265). This is
where the Indians may struggle. They have gained just 656 total yards in
three games. That's not good. LC has only eight TDs and 35 first
downs. Scott Spicer is an excellent field goal kicker and he has a
31-yarder already this year. Spicer is 8-of-8 on extra points.
Crown Point couldn't move the ball against Lowell after the first quarter, but since then, they have enjoyed their time with the football. Senior QB Blake Mascarello (28 of 57, 422 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs) has rushed for 79 yards on 10 carries this year. Mascarello has been very good in the fourth quarter of the last two games, leading his team in decisive rallies.
Tight end Zach Cecich has eight catches for 213 yards (26.6 yd. avg.) and 2 TDs. Russell Chick has caught eight out of the backfield for 88 yards (11.0 yd. avg.) while wide receiver Ron Burton has six catches for 77 yards. Six different Bulldogs have caught passes already.
Chick (5-11, 180) has been a shock at halfback with 79 carries for 449 yards. He did not appear to be the kind of back who could carry 25 times a game, but he has. Chick is an effort runner. He doesn't fake people out with fancy moves. Chick simply runs hard and hits the hole. CP has not established the fullback yet and they need to as the defenses key on Chick.
The Bulldogs win because of the offensive line. Matt Polus (6-2, 255) is an excellent center. Guards Kurt Wermers (6-5, 270) and Zach Brumm (5-11,220) are both three year starters who have been opening holes consistently the last two weeks. Tackles Jason Hulen (6-2, 255) and Nick Colonna (5-11, 240) are new starters in 2007, but after the Lowell game, they've done well.
Cecich (6-2, 220) and Joe Maginot (6-3, 220) line up often in a two tight end set and Ron Burton (6-2, 180) hints that good things are coming at wide receiver. Junior Danny Osojnicki (5-11, 170) also shows promise in his first year as a CP varsity pass catcher.
Michael Lipton won the Hobart game with a 39-yard field goal and fullback Mike Kozlowski averages 37 yards a punt. CP has five players who are in their third season as regulars on offense. That's why they are averaging 320 yards a game. The question is: Why are they averaging just 18 points a game? CP lacks some speed, but they need to average 20-30 points a game to win.
The Crown Point defense has given up 20 points a game, and even though they've faced three tough foes, that's too many. The defense has been on the field too much as CP's offense has run 151 plays to the oppositions' 175. The other side is completing 50% of its passes and averaging 4.1 yards per run against CP. A junior-dominated secondary that includes Osojnicki, Justin Cope, Nate Haverstock and Nick Bruno (20 tackles) has been only average. The fact that CP has no interceptions this season speaks for itself.
This team had 13 interceptions in 2005 and 15 in 2006. Crown Point will not have a winning season with no pass interceptions. High school football does not work that way.
New noseguard Cody Blue (6-3, 230) has been flanked by speedy veteran Nick Hladek (25 tackles) and first year defensive end Marcus Shrewsbury (6-0, 210), who is a state finalist wrestler. CP's 3-5-3 is very undersized (no one heavier that 230) for a 5A school, but they are fairly quick. Junior Lance LaMere (6-0, 205) is CP's leading tackler with 28 while senior linebacker Andrew Szymborski (6-0, 190) is second with 27.
CP does not have Merrillville's quickness or even Lowell's. But defensively, they are quicker than the offensive lines they will play against the rest of the season. And the five linebacker scheme with blitzes from all angles is very difficult to prepare for, especially when CP has, as they do this year, five returning linebackers.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
ST. JOHN - LC has something to prove and I think they'll
challenge CP in the air early in this game. That will backfire as a quick CP
pass interception by Danny Osojnicki turns into a Bulldog 7-0 lead.
Lake Central quarterback Bo Dempsey has never faced Crown Point with its five
linebacker defense and it's a little bit different. You have to be sure of what
you see before you throw the ball. Dempsey has to make some big plays on
this night because this won't be a low-scoring game. The Indians will go
to the ground with fullback Tony Morang (6-0, 220) and they will pick up enough
first downs for a Scott Spicer field goal.
CP's Blake Mascarello will then find Ron Burton for his first CP touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-3 lead, but LC will stay on the ground and record a short TD run by Morang to make it 14-10 at the half.
LC's going to have some offensive line problems in this game and they don't have the outside speed to make the Bulldogs' front eight respect them. So LC, with a bigger blocking front wall, will gain good yards early but the chances will dry up as the game gets older. I think the Indians will be the first to hold Russell Chick (79 carries, 449 yards, 4 TDs, 5.7 per carry) to under 100 yards, but I also think here's a night where CP WR Ron Burton capitalizes on single coverage for a half dozen catches as the LC defense, as they must, concentrates on the Bulldog star tight end Zach Cecich. Burton will score two TDs as CP expands the lead.
This result could be seen as a product of the schedules these two teams play. CP has faced tougher running backs, better QBs and faster wide receivers and defensive players than Lake Central has on the roster. That's not to say that LC is not good. It's just to say that on this night, they won't be good enough.
CROWN POINT 37, LAKE CENTRAL 20