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Crown Point (3-4) at Chesterton (5-2) |
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Week 8 - Football Game of the Week Preview
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Crown Point (3-4) at Chesterton (5-2) |
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10-07-2009
When:
7:00 p.m., CDT on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
Where:
Chesterton High School, 6 blocks west of 1100 South at US 49
TV/Radio/Internet:
No live over-the-air radio. Radio updates on WLPR (89.1) FM. Live Internet coverage on
www.USA-365.com.
Highlights on Lakeshore Public Television (Comcast Cable
Ch. 17) at 10:30 p.m.
JV game:
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Chesterton - 10:00 a.m.
Freshmen:
Thursday, Oct. 14 at CROWN POINT - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 10 - BOONE GROVE at CROWN POINT - 8:00 a.m.
Numbers:
Crown Point: Class 5A, enrollment 2,446; Chesterton - 5A
enrollment - 1,931
Tickets: $5
This is the final home game for the
Trojans so they should have a good crowd. The weather may
hold down the total of CP fans who make the trip to Porter
County. I don't foresee any problem getting in for anyone
who wants to see this game. You should be able to show up
at 6:45 p.m. and stroll right in.
Weather:
We are in a pattern where it rains at the end of the week
and that's not a good pattern.
Significant rain is predicted for Thursday, but there's a
good chance the skies will clear Friday afternoon.
The natural turf field will be slick. The forecast says
temperatures will sit in the low 50s or high 40s all day
and won't change much after dark. Here's another game where
it'll be okay for the players but cold for fans.
Parking:
Chesterton has a good set up with the parking lot sitting
between the school and the athletic fields. Last time I was
there, parking was free and you won't walk very far. Chesterton has a relatively new school building (10 years
old) and the visitors' grandstand at the football field is
good sized.
Last year:
Last year, the Trojans scored 20 first half points and held
on to win 20-7 at Crown Point with fullback Frank Raudry
scoring two TDs. Chesterton was in the middle of a six-game winning streak
at this time last season.
Crown Point leads the series 14-11.
FAST FOOTBALL FACT: Chesterton only began football in 1960 even though the school dates back into the early part of the 20th Century. Ray Banary, Chesterton's first coach, and John Snyder (52-42), Chesterton's present coach, are the only coaches in the history of Chesterton high football with winning records. Present CPHS athletic director Bill Dorulla was the coach of Chesterton football from 1994-2000 with a 34-37 record.
CHESTERTON - Chesterton is an original member (1970) of the Duneland Athletic Conference and they're waiting for Indiana high school football to go to six classes, which should have occurred this year, but probably will in 2011. Chesterton would most likely remain a 5A school and that would improve the Trojans' state tournament prospects significantly. Chesterton does not have the enrollment to compete with schools like Warren Central (4,011 students) or Carmel (4,209) but in a six class scenario, they wouldn't have to.
Chesterton was 28-12 in the school's first four years of football (1960-1963) under coach Ray Banary, who coached the Trojans through their first 15 seasons (100-49-3). The Trojans have won only two DAC titles, an undisputed championship in 2000 and a half-share of the title in 1971 and they have had no state tourney success at all. Chesterton has never won a sectional championship in the 37-year history of the state football tournament. But if the IHSAA goes to six classes, you will not be able to say that much longer.
Chesterton is a much larger school than they were 50 years
ago.
The Trojans played in the Porter County Conference (PCC)
basketball tournament until 1958 when they had grown too
large for the other PCC schools. Chesterton is a
130-year-old town that began as a railroad stop on the way to Chicago and now is
best known as home of Indiana Dunes State Park, certainly (although I haven't
heard anybody actually say this) the inspiration for the name "Duneland
Conference."
Why is it so tough for football to win at Chesterton? Look
around.
Neighbors Valparaiso and Portage are larger schools as are
conference rivals Merrillville, Lake Central and Crown
Point. By the numbers, Chesterton actually is the smallest
school in the DAC and it's understandably hard for them to
be better than ALL of their larger neighbors.
If the IHSAA goes to six classes and Chesterton remains a 5A school, it would take Merrillville, Lake Central and Crown Point (all would certainly be 6A) out of their sectional and the Trojans' state tourney chances would double. Chesterton would immediately be a sectional and regional contender every year.
When that occurs, and it will, it will seem as if Chesterton has suddenly upgraded the football program when, in reality, the playing field will simply have been leveled.
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| These photos are all from the downtown CP square before the homecoming game, 10-02-2009. Jordan Jurasevich (29) is in the window of the 'The Registry' bar and grill. (All photos by Mark Smith) |
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| Saylor's Barber shop honors linebacker Reed Stofko (23). |
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| Joe Hopman (12) and many others are positioned on
the windows of the Crown Point Star newspaper. By tradition, the windows of businesses in the CP downtown square are decorated with the names of athletes during homecoming week for football and when many CP sports teams enter the state playoffs. Parents and friends paint the windows the Sunday before homecoming and clean them the Sunday afterwards. |
5A Chesterton (4-3)
Coach: John Snyder - (52-42) 9th year
Enrollment: 1,875
2008 record: 9-3
Sectional titles: (0)
Regional titles: (0)
Lost 5A sectional one championship game 14-7 to
Merrillville in 2008
Chesterton Trojans (5-2)
all games begin at 7:00 p.m.
8-21 (W) 44-0 Lew Wallace (1-6)
8-28 (W)28-0 at New Prairie (3-4)
9-4 (L) 21-31 at Michigan City (5-2)
9-11 (L) 38-14 LaPorte (4-3)
9-18 (L) 23-35 Valparaiso (3-4)
9-25 (W) 31-28 at Portage (4-3)
10-2 (W) 40-7 Lake Central (1-6)
10-9 (F) Crown Point (3-4)
10-16 (F) at MERRILLVILLE (7-1)
Class 5A Sectional (1) One
Oct. 23 (F) with East Chicago,
Lake Central, Munster, Valparaiso, LaPorte, Portage, Crown Point and
Merrillville.
CROWN POINT (3-4)
Coach: Chip Pettit - 52-36, 8 seasons)
Enrollment: 2,426
2008 record: 3-7
Sectional titles (3) 1998, 1991, 2006
Regional titles: (1) 1991
Lost sectional quarterfinal game 42-6 at Merrillville in
2008
Crown Point Bulldogs (3-4)
Duneland Athletic Conference (DAC) games in CAPS - all games
begin at 7:00 p.m.
8-21 (L) 0-19 at Lowell (7-0)
8-28 (W) 14-7 Hobart (1-6)
9-4 (L) 14-38 MERRILLVILLE (6-1)
9-11 (W) 23-21 at LAKE CENTRAL (1-6)
9-18 (L) 22-43 at PORTAGE (4-3)
9-25 (L) 21-52 VALPARAISO (3-4)
10-2 (W) 27-17 LaPORTE (4-3)
10-9 (F) at CHESTERTON (5-2)
10-16 (F) MICHIGAN CITY (5-2)
Class 5A Sectional (1) One
Oct. 23 (F) with Michigan City, Portage, Valparaiso,
Chesterton, LC, Munster, East Chicago and MERRILLVILLE
FIVE KEY FACTORS
1. Toughest game of the season for CP
Mentally, it just might be. The state sectional playoff
pairings have yet to come out so no one knows their future.
CP was
"up" for the Homecoming game last week, but now
they need the same
"juice" to take on a hard-running
team on the road in cold weather. There won't be many CP
fans in the stands so the Bulldogs have to manufacture a
reason to give that 100% effort here.
2. Don't consider all your options
It's true that all offenses are options in one way or
another.
But unlike Merrillville and Portage, Chesterton really
doesn't pass that much at all. Most plays start with the ball
in the hands of tall QB Jon Watson (6-3, 185) and he has
proven to be hard to find and tough to beat. Watson gained
180 yards on 25 carries two weeks ago against Portage.
Big fullback Frank Raudry (5-11, 230) and tall tailback Greg
Nowak (6-1, 185) do get the ball sometimes. But usually, it's
Watson who carried it himself 112 times in the first six
games. Is it boring? Yes. But it's hard to fumble and
throw interceptions when your quarterback is the only one
who touches the ball. CP can't make someone other than
Watson carry the ball, but they have to get on him every
play and limit his gains.
3. Figure out the Chesterton mystery
I don't understand why the Trojans' defense, led by Raudry
at linebacker, does not stop the run better.
Chesterton allowed 217 yards rushing to Portage, 316 yards
to Michigan City and 349 to Valparaiso. They were much
better last week (45 carries, 138 yards against LC) but LC
is winless in league play.
Maybe the running backs for those three teams are just that
good. Maybe it's something else. But CP runners like Mason Popovich are going to have to find out quickly Friday night.
4. What's going on with Mason?
Mason Popovich (76 carries, 505 yards, 6
TDs) gained 251 yards on 27 caries last week. Maybe LaPorte
was just that bad? Mason gained 112 yards on 17 caries the
week before against Valparaiso. Chesterton obviously has the
tapes of these games so they won't waste any time jumping on Popovich (5-9, 170) Friday night. The Trojans could be vulnerable to QB Joe Hopman (64 of
122, 764 yards, 5 TDs) and receivers Travis Woosley (21
catches, 213 yards) and Austin Atherton (18 catches, 293
yards) if too many eyes are on Popovich.
5. CP developing strong points
I don't want this to sound like Indiana University football, but you can develop good things during losses. Crown Point linebacker Steve Perillo (57 tackles, 4 sacks) had three sacks last week against LaPorte. While Chesterton has only thrown the ball 57 times all year, if CP can get a lead the pass rush may matter. Jordan Jurasevich (6-3, 210) leads the Bulldogs with 62 tackles (including eight for losses). He's becoming a DAC caliber force. Kicker Brett Bayer is 14 of 16 on extra points and is up to almost 48 yards a kickoff. And a Bulldog offense that averaged just 11 points a game last season has scored 20 or more now in four consecutive games. The team is improving even if the record does not show it.
The Bottom Line...
Sagarin computer ratings: Chesterton by 14
CHESTERTON - There is some question about how accurate the
computer can be in the DAC this year. Chesterton, Michigan
City, Valparaiso and Portage are virtually even while LaPorte, a 27-17 loser at CP last week, is still rated five
points better than the Bulldogs.
CP must maintain ball possession themselves to keep Jon
Watson off the field and I'm not sure they can do that.
But the Bulldogs should be in the game until the end on this
night because Chesterton does not have the breakaway threats
that Portage and Valparaiso did.
But the Trojans' offense is built for bad weather. They ran
the ball 44 times for 253 yards last week and they like it
like that. The Bulldogs are not a large team physically and
that may show here.
I'll give CP a couple of quick strike TDs from QB Joe Hopman,
but the Trojans are going to sell out to stop Mason Popovich
after what they've seen on film.
Chesterton's big backs could wear CP down in this game. It
may be tied at the half, but Chesterton comes from behind to
win at home.
Chesterton 28, Crown Point 14