Week 9 - Football Game of the Week Preview

Michigan City (5-3, 3-3) at

5A No. 3 Crown Point (8-0, 6-0)

A USA-365.com Special Report By Mark Smith

10-12-2005

When: Friday, October 14, 2005.

Where: Crown Point High School,1500 South Main, Crown Point, IN. Again, for those coming from Michigan City, the school has moved from two years ago. It's not just west of the square, it's at the south end of Crown Point.

Tickets: $5

TV/Radio/Internet: www.USA-365.com, WWCA (1270) AM, WIMS (1480) AM.

Weather: Low 60s, dry. Very good for mid-October.

PARKING: Plenty. MC will not bring many fans but Crown Point is going for an undefeated season. In good weather there will be standing room only. This could be Crown Point's last home game of the season. They may start the playoffs with three consecutive road games, so many may come out to cheer a 9-0 finish.

THE SERIES: These schools have split 10 games since the consolidation of Rogers and Elston into what is now known as Michigan City high in 1995. CP beat Rogers in 1993 and 1994 after joining the DAC but there were no other meetings going back to Rogers' first season in 1970. Elston and CP met from 1970-73, and Elston began football in 1927 but they never played CP before 1970.

I could go on and on about what wonderful rivals these two schools are but I'd be lying. Most people from Michigan City need a map to find Crown Point and an hour to get there. The only connection I know of is that Michigan City assistant coach Tom Cicero was a lineman for the Bulldogs in the late 90s. Cicero carries a little responsibility for MC's rise this year as he works with the offensive line that clears the way for HB Ryan Fics, who has run for 1,700 yards.

Michigan City is trying to get up to sea level in the powerhouse DAC in most sports. Valpo is state caliber in golf, soccer and cross country. Lake Central is state class in baseball and softball. LaPorte is a superpower in baseball and volleyball. Portage is a monster in wrestling and Merrillville is a perennial power in basketball and track. Crown Point is charging in on almost all sports and Michigan City and Chesterton need to get to stepping and they know it. CP, LC and Merrillville are growing rapidly in enrollment and will dominate in the next decade.

Michigan City has to get going and football seems to be in the forefront of a return to power.

Rogers was a basketball power in the 1970s and 80s and Michigan City was a volleyball state threat in the late 90s. But right now. MC is a second division DAC team in most sports. If the Wolves could upset CP Friday, it would lift the program's ceiling and it would give Michigan City a winning DAC record for the first time, a big step forward.

JUNIOR VARSITY: Michigan City at CROWN POINT - Saturday, Oct. 16 - 10:00 a.m.
FRESHMEN GAMES: Chesterton at CROWN POINT - Thursday, Oct. 13 - 6:00 p.m.
CROWN POINT at Michigan City - Thursday, Oct. 20 - 6:00 p.m.

5A No. 3 Crown Point (8-0, 6-0 DAC)

Coach: Chip Pettit (27-25, 5th year)

Enrollment: 2,190

Sectional titles (2) 1981, 88

Regional titles (1) 1988

2004 record: 4-7

Lost Sectional 1 semifinal at home 34-19 to eventual

sectional champion Merrillville.

Crown Point (8-0, 6-0)
8-19 (W) 16-6 at Lowell (4-4)
8-26 (W) 26-0 Hobart (4-4)
9-2   (W) 13-0 Merrillville (6-2)
9-9   (W) 23-0 at Lake Central (2-6)
9-16 (W) 31-21 at Portage (3-5)
9-23 (W) 13-10 Valparaiso (4-4)
9-30 (W) 35-14 LaPorte (6-2)
10-7 (W) 34-17 at Chesterton (2-6)
10-14 (5A) Michigan City (5-3)

5A Sectional 1 playoffs
10-21 (Fri.) at Valparaiso (4-4)
10-28 (Fri.) vs. Portage (2-6) or Chesterton (2-6)

Class 5A Michigan City
Coach: Bob Holmes (4th year - 15-23)
Enrollment: 2,105
Sectional titles (0)
2004 record: 4-6
Lost the 5A Sectional one quarterfinal 38-14 to Valparaiso in 2004

Michigan City (5-2, 3-3)
8-19 (W) 41-8 Gary Roosevelt (3-5)
8-26 (W) 42-21 (SB) Clay (4-4)
9-2   (W) 49-35 Chesterton (2-6)
9-9   (L) 7-28 at Valparaiso (4-4)
9-16 (L) 7-42 Merrillville (6-2)
9-23 (W) 28-16 at Lake Central (2-6)
9-30 (W) 23-14 Portage (2-6)
10-7 (L) 10-42 at LaPorte (6-2)
10-14 - at Crown Point (8-0)

5A Sectional 1 playoffs
10-21 (Fri) at East Chicago (3-5)
10-28 (Fri) at Lake Central (2-6) or at Merrillville (6-2)

Michigan City (5-3, 3-3) at 5A No. 3 CROWN POINT (8-0, 6-0 DAC)

Michigan City - Offense: 27.1 ppg; Defense: 25.8 ppg.

Crown Point - Offense: 23.9 ppg; Defense: 8.5 ppg.

Sagarin Computer ratings: Crown Point by 18.

Junior RB Jon Sertich #27 rushed 16 times for 144 yards and one TD against LaPorte, 9-30-2005.

CROWN POINT (10-14-2005) The time for talk is over. Despite a perfect record, this is the first night all season that the Bulldogs can actually win something. Just five years after a winless 0-10 season, CP sits on the verge of the school's first-ever undisputed Duneland Athletic Conference title in a team sport and just the third undefeated regular season in the 80-year recorded history of the football program.

There is a lot of pressure on Crown Point tonight. The playoffs open on Oct 21 regardless, but a loss to Michigan City basically throws away the first eight wins. That's just the way high school football is. The more you win, the more there is riding on each game. Don't buy the argument that half a title is just as good as a whole one. Half a title means you didn't really win it. And every single player on CP knows it. This is the first must-win game of the 2005 season for Crown Point.

The Wolves have outscored the opposition 75-35 in the first quarter and they must start fast on this night because CP, playing what could easily be their final home game (they do not figure to be home for any of the three sectional games), will be very emotional. And Michigan City, which got overrun last week at LaPorte 42-10, must meet CP's level of emotion or this game will be over quickly.

The Wolves must find a way to spring halfback Ryan Fics (153 carries, 1,699 yards) and the MC offensive line, coached by MC assistant and CP grad Tom Cicero, needs a top effort to win the time of possession battle.

The Wolves have not been a good pass defense team, allowing over 150 yards per game, so their only chance here is to get Fics 30-40 carries and 200 yards. That's a lot to ask against a CP defense that has allowed just 519 yards rushing all year.

Michigan City has just 600 yards passing all season and they will only pass as a change of pace. The Wolves don't have quick scoring, passing ability and they really don't want 80-yard TDs on this night. They need 80-yard drives. Quick scores will only turn the ball back over to CP and the Bulldogs can outscore Michigan City in a shootout.

The key players in this game will not be the backs. The Wolves' offensive line, led by seniors Jason Bendix (6-0, 220), William Dabkowski (6-1, 225) and Matt Bannwart (6-0, 230) must adjust to Crown Point's '35' defense, the three lineman/five linebacker formation that has allowed CP's experienced defense to hold eight teams to a combined 1,700 total yards. Michigan City fullback Adrian Johnson (5-10, 225) has to gain significant yards and be an effective lead blocker for Fics (5-7, 170), who is over 3,000 yards (he gained 1,100 yards in 2004) for his career.

There is no backup plan. Michigan City could shock the Bulldogs with a couple of play-action passes but they won't throw 30 passes and move the ball on CP like Chesterton did in last week's 34-17 win over the Trojan. They do not have that ability.

Senior QB Matt Jansen #7 returned from a left knee injury to lead CP to a 35-14 win over LaPorte, 9-30-2005.

MC will score first on a run by Fics, but CP will answer with a TD pass to Tommy Parks. The Wolves will be so conscious of the deep ball that short passes to Jon Sertich and Ryan Forney will go for scores and a 21-7 lead.

Michigan City has also used some of the '35' defense backed by D-1 linebacker Lemon Kelley (6-0, 240) but they'll have to adjust on this night, because the Bulldogs will spread the field with receivers and QB Matt Jansen (19-of-32, 277 yards, 2 TDs) can get the ball away before the Wolves get him.

The Wolves will struggle with non-blitzing pass defense sets because Crown Point throws a lot to the running backs and tight ends. They have more receivers than the Wolves can handle. Once the Wolves play a more passive, pass protecting defense, CP backs Jon Sertich (111-622 yards, 4 TDs) and Donny Keiser (107-658 yards, 8 TDs) will begin to gain big second half yardage.

MC will get a second score from Fics in the third quarter, but two TD runs by Donny Keiser will break it open. Look for a senior like Tommy Isailovich to get into the end zone in CP's final home game and a defensive TD will wrap it up.

The Bulldogs will not like the 21 points allowed, but they will get 15-16 possessions and there's no way MC's defense can hold up that many times. It seems impossible that Crown Point can go from 0-9 to 9-0 in five years but they will do that. Michigan City is in the wrong place at the wrong time and this final game will not be close as the 2005 Bulldogs sign their names as the school's first undisputed Duneland Athletic Conference champions in a team sport.

Crown Point 52, Michigan City 21