JJ Johnson leads CP to 28-14 win over Red Devils in Coach Craig Buzea's debut for Bulldogs

 

A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith

8-26-2021

 

Crown Point captains Jack Darlington (78), Dominic Sopczak (14), Liam Begley (28) and JJ Johnson (20) head for the center of the field for the season-opening coin toss at Lowell. (All photos by Mark Smith)

Lowell halfback Joe Heuer (21) gets a little 'hands on' help around CP's Jake Wagner (29) from an unidentified Devil and he takes off in the first quarter.

Crown Point's JJ Johnson (2) tries to shake Lowell linebacker Kyle Simmons (35) early in Friday's week one game. Johnson ran for two TDs.

Lowell junior Noah Smith (11) drags down CP tight end Randy Lach (88) in the first quarter. Lach, in his varsity debut, grabbed two passes or 60 yards.

Junior quarterback Riley Bank (19) gets the time to put it up against Crown Point. Bank ran for Lowell's first touchdown.

Crown Point's Elijah Tiawhan (5) pushes his way by Lowell's Kyle Simmons (35) in the week one game. Tiawhan gained 56 yards on eight carries in his varsity debut.

CP's Jack Darlington (78), Seamus Malaski (85) and Jackson Ruess (70) put up the big, red line in front of Lowell pass rusher Ray Ambassi (7). CP has four offensive linemen back from last season.

Crown Point's Johnny Johnson (2) is confronted by Lowell junior James Langen (30). The Devils' defense held Crown Point in check until late in the third quarter.

Crown Point senior Liam Begley (28) tries to get by Ryan Marx (12) and get to Joe Heuer (21) in Lowell last week. Heuer was 'held' to 93 yards on 28 carries.

Lowell's Joe Heuer (21) clears the way for Ryan Marx (12) early in last Friday's week one game. Marx caught two passes for 33 yards but only carried twice against CP.

Crown Point's all-area Tackle Jack Darlington (78) takes on Lowell all-area defensive lineman Ray Ambassi (7). A standing room only crowd watched the traditional Northwest Indiana high school football opener in Lowell.

Coach Craig Buzea, after 27 years as a head coach, is on the sidelines for the Crown Point Bulldogs and in Lowell for the first time.

Lowell honored Karina James, the undefeated 2020 state girls cross country champion. Karina has not lost since the 2019 state finals. Crown Point will honor the 2021 state girls basketball champions this Friday.

CP juniors Randy Lach (88) and JJ Johnson (2) start the celebration in Lowell. The Bulldogs won there for the first time since 2016.

Winning obviously means a lot to CP seniors Brett Croell (22) and Dominic Bader (25). Crown Point never trailed in winning 28-14.

And yes he did. CP's AJ Erdelac (37) cheers him on as coach Craig Buzea tries on the 'Old Leather Helmet.' The Old Leather Helmet Trophy goes to the winner of the annual Lowell-Crown Point game. (All photos by Mark Smith.)

Copyright © 2021 USA-365.com and Meyer Multimedia Services, a division of Meyer Broadcasting Corp.  All rights reserved. Revised: September 01, 2021 .

Team	1	2	3	4	F
CROWN POINT (1-0)	7	0	7	14	28
LOWELL (0-1)	0	6	0	8	14

Friday, August 20, 2021 -  80 degrees & clear (at kick-off) in season opener at LOWELL, IN
 

1st Qtr: CROWN POINT (7-0) CROWN POINT (7-0) Seamus Malaski, 6-yard pass from JJ Johnson. 50-yard drive, 5 plays. Sammy Brewer kick. 1:26 left.
2nd Qtr: LOWELL (6-7) Riley Bank, 3-yard run (4th and goal) 33-yard drive, 8 plays (after a fumble recovery by Kyle Simmons ) Kick wide. 4:16 left.
3rd Qtr: CROWN POINT (14-6) JJ Johnson, 3-yard run. 79-yard drive, 6 plays. Sammy Brewer kick 2:37 left.

4th Qtr: CROWN POINT (21-6) Randy Lach, 3-yard pass from JJ Johnson. (43-yard drive, 6 plays) Sammy Brewer kick 7:58 left.
CROWN POINT (28-6) JJ Johnson, 3-yard run. 12-yard drive, 2 plays (after fumbled punt snap). Sammy Brewer kick. 6:03 left.
LOWELL (28-14) Joe Heuer 2-yard run (4th and goal) 65-yard drive, 13 plays. 2-point pass from Riley Bank to Kyle Simmons. 0:09 left.

CROWN POINT (25 carries, 186 yards 2 TDs, one fumble): JJ Johnson (QB) 16 carries, 142 yards. 2 TDs; Elijah Tiawhan (RB) 7 carries, 42 yards; Randy Lach (TE) 1- 0 yards; Boedy Burandt (WR) 1- 2 yards.

LOWELL (50 carries, 161 yards, 2 TDs, no fumbles): Joe Heuer (HB) 32 carries, 76 yards, one TD; Riley Bank (QB) 15 carries 70 yards, one TD; Johnny Johnson (WR) 1-6 yards); Ryan Marx (WB) 2-9 yards.

PASSING:

CROWN POINT (5 of 8, 79 yards, 2 TDs): JJ Johnson (QB) 5 of 8, 79 yards, 2 TDs, no interceptions.
LOWELL (6 of 16, 56 yards, no TDs, no interceptions): Riley Bank (QB) 6 of 126, 56 yards no TDs, no INTs

RECEIVING:
CROWN POINT: Randy Lach (TE) 2 catches, 60 yards, TD; Seamus Malski (TE) 1 catch, 6 yards, TD; Boedy Burandt (WR) 1-12 yards; Nate Woodrick (WR) 1-1 yard;
LOWELL : Ryan Marx (WB) 3 catches, 35 yards; Johnny Johnson (WR) 2- 8 yards; Javon Skinner (W) 1-13 yards.

TOTALS:
CROWN POINT – 265 yards, 13 first downs, one turnover;
LOWELL : 217 yards, 13 first downs, no turnovers.

LOWELL (8-20-2021) I didn't totally get the ‘college of coaches’ spirit surrounding former Portage, Michigan City and Homewood-Flossmoor coach Craig Buzea coming to Crown Point. Then I was on the sidelines Friday night in the 2022 season opener in Lowell.

Here comes Dave Egofske, who used to coach the Bulldogs. Zac Wells, who used to coach Merrillville. Former Hammond coach Eric Schreiber. Former River Forest coach Joe O’Connell. It's unheard of.

I didn’t totally buy into the talk that coach Craig Buzea has lit a fire under the Crown Point football program that I’d been hearing. How could that happen so fast? Buzea was 94-26 in 10 seasons at Homewood-Flossmoor and they actually played this spring due to Covid. Lit a fire? In three months?

Okay, I get it all now. Last Friday, the Bulldogs were energized. The student section was energized and eventually, the team turned on the second half energy, scoring 21 second half points to win at Lowell for the first time in five years, 28-14.

“It was definitely the second half,” said CP senior veteran offensive tackle Jack Darlington. “We finally started executing on every single play and we were rolling from there. There were some coaching adjustments. We came in at the half and we had stubbed our toes a little bit. But once we got confident, we just went from here.”

Lowell had defeated Crown Point four years in a row but, on this night, CP never trailed even though Lowell began the game with an ‘accidental’ onside kick. Lowell’s kicker almost missed the ball on the opening kickoff, but it bounced 10 yards and the Devils recovered at the Crown Point 44-yard line.

But after a 1st-and-10 for the home team at the Crown Point 29 yard line, the Bulldogs stopped the next four plays and took over on downs.

After an exchange of punts, Crown Point was sparked by a 30-yard pass from first-time starting quarterback JJ Johnson to junior tight end Randy Lach. Three plays later Johnson fired a 6-yard pass to sophomore tight end Seamus Malaski for the first TD of the season.

Lowell closed the gap after Crown Point lost the ball on a fumbled center exchange at the Crown Point 33-yard-line. Seven plays later, junior quarterback Riley Bank scored on a 3-yard run on fourth down to make it 7-6 at the half.

Lowell seemed to take control in the third period. Five first downs pushed the Devils to the Crown Point 30-yard line, but the Bulldogs again stopped Lowell deep in CP territory when Bank came up one yard short on a 4th-and-9 scramble to the CP 21-yard-line.

The Bulldogs (1-0) took control of the game at that point. After he carried just three times in the first half, CP began to utilize big new halfback Elijah Tiawhan (6-1, 215) in their option running offense. Runs of eight, five and 12 yards by Tiawhan helped new quarterback JJ Johnson break loose for 40 yards down to the Lowell 3-yard line. Johnson scored on the next play and CP led 14-6.

“The guys seemed to get hyped after that,” said Johnson. “Our defense had been making stops all night and once the offense starting kickin’, the defense went to a whole other level.”

Lowell drove to the CP 49-yard-line but on 4th-and-5 at the Bulldog 43, Riley Bank was stopped on a keeper and CP took over. Five plays later, JJ Johnson hit Randy Lach on a play-action 30 yards TD pass to make it 21-6.

Things broke down for Lowell at that point. Attempting to punt on fourth down, the snap was fumbled and CP took over at the Lowell 12-yard line. JJ Johnson scored on a two-yard run one play later and CP’s 28-6 lead was insurmountable.

“We have a heckuva coach,” said Johnson after he game, “and we’ve got a heckuva line. It's like running through a hallway. They’re big boys and coach Cicero (offensive line coach Tom Cicero) coaches them up. It's all about the coaching. They work their butts off and nothing would be possible without them.”

Lowell isn’t used to losing and they were a little mystified at how they didn’t score more than one touchdown in the first three quarters.

“There was a lot of good,” said Kilmer, “but we just couldn't punch it in. They did. Maybe that’s a confident team against a team that’s not confident. I don’t know. I’ve got to look at the film.”

“They found a weakness,” added Kilmer, “They exploited it. And there was nothing we could do.”

Crown Point’s defense was good when they had to be. Lowell had 15 first downs, but the Bulldogs stopped the home team three times on fourth down and stuck them with negative yardage on first down seven times.

“You guys have watched us a long time. We’re not very good on 2nd-and-11,” admitted Kilmer. “Guys have seen us. We’re not that offense. It wasn’t a 28-14 ball game. It was a 7-6 game. I credit our kids. We came out and fought hard.”

Nobody was bragging on the Crown Point sidelines as the boys and coaches played with the 'Leather Helmet Trophy,' the symbolic ‘prize’ for the winner of the annual Lowell-Crown Point game. CP has four more Top-10 teams (Andrean, Merrillville, Michigan City and Valparaiso) on their schedule.

“I just want to thank my team,” said Johnson, after having a hand in the four Crown Point touchdowns on opening night.

“My coaches and my line. I couldn’t do it without all of them.”

DOG/DEVIL NOTES: The Lowell-Crown Point game was played in front of a capacity (about 2,500) crowd with a number of folks standing along the fences surrounding the field. The student sections on both sides were very vocal and that added a lot to the atmosphere.

Crown Point linebacker Dom Sopczak led the Bulldogs with 9.5 tackles while fellow linebacker Matt Woods was credited with nine tackles.

This was an odd game in one respect. Lowell ended Friday’s game with a 13-play scoring drive. They began the third quarter with a 12-play drive. The Devils had 67 offensive plays other than punts and Crown Point had just 36. Lowell ran the ball 48 times, posted 14 first downs, did not fumble or throw an interception and they lost by 14.

Crown Point’ highly-regarded tackle Jack Darlington has been very impressed by all the former head coaches who are now on the CP coaching staff.

“It's awesome,” Jack explained. “All these older coaches who used to coach other places like (former Merrillville coach Zac) Wells. They have so much knowledge and we’re all just trying to soak it up every day. We’re just starting. It awesome.”

Lowell was without 2020 top tackler Spencer Barta (6-4, 227) and kicker Caden Britton against Crown Point. The Devils hope both can return in week two against Portage.

Both teams had problems with the center snap and that kills an offense.

“Unless you can get the snap down, it kills the option,” said Lowell coach Keith Kilmer. “Because there’s no read. You can't do anything.”

Karina James was honored at halftime of the Crown Point-Lowell game. Karina was the undefeated state cross country champion in 2020 and she was named the state Gatorade cross country athlete of the year. Lowell’s Gabriel Sanchez was state cross country winner and Gatorade cross country athlete of the year in 2019. Both ran for longtime Lowell head coach Scott Coil.

Crown Point’s new offensive line coach Tom Cicero is the dad of senior center Nicholas Cicero. Seamus Malaski is the son of former Crown Point girls soccer coach and CP assistant athletic director Mike Malaski.