Big plays in back-and-forth game lead Bulldogs to 28-21 victory in regular season finale

A USA-365.com Special Report by Dave Woodworth

10-21-2019

 

Members of the Michigan City varsity football team preparing for their week-9 Duneland Athletic Conference game at Crown Point High School, 10-18-2019. (Photos by Dave Woodworth)
The Crown Point school spirit banners adorn the fence under the scoreboard at the south end of the football field in advance of the MC-Crown Point football game, 10-18-2019.
The Michigan City Wolves and Crown Point Bulldogs warm up on Bulldog Turf prior to their week-9 regular season final foortball game of 2019.
Michigan City (in white travel uniforms) faced Crown Point (in home red jerseys and white pants) in a battle of two 4-4 teams on 10-18-2019.
Michigan City warms up prior to their game at Crown Point High School, 10-18-2019. The Wolves' practiced their short to medium passing game during warm-ups, which resulted in 20-of-33 passing by sophomore QB Giovani Laurent for a TD and 283 yards.
About 1,000 fans braved the cool 51-degree temperatures at Bulldog Turf Friday night to watch CP hold off the powerful passing offense of Michigan City.
Players shake hands after a hard-fought 28-21 Crown Point victory over Michigan City on 10-18-2019.  (Photos by Dave Woodworth)
 

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Revised: October 25, 2019 .

Team 1 2 3 4 F
Michigan City (4-5, 3-4) 0 14 0 7 21
CROWN POINT (5-4, 4-3) 14 0 7 7 28

Friday, October 18, 2019, 51 degrees and clear (at kick-off), Duneland Athletic Conference at CROWN POINT, Ind.

1st QtrCROWN POINT (7-0) Matthew Walters, 85-yard run. 2 plays, 92-yard drive. 0:51 min. time of possession (TOP). Sammy Brewer kick. 8:01 min left.
CROWN POINT (14-0) Tysen Cazy, 55 yard pass from Will Pettit. 3 plays, 58-yard drive. 1:49 min. TOP. Sammy Brewer kick. 2:12 min left.
2nd Qtr:  MICHIGAN CITY (7-14) Jonathon Flemings, 7-yard run. 10 plays, 58-yard drive. 3:26 min TOP. Nathan Stevenson kick. 8:34 min. left.
MICHIGAN CITY (14-14)
Kaydarious Jones, 36-yard pass from Giovani Laurent. 4 plays, 55-yard drive. 0:50 min. TOP. Nathan Stevenson kick. 1:29 min. left.
3rd Qtr:
 CROWN POINT (21-14) David O'Toole, 34-yard pass from Will Pettit, following tipped ball by Tysen Cazy at 1-yard line. 5 plays, 69-yard drive. 2:51 min. TOP. Sammy Brewer kick. 4:53 min. left.  
4th Qtr: MICHIGAN CITY (21-21) Jonathon Flemings, 1-yard run. 8 plays, 47-yard drive. 2:53 min. TOP. Nathan Stevenson kick. 5:17 min. left.
CROWN POINT (28-21) Tysen Cazy, 53-yard pass from Will Pettit. 2 plays, 66-yard drive. 0:37 min. TOP. Sammy Brewer kick. 2:36 min. left.

RUSHING:
MICHIGAN CITY (27 carries, 71 yards, 2 TDs, 0 fumbles):
Giovani Laurent (QB) 4-16 yards, Jonathon Flemings (TB) 16-61 yards, 2 TDs; Kaydarious Jones (WR) 2-(-3) yards, Michael Bradford (WR) 5-(-3) yards.

CROWN POINT
(22 carries, 147 yards, TD, 0 fumbles): Matthew Walters (TB) 13-102 yards, TD; Davian Lira (TB) 7-57 yards; Will Petit (QB) 2-(-12) yards.

PASSING
:
MICHIGAN CITY: Giovana Laurent (QB) 20-33, 283 yards, TD, 2 INTs.
CROWN POINT: Will Pettit (QB) 5-15, 188 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs.

RECEIVING:
MICHIGAN CITY: Kaydarious Jones (WR) 10-168 yards, TD; Demertius Garrett (WR) 4-41 yards, T'Lijah Robinson (WR) 1-16 yards; Jonathon Flemings (TB) 3-8 yards; Eaton Laurent (WR) 1-4 yards.
CROWN POINT: David O'Toole (WR) 3-81 yards, TD; Tysen Cazy (WR) 2-108 yards, 2 TDs.

TOTAL YARDS:
MICHIGAN CITY: 354 yards, 19 first downs and 2 turnovers (2 interceptions)
CROWN POINT: 329 yards, 3 first downs and 3 turnovers (2 interceptions, fumbled punt reception.)

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CROWN POINT (10-18-2019) In a game that saw the visiting Michigan City Wolves execute a prolific short passing attack for nearly 300 yards and 19 first downs, the host Crown Point Bulldogs mustered only three first downs. But the Bulldogs took advantage of six plays in excess of 30-yards or more to overcome the Wolves 28-21 in the final regular season game of 2019.

In fact, the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard early, as Matthew Walters took advantage of a key block thrown by tight end Felix Meeks as he broke through the line on a 2nd-and-3 play for an 85-yard touchdown run with 8:01 left in the first quarter.

Later in the first quarter, junior quarterback Will Pettit spotted a wide open senior wide receiver Tysen Cazy down the middle of the field and connected on a perfectly thrown pass to about the MC 25 yard line and Cazy raced into the end zone untouched on what appeared to be a missed coverage by the Wolves defensive secondary. CP led 14-0 with 2:12 left in the first quarter.

Michigan City would put together two impressive second quarter drives to tie up the game by halftime. Following an interception thrown by Will Pettit on the final play of the first quarter, the Wolves put together a 10-play, 58-yard drive that was capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Jonathon Flemings with 8:34 left in the second quarter.

Just before the half, the Wolves' sophomore Giovani Laurent (6-0, 170) connected with the speedy junior wide receiver Kaydarius Jones (5-10, 150) on a 36-yard pass and run play for a touchdown with 1:29 left in the 2nd quarter. That tied up the game at 14-14 at the half.

Crown Point would regain the lead in the third quarter. After CP and MC each went 3-and-out, the Bulldogs were able to spring junior tailback Davian Lira loose for a big 45 yard run, setting up the Bulldogs in scoring position at the Michigan City 24-yard line. Three plays later, the Bulldogs found themselves in a precarious position with a 4th-and-20 from the MC 34-yard line. Having been sacked for a 10-yard loss the previous play, Will Pettit appeared to be determined to get a pass off toward the goal line. It appeared he found the 6-foot-3 Tysen Cazy at the 1-yard line as he got a hand on the ball, only to tip the ball into the air. The "jump ball" was grabbed by fellow senior wide receiver and team captain David O'Toole (6-1, 190), who then extended his arm with the football over the goal line for one of the most amazing touchdowns Crown Point fans have seen this season. The play capped off a 5-play, 69-yard drive for a 21-14 lead with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

Michigan City took advantage of a CP special teams fumbled punt and extended a drive that started at their own 17 and gave the Wolves new life at the CP 47-yard line. Laurent connected with Jones for a big 45 yard pass that set up the Wolves with a 1st-and-goal at the CP 2-yard line. Two plays later, Flemings punched the ball in from the one yard line to cap off the 8 play, 47-yard drive with 5:17 left to tie the game 21-21.

Crown Point and Michigan City then exchanged short possessions before the Bulldogs put together the game-winning play. Following a Pettit to O'Toole medium range pass for 13-yards and a first down at the CP 47-yard line, Pettit went long and hit Cazy on a slanting pattern from the right side of the field to the center of the field, catching him in stride and Cazy out-raced the defenders to the northwest corner of the end zone with 2:36 left in the game.

But it would take another defensive stop by the Bulldogs to secure the victory. MC's quarterback Laurent again hit the speedy Kaydarius Jones on a pass and run play for 46-yards, giving the Wolves a 1st-and-10 at the CP 36-yard line. But on the next play, MC's Laurent fired a pass over the middle, which was intercepted by junior cornerback Trestan Logan, who appeared to return the ball for a touchdown, only to have it called back by a penalty against the Bulldogs. But CP's Will Pettit would then be able to run out the final 1:39 minutes on the clock by simply taking a knee three times to preserve the 28-21 victory.

DOG NOTES: The 28 points on four touchdowns scored by the Bulldogs against Michigan City was the season high scoring, and the most points scored in a game by CP since 2017 when the Bulldogs had three games of 35 points or more.

The four CP touchdowns came on an 85 yard running play by Walters, and three passes by Pettit of 55 (to Cazy), 34 and 53 yards (both to O'Toole).

The Wolves and Bulldogs entered their traditional DAC Week 9 match-up with identical 4-4 records overall, and 3-3 in the conference. Michigan City closes out the 2019 regular season at 4-5, 3-4 in the Duneland Athletic Conference, while the Bulldogs improved to 5-4, 4-3 in the DAC. Also with the win, the Bulldogs finish the DAC race in a tie for third place in the conference with Chesterton.

The Bulldogs head into a bye-week before postseason play, where they will meet the Lake Central Indians in the Class 6A, Sectional 1 semi-final on Friday, Nov. 1 at LCHS. Crown Point has already defeated Lake Central this season in Week 4, 10-0. The other Sectional 1 semifinal between the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchoes and Merrillville Pirates will be played Nov. 1 at Demaree Stadium.

USA-365.com/Indiana-Sports Programming Note: USA-365.com and Indiana-Sports.com will carry the Class 6A Sectional 1 semi-final between the Indians and Bulldogs on Friday, Nov. 1 at Lake Centrral High School. Coverage begins with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m. with the kickoff at 7 p.m. (CDT). USA-365.com and Indiana-Sports.com will cover the Bulldogs as far as they advance throughout the entire postseason.


CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECENT SEASONS
6A 1 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 5-4
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
CROWN POINT
BULLDOGS
Coach: Kevin Enright, 46-41 in 8th year at school
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 19.6, DA 17.0
Aug. 23 at Lowell 4A L 19 21    
Aug. 30   Highland 4A W 24 0    
Sep. 6   Merrillville 6A © L 24 27 OT  
Sep. 13 at Lake Central 6A © W 10 0    
Sep. 20 at Portage 6A © W 22 16    
Sep. 28   Valparaiso 5A © L 14 31    
Oct. 4   LaPorte 5A © W 21 10    
Oct. 11 at Chesterton 6A © L 14 27    
Oct. 18   Michigan City 5A © W 28 21    
©DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME

CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECENT SEASONS
5A 9 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 4-5
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
MICHIGAN CITY
WOLVES
Coach: Phil Mason, 30-16 in 4th year at school, 143-77 in 19th year overall
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 21.2, DA 18.4
Aug. 23   Griffith 4A W 60 7    
Aug. 30   Warsaw 6A L 19 20    
Sep. 6   Chesterton 6A © W 21 7    
Sep. 13 at Valparaiso 5A © L 21 42    
Sep. 20   Merrillville 6A © L 7 46    
Sep. 28 at Lake Central 6A © L 7 13    
Oct. 4   Portage 6A © W 28 0    
Oct. 11 at LaPorte 5A © W 7 3    
Oct. 18 at Crown Point 6A © L 21 28    
©DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME

Crown Point's next Opponent:

CLASS SECTIONAL JOHN HARRELL'S INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECENT SEASONS
6A 1 E-MAIL CORRECTIONS MAP TO SCHOOL 3-6
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
LAKE CENTRAL
INDIANS
Coach: Tony Bartolomeo, 6-20 in 3rd year at school
DATE OPPONENT CENTRAL TIME OA 14.3, DA 24.3
Aug. 23 at Munster 5A W 37 7    
Aug. 30   Hammond Morton 4A L 0 20    
Sep. 6   Portage 6A © W 30 21    
Sep. 13   Crown Point 6A © L 0 10    
Sep. 20 at LaPorte 5A © L 14 31    
Sep. 28   Michigan City 5A © W 13 7    
Oct. 4 at Chesterton 6A © L 0 38    
Oct. 11   Merrillville 6A © L 21 41    
Oct. 18 at Valparaiso 5A © L 14 44    
©DUNELAND CONFERENCE GAME
 
DUNELAND
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
  CONFERENCE ALL GAMES
  W-L Pts OP W-L Pts OP Streak
Valparaiso 7-0 267 90 9-  0 364 104 Won 9
Merrillville 6-1 236 108 8-  1 305 128 Won 2
Chesterton 4-3 153 116 6-  3 214 129 Lost 1
Crown Point 4-3 133 132 5-  4 176 153 Won 1
Michigan City 3-4 112 139 4-  5 191 166 Lost 1
Lake Central 2-5 92 192 3-  6 129 219 Lost 3
LaPorte 2-5 71 141 2-  7 91 222 Won 1
Portage 0-7 72 218 1-  8 134 269 Lost 7
Friday, Oct. 18
Crown Point 28, Michigan City 21 ©
LaPorte 20, Portage 14 ©
Merrillville 27, Chesterton 20 ©
Valparaiso 44, Lake Central 14 ©
©conference game

CLASS 6A
SECTIONAL 1 [BRACKET]
Crown Point [5-4] at Lake Central [3-6]
Lafayette Jeff [9-0] at Merrillville [8-1]
SECTIONAL 2 [BRACKET]
Portage [1-8] at Penn [5-4]
Warsaw [7-2] at Chesterton [6-3]