[JHeath]

The regular season opener is tonight against Gary Roosevelt! God even managed to send us a little football weather for it! Enjoy, and if you are out and about stop by the press box and say hey!

Didn't head out to the game tonight, but great job on the call! (I was only able to listen for a short time, but you and Adam sounded fantastic.)

[Southsider2k12]

Thanks, it was a ton of fun. For those who did not hear, the Wolves kicked much butt, winning by a school record, 63-0, even with a running clock for the entire second half.

[kapkomet]

Great start. Now let's hope they don't celebrate that one too much and go out and carry the momentum!

[Ang]

Was planning to go to the game, but I got invited to a Sox game instead. It was Elvis Night. We had a lot of fun. The weather held out for the entire game and post-game show (an Elvis tribute concert and fireworks). It really started raining hard during the fireworks finale, though. Sox lost to the Orioles, and the 8th inning was the killer, but I just LOVE going to a White Sox game, whether they win or lose, it's always a good time.

And congrats to the Wolves for a massive victory!

[Southsider2k12]

You are excused for going to a Sox game!

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...&TM=40479.2

City Football: Blowout Win No Big Deal, Really
Home Cookin'

Adam Parkhouse
Sports Editor, The News-Dispatch

Michigan City's football team opened the 2009 season with a bang, beating Gary Roosevelt 63-0 at Ames Field.

Pardon me for saying so, but so what?

The Wolves set consolidated school records for most points in a game and biggest margin of victory.

Who cares?

City also improved to 15-0 in season-opening games.

Eh ... not a big deal, really.

Now before you get all page-turny on me and call me names, know that I'm not the only one who holds this opinion about Friday's win.

Purdue-bound lineman Ryan Isaac said the level of domination achieved Friday was expected. According to him, Friday's game was simply "business."

City coach Craig Buzea was more happy that six different City players scored touchdowns and that everybody got a chance to play.

There's a reason why beating Roosevelt is really nothing to write home about, and it's supported by fact.

Sure, City is 15-0 all-time in season openers against Roosevelt, Elkhart Central and Chicago Leo (Ill.). But only three times has City ended its postseason with a winning record.

In fact, for me at least, the best part about Friday's win was that it's probably the last time City will ever play Roosevelt. The athletic department is efforting a new Week 1 opponent for next season and beyond, and good riddance, I say.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but as I've argued in the past, there's nothing to be gained from this game. Your star running back had just five carries and your first-year quarterback threw only five passes. And I applaud Buzea for getting those guys out of the game and spreading the wealth. But heck, the defense couldn't even run the way you'd like it to because the Wolves tend to blitz the Panthers less due to their line not being good enough to block that many people effectively. In short, you call off the dogs so someone doesn't get hurt.

The idea of playing Roosevelt in Week 1 has passed its time. When City was always expected to be bad, it was nice to get that win right away so the threat of a winless season didn't hang over you the rest of the year. In six of City's 14-plus seasons, the Wolves only won one other game. In another, Roosevelt was its only win.

But Buzea is trying to usher in a new era. An era where not only his player, but teachers, adminstrators and fans can all aim higher and expect victories against schools that field competitive teams.

It's a vision to help build the program to respectability, which frankly hasn't existed here for some time on the gridiron.

To get there, the idea of needing a team like Roosevelt on the schedule to guarantee at least one win needs to be vanquished. Just erase it from your mind.

Sure, 63-0 looks nice in the paper and it's a nice score to say to others. But, to me, there's much more to be gained from playing a competitive opponent to start the season.

The real season starts next week. South Bend Washington will bring a tough team to Ames and then play in the Duneland Conference gets underway in Week 3.

That's when the men get separated from the boys.

Good luck in Week 2, Wolves.

Contact Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse at aparkhouse@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 461.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25331

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

Adam Parkhouse
Sports Editor, The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Ryan Isaac scooped up a fumble and saw nothing but brand new artificial turf between him and the end zone.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior, moving nimbly for a man his size, streaked down the field and appeared headed for paydirt.

That was until he tripped over the 30-yard line, landing on the 27.

"I've never seen anything like it," Michigan City coach Craig Buzea quipped. "It looked like there was a sniper in the stands."

Isaac, good-natured about the mishap, added, "I was thinking six, but it didn't work out."

The Purdue-bound big man going down a few yards early was about the only thing that went wrong for City on opening night as the Wolves thoroughly dominated Gary Roosevelt's Panthers in a 63-0 shellacking at Ames Field.

"Execution-wise, we didn't put the ball on the ground and we didn't have any silly penalties," Buzea said.

The Wolves set records for most points scored in a game and biggest margin of victory since the consolidation. City also extended its streak of opening night wins to 15 straight games, going a perfect 15-for-15 since the consolidation. It was also the program's first shutout since a 34-0 pasting of Lake Central on Sept. 24, 2004.

"I don't take much out of that," Buzea said of the margin of victory. "But I'm happy that we got everyone in the game."

Six different Wolves found the end zone on the renovated Ames Field surface, led by senior running back Adam Harmon, who carried just five times for 76 yards but scored three touchdowns.

City (1-0) held Roosevelt (0-1) to a three-and-out on its opening possession and didn't take long to score. In fact, just two Harmon carries were necessary for City to take a 7-0 lead.

The Wolves then scored two touchdowns just 34 seconds apart. Junior quarterback Rodney Washington made the first pass of his career a good one: a 26-yard touchdown strike to Tracy Rivera. Just 34 seconds later, Harmon also scored from 26 yards to make the score 21-0 with 5:21 left in the first quarter.

City would tack on one more touchdown in the quarter, an 11-yard run from Jeremy Harris.

Early in the second quarter, Harmon scored again from 4 yards out with 10:04 left to play. That would prove to be his final carry of the night. On the extra point, the snap was bad, but Rivera, the holder, ran into the end zone for the two-point conversion, proving City could do no wrong on this night.

The Wolves added another score before halftime on an 80-yard strike from Washington to Rivera. The diminutive receiver broke a tackle and evaded another on his way to the end zone.

In his first game taking over for graduated QB Nathan Scully, Washington completed 4-of-5 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

"I thought he made good reads and teams will realize they need to respect his arm," Buzea said.

City should have had another score before the half after Cody Miranda scooped up a fumble and appeared to score, but officials blew the Roosevelt runner down.

City led 43-0 at the half, and the teams went to a running clock in the second half, just like in last year's 60-8 City win.

The Wolves' opening drive of the second half took up nearly the entire quarter with the clock running continually, and Kevin Kreighbaum caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Joel Hirsch.

In the fourth quarter, City added a pair of touchdowns, a 10-yard run from Rashem Bell and an 11-yard run from Anthony Catchings, both sophomores.

Buzea said, as always, the celebration will be short. The schedule only gets tougher from here with a much-improved South Bend Washington team invading Ames next week before play in the Duneland Conference gets underway in Week 3.

"We allow these guys to celebrate for 24 hours," Buzea said. "Then it's back to earth."

While happy with the win, Isaac knows what's on the road ahead.

"We work so hard in practice, this was expected," Isaac said. "It's just business."

[Southsider2k12]

A reminder, City hosts #14 ranked SB Washington at Ames Field tonight... if you can't make it, or you would like to hear our discription as you watch, tune in to 1420 Am WIMS or stream live at WIMSradio.com to hear myself and Adam Parkhouse bring home the action.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25453

TIME TO GET SERIOUS
High School Football: Week 2 Preview

Adam Parkhouse and Nick Dettmann
Staff Writers

For Michigan City, the 2009 season gets real tonight when South Bend Washington invades Ames Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

"They can play with any team in the state," City coach Craig Buzea said. "They're so skilled ... I can't remember a more skilled team that I've coached against in 25 years."

Washington beat City 21-20 during Week 2 last season, a game in which City was without a large portion of key personnel due to disciplinary reasons.

Coming into this season, the Panthers are a much-imporved bunch from last year, but the team got some bad luck this week regarding South Bend Adams transfer student Eric Woods. The IHSAA ruled that Woods' transfer was improper, and deemed him ineligible for varsity competition this season.

As for the players that will be playing, the Panthers have also created quite a stir with an innovative offensive formation that includes two quarterbacks: Pat Borlik (right-handed) and Adams transfer Nolan Dieter (left-handed).

"I've never in my life seen anything like that," Buzea said. "We're just treating one of the backs as a running back, but it does give them a lot of different things they can do."

During a Week 1 romp of South Bend Clay (44-12), Borlik and Dieter were on the field together for every play. During that game, Nolan's younger brother Gehrig, also an Adams transfer, caught nine passes for 159 yards while Nolan rushed for two more TDs.

"(The Panthers) put you out there on islands and you have to make plays on their kids. It's really a big concern and would be for anyone trying to defend them," Buzea said. "One of the things they exposed (last year) was our lack of tackling."

Of course, City is coming off the biggest win in school history in terms of points scored and margin of victory, a 63-0 whooping of Gary Roosevelt in Week 1.

In that game, senior running back Adam Harmon had just five carries and junior quarterback Rodney Washington threw only five passes as City coaches emptied the bench with six different Wolves scoring touchdowns in the game. Expect both players' workloads to increase dramatically.

Washington, in his first major test as City's QB, will have to put up with an aggressive, blitzing defense. Buzea said his signal caller is up for the challenge.

"It's all about staying within himself and keeping himself on an even keel," Buzea said. "I call it a flatliner ... just make the right decisions."

City is a perfect 15-0 in opening week games, but since the consolidation the Wolves are 9-5 in Week 2 games. They're 1-13 in Week 3 games.

[taxthedeer]

From the WNDU web site:

Last Friday, NewsCenter 16 reported that Eric Woods was ineligible for Washington’s first game against Clay for an improper transfer from Adams.

Today, a harsh penalty came down on Woods from the IHSAA.

South Bend School Corporation attorney Ed Sullivan confirmed to NewsCenter 16 that Woods, a senior, is not eligible to play varsity football for Washington at all this season.

Sullivan says in a statement that the IHSAA informed Washington High School of the decision today:

“Washington High School was informed today that the IHSAA changed Eric Woods’ eligibility status to ‘limited eligibility.’ According to the IHSAA, ‘limited eligibility’ does not include varsity football at Washington High School.”

His eligibility will allow Woods to play JV.

Woods, a running back and defensive standout, started at Adams each of the last two seasons. He transferred to Washington over the summer.

IHSAA commissioner Blake Ress says that the transfer was improperly handled. Hear more from Ress tonight on NewsCenter 16 at 11.

[Southsider2k12]

Tonight was one of the top five games I have ever had the honor of being behind the mic to call. City won 13-10 over SB Washington with a last second field goal to take it. It was a great game from the first snap to the last one, complete with all k...inds of action. I can't wait to listen back to it.

[taxthedeer]

Tonight was one of the top five games I have ever had the honor of being behind the mic to call. City won 13-10 over SB Washington with a last second field goal to take it. It was a great game from the first snap to the last one, complete with all k...inds of action. I can't wait to listen back to it.

You and Parkhouse make for a good broadcast team.

There were a couple of things I've never seen before tonight, 1. A double quarter back set. 2. A player being taken off the field with a police escort.

I thought the game was kind of sloppy in terms of number of penalties and 2nd half turnovers. Basically Michigan City made fewer mistakes so they were the winners. Like Adam had mentioned this was really the first competitive game played by the Wolves this season and it showed.

If I could make one request for next Friday night is for the love of pete, please turn the PA system down a little bit, I still have the sound of Kent Lange's voice ringing in my eardrums. They were probably able to hear him up in Benton Harbor.

[Southsider2k12]

I can't wait to hear the replay from WIMS on this game.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39936.18

A Game Worth Winning
Home Cookin'

Adam Parkhouse
Sports Editor, The News-Dispatch

Now THAT'S a win.

If you're one of the Michigan City football fans who saw both the win against Gary Roosevelt and the win against South Bend Washington, now you know what I was talking about last week.

The fact that both wins hold the same value in the win column almost doesn't seem fair.

As an opponent, Washington was bigger, stronger and faster. They had legitimate play in the trenches, a few ingenious offensive formations and talent and skill coming out of the wazoo.

Not to belabor the point, but I'd take a three-point, last-second win over THAT team any time over a 63-point romp over Roosevelt.

And you know what? The mood in the locker room matched the importance of the win. Those guys were genuinely excited, thrilled even, to have pulled that game out.

They should be. It wasn't particularly pretty. At times, City looked very much like a team playing its first competitive game of the season.

On the other side, Washington didn't always look like the 14th-best team in Class 4A. They racked up 118 yards in penalties and both teams contributed to an incredible run of four turnovers in a 69-second span.

But know this: Good teams find a way to win games like that.

Coach Craig Buzea said it best: "This is one of those games that last year we wouldn't have won."

In sports, there's a philosophy that talks about the progression of programs. It's said that a team going from "Point A" to Point B" is bad team becoming good enough to win every now and again, but ultimately losing to teams they're supposed to lose to.

The hard part is going from "Point B" to "Point C". Often, that can take years. Taking that step means you're rarely the underdog in any game. It means you're the team no other team looks forward to playing.

And finally, it means you win games like this one Friday night at Ames Field.

q

Here are some other notes from early in the football season.

• For the first time since 2002, the Class 5A programs in the N-D coverage area - Michigan City, La Porte and Chesterton - are each 2-0 to start the season. In 2002, City finished 2-8, La Porte wound up 6-4 and Chesterton ended at 6-4 as well. All three teams were dumped in the first round of the sectional. City meets Chesterton to open play in the Duneland Conference next Friday at Ames.

• This is the 10th time in 15 years City has started the season 2-0. However, only once before - in 2005 - did City start 3-0. That's when the Ryan Fics-led Wolves topped Chesterton 49-35 at Ames Field. Fics, you might remember, had a historic performance, rushing 34 times for 368 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 73 yards.

Contact Sports Editor Adam Parkhouse at aparkhouse@thenewsdispatch.com or 874-7211, Ext. 461.

[Southsider2k12]

You and Parkhouse make for a good broadcast team.

There were a couple of things I've never seen before tonight, 1. A double quarter back set. 2. A player being taken off the field with a police escort.

I thought the game was kind of sloppy in terms of number of penalties and 2nd half turnovers. Basically Michigan City made fewer mistakes so they were the winners. Like Adam had mentioned this was really the first competitive game played by the Wolves this season and it showed.

If I could make one request for next Friday night is for the love of pete, please turn the PA system down a little bit, I still have the sound of Kent Lange's voice ringing in my eardrums. They were probably able to hear him up in Benton Harbor.

Thanks for the complement. I actually broadcast for a few years while I was in college, and did the training of new annoucners for a few years, and I have to say, there is only one other person I had as good of chemistry with in the booth. Adam is great at what he does, which really helps.

[taxthedeer]

The Wolves made this week's coaches poll!!!

INDIANA FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION - CLASS 5A POLL 08/31/2009
RANK PREV RANK SCHOOL POINTS
1 1 Center Grove 100 (10)
2 4 Penn 90
3 7 Carmel 59
4 2 Ben Davis 57
5 3 Warren Central 50
6 8 Columbus East 49
7 9 Chesterton 31
8 -- Fishers 20
9 5 FW Snider 14
10 -- Zionsville 13
Others Receiving Votes
Munster - 11, LaPorte - 8, Mishawaka - 7, Pike - 6, Merrillville - 6, Homestead - 5, Michigan City - 5, Columbus North - 4, Valparaiso - 4, Bloomington North - 4, Floyd Central - 2, Westfield - 2, Hamilton Southeastern - 2, Martinsville - 1

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=40371.95

City In Latest Coaches Poll
High School Football
Michigan City's football team received five votes in the latest Indiana Football Coaches Association poll, released Monday.

Center Grove is the top-ranked team, receiving all 10 first-place votes. Penn is second, followed by Carmel, Ben Davis and Warren Central to round out the top five.

Chesterton, who the Wolves play this Friday at Ames Field, is ranked seventh in the poll, moving up from ninth after its 28-0 victory over New Prairie.

La Porte is just on the outside looking in, receiving eight votes. In all, five Duneland Conference teams received votes in the poll (Merrillville-six, Valparaiso-four).

The Wolves (2-0) host the Trojans (2-0) at 7 p.m. Friday, and La Porte (2-0) will host Valparaiso.

[Southsider2k12]

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/1752325,to...tw-0904.article

Wolves set to face real test
In third year, Buzea hopes MC can contend with Trojans, top DAC foes
Comments

September 4, 2009
By David Robb, Post-Tribune staff writer

Publicly, he minced words. But privately, Craig Buzea set a few goals when he took over Michigan City's downtrodden football program in 2007.

Year One, he just wanted to be competitive. The Wolves were. Despite a 2-8 record, they were in most games.

Year Two, he just wanted to be around .500. The Wolves finished 4-6, losing two games by three points or fewer and one game in overtime.

Year Three ...

"I was hoping our third year we could compete for a conference title," Buzea said.

After tonight, the Wolves will have a good idea of how they stack up in the DAC. They host Chesterton in their conference opener. The Trojans were co-DAC champs last year and are among the favorites again this season.

That's what makes tonight's matchup of two 2-0 teams even more intriguing. In many ways, it's not just an early test for the Wolves (and the Trojans, for that matter). It's a barometer of where the program is in Buzea's third year at the helm.

So far, the rebuilding has gone according to plan. Now, are the Wolves ready to take that next step? Are they ready, finally, to do more than compete? Are they ready to win?

"We feel like we're making progress," Buzea said. "I don't think there's any question about that. Whether we can hang with the big guys now remains to be seen. We're anxious to see exactly where we're at."

Chesterton coach John Snyder can vouch for that progress.

"This is the best Michigan City team I've seen," Snyder said. "They are loaded with talent. They're big, athletic and playing with a lot of confidence. City's staff has done a great job of not only teaching them the X's and O's, but also changing the mindset of what it takes to win."

With first-year starter Rodney Washington under center, MC has opened up its offense. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior has already connected with six different receivers for 338 yards. Multidimensional senior tailback Adam Harmon has been his top target, catching seven passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in last week's 13-10 victory over South Bend Washington.

"Their offense is difficult to defend because of how they spread you out," Snyder said. "(Washington) is going to be outstanding. He can run and throw, and that puts a lot of pressure on a defense."

Snyder has also been impressed with his junior quarterback, Jon Watson.

"I've been very pleased with his leadership on the field," he said.

With the graduation of quarterback Aaron Knight, who spearheaded the Trojans' option attack last season, Chesterton has had to distribute the wealth on offense. And that, Buzea believes, makes Chesterton more difficult to defend.

"Last year, everybody knew Knight was going to get the ball," Buzea said. "It was just a matter of stopping him. This year, they can go with the fullback, wingback and they can throw the ball. I'm very impressed with (Watson)."

Buzea also heaped praise on the Trojans' defense, which is led by Dan McCoy, his former coordinator at Portage. That defense has yet to allow a point. Of course, the Trojans have yet to face an offense as dynamic as Michigan City's.

Contact David Robb at 648-3122, drobb@post-trib.com or visit his blog at blogs.post-trib.com/robb.

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=25619

WHO CLAIMS EARLY SUPREMACY?
Football: Week 3 Preview

Adam Parkhouse and Nick Dettmann
Staff Writers

If Week 2 was a good measuring stick for Michigan City, then Week 3 is when the men started getting weeded out from the boys.

Play in the Duneland Conference opens up tonight at Ames Field when Class 5A No. 7 Chesterton invades Ames Field to take on City, who received votes in this week's coaches poll.

"That's what this week stands for. We'll see where we're at and where we have to go to get with programs that have been established for years like Chesterton," City coach Craig Buzea said. "They're the top dog and when we get done with this game we'll have an idea where we're at."

Chesterton uses an option-intensive offense, quite a departure from Week 2 against South Bend Washington and the Panthers' spread offense.

But City's defense has been on a good run so far this season and even going into the second half of last season.

"I think they played exceptional last week," Buzea said. "But it's a whole different ball game with what these guys are doing.

"I think they can keep us in most games, and that's all we hope for."

On the flip side, Chesterton's defense is a strong unit, too. Playing predominantly a 4-3 Cover 2, the Trojans pride themselves on keeping the ball in front of them and not getting beat over the top.

In fact, Chesterton's defensive coordinator, Dan McCoy, was Buzea's defensive coordinator for five years at Portage.

"They make you play left-handed, meaning they take away what you do best," Buzea said. "It's not their style to line up and come at you like Washington, but these Chesterton guys are a lot more disciplined."

Another potential big factor is special teams. Last week, City kicker Dustin Rivich booted the game-winner for City in the closing seconds, and Chesterton's kicker, Kyle Schmidt, is one of the best kickers anywhere, consistently booting the ball into - or through - the end zone for touchbacks.

"It's not only the kicking game but we have to play exceptionally well as far as special teams go," Buzea said. "Chesterton has probably the best special teams in the conference. They spend a lot of time on it, block a lot of kicks and return a lot of kicks."

Chesterton coach John Snyder voiced a similar opinion, saying it may come down to the kicking game.

"Obviously we're excited to start the Duneland," he added. "This is the biggest test of our season so far. I kind of felt Michigan City coming in was the team to beat with all the returning starters and talent they have. I see them playing with more confidence than ever before.

"... It's going to be a tough challenge for us."

Pardon the expression, but there seems to be plenty of buzz in the community about this game. Two teams getting votes in the latest polls have more attention on this game than there might have been in the past.

"I think the community is definitely starting to get behind us," Buzea said. "Hopefully it is a testament to what we're trying to do."

Adam's pick: City, 21-17

Nick's pick: Chesterton, 28-20

[Southsider2k12]

Don't forget to listen live tonight at AM 1420 to Adam Parkhouse and I on the call from Ames... If you can't listen on your radio, hook up wimsradio.com for the live broadcast, or even a special simulcast on ALCO TV 97.

[CaddyRich]

Three minutes left...all I can say is WOW! What a game. Way to go Wolves! One thing - Parky...you might not want to use the term "S.O.B." on the radio...Both you guys are great on WIMS.