Hammond Central edges Highland in ugly game
Hammond Central 21, Highland 15 (OT)
By Paul Honeycutt
HIGHLAND — 25 for 202.
When you see Hammond Central was a part of the game, you’d immediately think that might be Hammond Central star junior running back Dashawn Woods’ rushing line.
Well, it wasn’t.
It was the Wolves’ penalty line, as they made mistake after mistake in Indiana Preps NWI No. 6 Hammond Central’s 21-15 overtime win over NWI No. 10 Highland on Fright night.
In the last possession for Hammond Central (4-0) in regulation, it drove all the way to the Highland 1, but then the Wolves were docked 15 total yards on three straight penalties and ultimately missed a 32-yard field goal that would’ve most likely sealed the game.
They were also called for several unsportsmanlike conducts throughout the game, and to boot, a few of the Hammond Central players came over and taunted the Highland crowd after the game.
It was an embarrassing night to say the least, for both sides.
Highland (2-2) also committed eight penalties for 68 yards, including several delays of game, with the offense sometimes not getting up to the line of scrimmage until there was less than single digits on the play clock.
The game plan for Highland this week was simple — try to get to Woods before he gets to the secondary.
It worked for the most part, as Woods finished with 135 yards, but he could’ve finished with lots more had the Highland defense not made some great stops.
Woods, the leading rusher in The Region and the third-leading rusher in the entire state as well as fifth in scoring coming into Week 4, was held to 69 rushing yards on 10 carries in the first half.
Woods was going to make an impact at some point, though, as his first score of the night was on a 28-yard pick-6 midway through the third quarter.
He added a 14-yard rushing TD in the fourth and a two-yard score in overtime to seal the victory.
Highland started the game with a seven-play, 77-yard drive, capped off by a Blake Vanek 15-yard rushing score, as Vanek rushed for 50 yards on the opening drive.
The Trojans defense got through Hammond Central’s line on some key plays, including when senior defensive lineman Aramis McNutt stuffed Woods on a fourth-and-5 in Highland territory for a five-yard loss at the 8:51 mark of the second quarter.
Highland senior defensive back Hunter Sopkowski picked off Hammond Central junior quarterback Travon McCullough with 5:10 to go in the first half, stopping another Wolves drive.
After Woods’ fourth quarter score, the host Trojans tied the game at 15 after Vanek connected with Sopkowski on a 31-yard TD pass.
Hammond Central sophomore running back Davion Terry finished with six carries for 79 yards.
Vanek went 3 for 17 with 116 yards passing and three picks, one TD and the rushing score.
Hammond Central 21, Highland 15 (OT)
Hammond Central; 0 0 7 8 6 – 21
Highland; 7 0 0 8 0 – 15
H – Blake Vanek 15 run (Tristan Shadowen kick), 7:06 1st
HC – Dashawn Woods 28 int return (Omar Sosa-Lopez kick), 7:14 3rd
HC – Woods 14 run (Dotson to Adams pass), 9:31 4th
H – Hunter Sopkowski 31 pass from Vanek (Vanek pass to Nick Johnsen), 8:02 4th
HC – Woods 2 run, OT
Hammond Central;Highland
First Downs;10;8
Total Net Yards;283;172
Rushes-Yards;41-214;25-61
Passing;69;111
Comp.-Att.-Int.;6-15-2;4-18-3
Penalties-Yards;25-202;8-68
Fumbles-Lost;3-3;2-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – HAMMOND CENTRAL, Dashawn Woods 31-135, Davion Terry 6-79, Travon McCullough 3-2, Greg Dotson 1-(-2). HIGHLAND, Blake Vanek 12-29, Jesus Alanis 2-13, Sema’J Kirk 2-9, Jason Lawrence 7-5, Josh Hubbard 3-4, Javy Castillo 1-1.
PASSING – HAMMOND CENTRAL, McCullough 6-14-69-0-2, Woods 0-1-0-0-0. HIGHLAND, Vanek 3-17-116-1-3, Lawrence 1-1-(-5)-0-0.
RECEIVING – HAMMOND CENTRAL, Baron Owens 2-35, Woods 2-20, Dotson 1-14, Joel Adams 1-0. HIGHLAND, Nick Johnsen 1-50, Lawrence 1-35, Hunter Sopkowski 1-31, Vanek 1-(-5).