Bowen helps Hanover Central beat Calumet in sectional opener
Hanover Central 48, Calumet 16
By Paul Honeycutt
CEDAR LAKE — Hanover Central coach Brian Parker made a proclamation after his team’s 48-16 win over Calumet.
“We’re emptying the tank from here on out,” he said.
What that meant was getting sophomore Dylan Bowen some touches on the offensive side of the ball for the Class 3A No. 2 Wildcats (10-0).
Needless to say, he was ready.
Bowen, who missed the first eight weeks of the season with a fractured hip, hauled in two receptions for 45 yards in the Class 3A Sectional 25 opener on Friday night, including a 35-yard TD.
“I’m starting to like playing offense,” Bowen said with a smile. “I’d still have to say I like playing defense better, though, because you can’t really hit anyone on the offensive side of the ball.”
When he’s not tormenting opposing pitchers on the diamond with his hitting, the Prep Baseball Report No. 2-ranked sophomore in Indiana is flying around in the defensive backfield with a different kind of hitting.
“Dylan’s an explosive athlete,” said Parker. “We wanted to ease (Dylan) back and wanted him to tackle instead of getting tackled, but I texted him this past Sunday night to tell him he was gonna play some offense and it was one of those things where he was asking what took so long.”
Hanover Central senior quarterback Matt Koontz had an efficient night by going 14 of 19 for 169 yards while tossing three touchdowns.
“Matt stirs the drink and is an extension of the coaches out there on the field,” said Parker. “He has gotten better every year.”
Wildcats running back Caiden Verrett also ran for 64 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the 21-point Hanover Central first quarter.
Verrett added his third on a one-yarder at the 8:03 mark of the second quarter.
Hanover Central junior Rocco Bartolomeo got the scoring going for the Wildcats, capping an eight-play, 34-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown catch and he recorded and interception.
Calumet (3-7) got two touchdown passes from senior QB Derrick Santiago, who also threw 135 yards.
Santiago’s TD passes went for 51 yards to Javon Lawrence and for 19 yards to Gary Robinson.
Hanover Central has now won 12 straight games at home and has also won double-digit games for the third straight season.
The Wildcats will host Boone Grove (8-2) in next week’s semifinal.
“The backbone of our program is in the weight room and I tell people that I got here at the right time,” said Parker. “We’re trending up and the coaches from the top to bottom hold the players accountable.”
Hanover Central 48, Calumet 16
Calumet; 0 0 0 16 – 16
Hanover Central; 21 21 6 0 – 48
HC – Rocco Bartolomeo 6 pass from Matt Koontz (Emmi Doty kick), 7:31 1st
HC – Caiden Verrett 4 run (Doty kick), 6:05 1st
HC – Verrett 4 run (Doty kick), 1:18 1st
HC – Dylan Bowen 35 pass from Koontz (Doty kick), 11:34 2nd
HC – Verrett 1 run (Doty kick), 8:03 2nd
HC – Jacob Strominski 19 pass from Koontz (Doty kick), 0:20 2nd
HC – Simon Michaels 21 pass from Geoff Resney (pass failed), 6:01 3rd
C – Javon Lawrence 51 pass from Derrick Santiago (Santiago pass to Eric Allen), 10:26 4th
C – Gary Robinson 19 pass from Santiago (Santiago run), 3:16 4th
Calumet;Hanover Central
First Downs;6;16
Total Yards;188;329
Rushes-Yards;19-53;24-126
Passing;135;203
Comp.-Att.-Int.;8-20-1;17-27-2
Penalties-Yards;4-29;4-30
Fumbles-Lost;4-2;0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – CALUMET, Corey Ferguson 16-55, Alex Ponce 1-1, Derrick Santiago 2-(-3). HANOVER CENTRAL, Caiden Verrett 11-64, Matt Koontz 6-30, Donovan Mason 4-16, Cory Haessly 1-7, Dylan Bowen 1-6, Geoff Resney 1-3.
PASSING – CALUMET, Santiago 8-20-135-2-1. HANOVER CENTRAL, Koontz 14-19-169-3-0, Resney 3-8-34-1-2.
RECEIVING – CALUMET, Javon Lawrence 3-86, Gary Robinson 2-26, Eric Allen 2-15, Amarion Chandler-Terrell 1-8. HANOVER CENTRAL, Rocco Bartolomeo 4-38, Bowen 2-45, Noah Toole 2-19, Brayden Svec 2-13, Verrett 2-10, Wally Koontz 2-8, Anthony Layman 1-30, Simon Michaels 1-21, Jacob Strominski 1-19.