Griffith shuts down Highland in season opener

Griffith 56, Highland 0

By Paul Honeycutt

GRIFFITH — The Boneyard has long since been one of the best atmospheres in Region football when Indiana high school football coaching legend Russ Radtke was roaming the sidelines in the 90’s and 2000’s.

If you know football in Northwest Indiana, then you know that when Griffith is good, Region football is good.

Walking into the Boneyard felt different on Friday night, as the Panthers were donned in all black, the music was blaring, the kids were hyped, the coaches were calm, and the hundreds and hundreds of fans were loud on both sides from start to finish.

Griffith (1-0) took the first step to rebuilding that culture from all those years back with a 56-0 nonconference win over crosstown rival Highland.

Is Griffith back?

The collective answer from the Griffith faithful was a cautionary “we’ll see.”

Griffith coach Phil Mason said the school and town are taking the right steps to get back to the football power it once was.

“I was honored to get this job last year because I saw what they were building here at Griffith and I wanted to be a small part of that,” he said. “I have respect to the moon for (former Griffith coaches) Les Thornton and Russ (Radtke) because when I was at Andrean I knew how hard it was to play here, let alone beat them.”

Griffith’s first 1,000-yard rusher in 10 years, senior running back Jaxon Lawson picked up where he left off last year by running for 113 yards on just eight carries with two TDs.

Lawson’s first touchdown came on Griffith’s first drive in a six-play, 61-yarder capped by his one-yard score.

Lawson recorded the bulk of the Panthers’ carries last year, but this year he has a running mate in junior Ventris Tetter, who rushed for two TDs of his own in two second-quarter possessions.

“It’s great to have dual threats in the backfield like that because it makes Ryan’s job easier,” said Mason.

Mason was speaking of Panthers sophomore QB Ryan Bullion, who shined in his varsity debut by going 10-of-16 for 229 yards and three TDs.

One of Bullion’s passing TDs was to former QB Colton Strezo, who had the confidence that Bullion could step in and lead this team, according to Mason.

“With that move, it’s like we gained three good players because Colton is a good slot receiver and great free safety and he knew Ryan would be able to perform because the JV went undefeated last year under him,” said Mason.

Strezo also picked off a pass for the only turnover of the night on the lone first-half possession in Griffith territory for the Trojans (0-1).

Griffith sophomore Davon Thomaston caught two passes for 67 yards including a 61-yard TD while junior Jalen Wilson caught a four-yard TD pass and ran a punt back for a 75-yard touchdown.

Highland sophomore quarterback Jake Slaven finished 10-of-13 for 47 yards while receiver Justin Slaven hauled in six passes for 23 yards in the season-opening loss.

Griffith 56, Highland 0

Highland; 0 0 0 0 – 0

Griffith; 14 28 14 0 – 56

G – Jaxon Lawson 1 run (Ryan Rose kick), 8:06 1st

G – Jalen Wilson 4 pass from Ryan Bullion (Rose kick), 4:43 1st

G – Ventris Tetter 4 run (kick blocked), 11:59 2nd

G – Lawson 8 run (Rose kick), 8:58 2nd

G – Tetter 1 run (Wilson run), 3:43 2nd

G – Colton Strezo 49 pass from Bullion (Rose kick), 2:09 2nd

G – Davon Thomaston 61 pass from Bullion (Rose kick), 9:50 3rd

G – Wilson 75 punt return (Rose kick), 5:05 3rd

Highland;Griffith

First Downs;4;8

Total Net Yards;45;370

Rushes-Yards;20-(-2);23-141

Passing;47;229

Comp.-Att.-Int.;10-13-1;10-16-0

Penalties-Yards;6-55;6-45

Fumbles-Lost;2-0;1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – HIGHLAND, Jake Slaven 10-17, Jayden Arredondo 5-1, Justin Slaven 2-0, Kirk Sema’J 1-(-1), Austin Tucker 1(-2), Jacob Escobar 1-(-17). GRIFFITH, Jaxon Lawson 8-113, Ventria Tetter 7-25, Mason Litke 5-6, Jackson Davenport 2-2, Ryan Bullion 1(-5).

PASSING – HIGHLAND, Jake Slaven 10-13-47-0-1. GRIFFITH, Bullion 10-16-229-3-0.

RECEIVING – HIGHLAND, Justin Slaven 6-23, Phil Ingas II 1-18, Elijah Robinson 1-6, Mark Dale 1-0, Julius Robledo 1-0. GRIFFITH, Davon Thomaston 2-67, Colton Strezo 1-49, Jason Quillin 1-40, Jason Dillon 2-34, Tetter 1-24, Nolan Davenport 1-10, Jalen Wilson 1-4, Sebastian Kutscher 1-1.