Andrean shuts out Hanover Central to keep NCC hopes alive
Andrean 3, Hanover Central 0
By Paul Honeycutt
CEDAR LAKE — Andrean football has a distinct ability to minimize and compartmentalize.
Move on to the next play, next series, next game.
For Andrean coach Chris Skinner, it starts with culture.
“This culture was created well before any of us got here and it’s just our job to keep that going,” he said. “This is not something that’s been built in two or three years, but this speaks to the culture of the program and the school.”
While Skinner downplayed having a shot to win at least a share of the Northwest Crossroads Conference title next week against Lowell, what his team did on Friday night was mind-blowing, despite the 3-0 score in Andrean’s victory over Class 4A No. 9 Hanover Central.
There were a lot of ramifications in this loss for the Wildcats (6-2, 5-1).
This was the Wildcats’ first-ever NCC loss after running the table in their first year in the conference last year.
It was their first conference loss in the last 26 games, as this streak is combined with their dominance in the Greater South Shore in previous years.
Friday’s loss also broke Hanover Central’s 25-game regular season home winning streak.
And finally, below is the most eye-popping stat of how dominant the Wildcats have been over the better part of the last decade.
This was the first time the Wildcats have been shutout in the last 71 games.
You have to go all the way back to Sept. 21, 2018 for the last one in a 61-0 blowout against Whiting.
However, the Wildcats have won four straight conference titles, including a share of this year’s NCC.
The only first-half scoring came from the boot of Andrean senior kicker PJ Cusick, who kicked a 30-yard field goal at the 8:59 mark of the second quarter.
Andrean’s defensive effort was relentless in the first half after sacking Hanover Central senior quarterback Tommy Bonner three separate times, as the Niners also recovered a fumble and nearly had a pick six.
At 10:34 in the second, Andrean senior linebacker Charlie Stollars picked off Bonner, but it was ruled incomplete after he dropped it after taking a step.
The Niners (4-4, 4-1) bottled up 4A All-State running back Caiden Verrett for 61 rushing yards on 15 carries.
“He’s a tremendous running back, obviously,” said Skinner. “He likes to wind things back a lot and kind of develop and has such a strong lower body and is patient, so we knew it was going to take four quarters of disciplined football.”
Andrean only recorded two offensive plays of 15 yards or more, with one coming on a crucial first down conversion from a Mitchell Myers 20-yard reception.
The other play came on what is likely to be featured on Sportscenter’s Top 10.
With two defenders near him, Niners senior wide receiver Jimmy Finley turned around on a deep ball, jumped up and made a one-handed catch while falling backwards for a 37-yard grab.
Finley caught five passes for 71 yards.
“Oh my God, well, that’s Jimmy Finley,” Skinner said. “I don’t know, that’s all I can say. Dude’s pretty good at football.”
Andrean dominated the time of possession, especially in the fourth quarter on a long drive in which the Niners converted five first downs, mainly while riding on the back of junior quarterback Brady Elish, who ran for 89 yards and passed for 101.
“We made a commitment to run the ball this week,” said Skinner. “Yeah, it would’ve been nice to put some points up on the board, but controlling the clock kept their offense off the field.”
They also rode sophomore Ethan Reyna, who carried the ball just eight times coming into Friday, as the horse ran for 78 yards on 21 carries.
“I’m just trying to get downhill and get the yards,” said Reyna, who made his first start in the backfield and also leads the team in tackles at linebacker. “I like to just truck people.”
This win gives Andrean considerable momentum going into Week 9 and beyond, which is when the real work begins for the typical postseason powerhouse.
“Those are always our goals every year, to win a conference championship and play as deep into the playoffs as possible,” said Skinner. We lost to Merrillville, we lost a close one to Valpo, we’re hanging tough with Chatard last week and we just go back to work and some of that work showed (Friday night).”
Andrean 3, Hanover Central 0
Andrean; 0 3 0 0 – 0
Hanover Central; 0 0 0 0 – 0
A – PJ Cusick 30 FG, 8:59 2nd.
Andrean;Hanover Central
First Downs;12;8
Total Yards;273;114
Rushes-Yards;48-172;26-69
Passing;101;45
Comp.-Att.-Int.;7-15-0;6-10-0
Penalties-Yards;9-90;3-20
Fumbles-Lost;2-0;1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – ANDREAN, Brady Elish 21-89, Ethan Reyna 21-78, Brady Stovall 4-5, Mitchell Myers 1-1, Jimmy Finley 1-(-1). HANOVER CENTRAL, Caiden Verrett 15-61, Rocco Bartolomeo 1-6, Tommy Bonner 9-1, Dylan Bowen 1-1.
PASSING – ANDREAN, Brady Elish 7-15-101-0-0. HANOVER CENTRAL, Tommy Bonner 6-10-45-0-0.
RECEIVING – ANDREAN, Jimmy Finley 5-71, Mitchell Myers 1-20, Jayden Holmes 1-10. HANOVER CENTRAL, Henry Maurer 1-27, Rocco Bartolomeo 2-17, Anthony Layman 3-1.