Wheeler edges Boone Grove in OT to advance
Wheeler 13, Boone Grove 7
By Paul Honeycutt
VALPARAISO — It was going to happen eventually, and Wheeler was on the right side of history.
The Bearcats had never played an overtime game in the 25-year history of their program.
That was until Friday night’s Class 2A Sectional 33 opener.
Now winners of eight straight, Wheeler (8-2) defeated rival Boone Grove 13-7 in overtime, which was punctuated by a Jayden Ortiz 1-yard touchdown run.
“I would’ve preferred it to end in regulation,” Wheeler coach Nick Testa joked.
“But at this point of the season, you’re moving on, so that’s all that matters and I don’t care if it’s four quarters, one overtime or seven overtimes.”
Ortiz rushed for his 21st score of the season on his way to 165 yards on 27 carries.
“We had a rough first half and didn’t have any offensive touchdowns (during regulation), but we wanted to keep the ball in our playmakers’ hands,” said Ortiz.
Winners of four straight coming into Friday night, Boone Grove (6-4) struck early with a quick TD pass from senior quarterback Mark Rowland to senior wide receiver Chris Peters from 9 yards out in a drive that took all of 1:13.
Rowland accounted for 71 yards on the first drive after returning the opening kickoff 20 yards.
Rowland picked off Wheeler senior QB Caleb Klimczak in the first quarter as well, which led to the Wolves eventually driving all the way to the Bearcats 1 on the ensuing series.
On a 4th-and-1 at the Wheeler 1, Boone Grove was called for an illegal shift after the play, and Wheeler smartly declined the penalty, giving it the ball back.
“We felt good in our defense and besides that first drive, our defense played really well,” said Testa. “Our defensive line in particular were really causing some problems up front.”
The Bearcats couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.
The second quarter saw some fireworks after Wheeler junior wide receiver Tyne Vettickal returned the Boone Grove punt 65 yards for the score to tie it at seven.
“Tyne’s the heart of the team,” said Ortiz. “He’s why we won that game.”
Vettickal fielded it on a bounce, faked left and followed some of his blocks right, broke a couple tackles and scurried up the middle of the field for the score.
“It wasn’t even open on the left side, then Bryce had an amazing block on the right,” said Vettickal.
The rest of the game saw mistakes on both sides, with Wheeler turning the ball over two more times and Boone Grove committing several killer penalties, as the Wolves were flagged for 120 penalty yards.
One of the best quarterbacks in the Region over the last few years, Rowland played mistake-proof football all year long, having been intercepted just twice, but both were against Wheeler in Week 5’s 38-20 loss.
The interception bug jumped up and got him for one final time of the year, this one came on his team’s only possession in OT, as Bryce Compton picked him off in the end zone on Boone Grove’s first play in OT.
“We got athletes back there,” said Testa. “I think that’s the benefit of playing both ways because when you’re in the secondary, you know what pass concepts are coming, and you know what routes they’re running because you’re doing the same thing.”
The Region’s leading receiver was largely held in check by Boone Grove after recording one catch for 12 yards, but Compton’s pick propelled the Bearcats to the win.
“Honestly, I knew they were gonna do that fade on Samir,” said Compton, who notched his second pick of the year. “Samir’s their guy and they hit it a couple times and I knew they’d try it again.”
Boone Grove star receiver Samir Del Rio caught seven passes for 128 yards while Peters added four catches for 32 yards and Boone Grove’s lone touchdown.
In next week’s semifinal, the Bearcats will host Andrean (5-4), who took care of Whiting by a 41-0 final.
“As long as we get the opportunity to play together another week and the opportunity to go against one of the best programs in the area, that’s what we want and where we want this program to go to be in big games,” Testa said.
Wheeler 13, Boone Grove 7
Wheeler; 0 7 0 0 6– 13
Boone Grove; 7 0 0 0 0– 7
BG – Chris Peters 9 pass from Mark Rowland (Johnny Bobos kick), 10:36 1st
W – Tyne Vettickal 65 punt return (Vettickal kick), 11:38 2nd
W – Jayden Ortiz 1 run, 1st OT
Wheeler;Boone Grove
First Downs;13;12
Total Yards;250;256
Rushes-Yards;32-154;24-23
Passing;96;233
Comp.-Att.-Int.;10-22-3;17-29-1
Penalties-Yards;6-65;14-120
Fumbles-Lost;0-0;2-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – WHEELER, Jayden Ortiz 27-165, Levi Murray 1-2, Tyne Vettickal 1-(-5), Caleb Klimczak 3(-11). BOONE GROVE, Nick Ratkovich 8-28, Matthew Franco 5-7, Mark Rowland 11-(-12).
PASSING – WHEELER, Caleb Klimczak 10-22-96-0-3. BOONE GROVE, Mark Rowland 17-29-233-1-1.
RECEIVING – WHEELER, Tyne Vettickal 5-63, David Diaz 2-17, Bryce Compton 1-12, Conner Welch 1-5, Jayden Ortiz 1(-5). BOONE GROVE, Samir Del Rio 7-128, Sal Montes 4-42, Chris Peters 4-32, Jack Niemand 1-20, Matthew Franco 1-11.