Griffith opens season with huge win over Highland

Griffith opens season with huge win over Highland

Indiana Preps NWI No. 6 Griffith 63, Highland 13

By Paul Honeycutt

GRIFFITH – During the preseason, a lot of the talk surrounding the Panthers was about how explosive the returning skill players are, which was expected.

The biggest talk, though, was about how big Griffith’s offensive front is, literally.

“They average 290 lbs.”

“It’s a 6A line at the 3A level.”

That’s just talk, though, right?

After Friday night’s 63-13 season-opening win over Highland, the answer to that question for Indiana Preps NWI No. 6 Griffith is an emphatic NO.

“In my 26 years as a head coach, and I have coached some great teams, I would say this is the strongest offensive line I’ve ever had,” Griffith coach Phil Mason said. “The hard work has been put in over three-and-a-half years because when you watch the way they embrace the weight room and things we ask them to do in the offseason, they became a true unit.”

Winners of seven out of the last 11 over their neighboring rival, the Panthers (1-0) amassed 455 yards of offense behind the mammoth offensive line and scored on their first three possessions within the first four minutes of the game.

Griffith senior offensive lineman and Northern Illinois recruit Gavin Edwards said while it’s his senior year, the pressure is off, which could spell lots of trouble for front sevens all across the Region.

“I know I’m playing at the next level, so I’m playing free this year and I’m gonna try to help my team the most I can,” said the Indiana Preps Preseason Top 22 player. “We’ve always been grouped as a team, we stay together during the week, we eat together, so we don’t feel the hype because we know who we are with the brotherhood we have.”

Griffith senior running back Desmond Neylon continued to prove to be one of the Region’s most dangerous weapons after rushing for 110 yards on 10 carries with four touchdowns.

He also added an 89-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring onslaught for Griffith.

After Neylon scored on a 47-yard run just 54 seconds into the game, Griffith senior WR Sebastian Kutscher notched his first TD of the year on a 24-yard pass from fellow senior and and highly-heralded senior QB Ryan Bullion.

“This is a reflection of all the work we’ve been putting in since the Monday after (last year’s loss to) Knox,” said Kutscher. “I think what’s different this year is my mindset because it’s my senior year and I gotta go crazy.”

Kutscher broke out with a seven-catch performance for 100 yards.

Mason admitted that the staff didn’t know what Kutscher’s outlook would be this year in an offense full of stars.

“This was a break out for Sebastian and he’s a unique kid that kind of struggled his whole career and we were at a point where we didn’t know what we were gonna do with him, but what a great summer he’s had because he has just emerged,” said Mason. “We always saw the potential in him and (Friday) it came out.”

Another one of those stars is senior WR Davon Thomaston, who recovered the ensuing onside kick after Kutscher’s score.

The electric senior was then rewarded with a 15-yard TD pass from Bullion, who passed for 275 yards on 19 of 25 passing with three scores.

“Footwork is heavy and we put emphasis on it every single day,” said Thomaston, who also ran for a 39-yard TD and totaled 112 all-purpose yards. “We also embrace the grind every single day.”

Panthers No. 1 WR Jason Quillin also recorded a solid effort with 84 yards on six catches with a 26-yard touchdown reception.

Indiana Preps NWI Preseason Top 11 defensive player Justin Slaven finished with 76 receiving yards on five catches, including a 17-yard TD from his brother, Jake. 

Justin scored the first TD for Highland (0-1) on a tough 46-yard punt return. Jake finished 3 of 3 passing for 78 yards in the loss.

Griffith 63, Highland 13

Highland; 0 7 0 6 – 13

Griffith; 28 14 14 7 – 63

G – Desmond Neylon 47 run (Kyle Hornyak kick), 11:06 1st

G – Sebastian Kutscher 24 pass from Ryan Bullion (Hornyak kick), 8:37 1st

G – Davon Thomaston 15 pass from Bullion (Hornyak kick), 8:04 1st

G – Neylon 10 run (Hornyak kick), 0:05 1st

G – Neylon 12 run (Hornyak kick), 6:25 2nd

H – Justin Slaven 46 punt return (Stephen Hacker kick), 2:05 2nd

G – Neylon 1 run (Hornyak kick), 0:28 2nd

G – Jason Quillin 26 pass from Bullion (Hornyak kick), 6:06 3rd

G – Thomaston 39 run (Hornyak kick), 0:25 3rd

H – Justin Slaven 17 pass from Jake Slaven (kick failed), 3:18 4th

G – Neylon 89 kick return (Hornyak kick), 1:48 4th

Highland;Griffith

First Downs;8;18

Total Yards;151;455

Rushes-Yards;20-9;14-180

Passing;142;275

Comp.-Att.-Int.;10-23-0;19-25-0

Penalties-Yards;4-36;10-100

Fumbles-Lost;3-1;0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – HIGHLAND, Aaron McCormack 9-19, Justin Slaven 1-1, Jaiden Nunez 3-0, Jake Slaven 7-(-11). GRIFFITH, Desmond Neylon 10-110, Davon Thomaston 2-68, Logan Andree 1-7, Ryan Bullion 1-(-5).

PASSING – HIGHLAND, Justin Slaven 3-3-78-1-0, Aaron McCormack 7-20-64-0-0. GRIFFITH, Ryan Bullion 19-25-275-3-0.

RECEIVING – HIGHLAND, Justin Slaven 5-76, Lucas Hendrixson 2-39, Jake Slaven 1-15, Jonathon Lee 2-12. GRIFFITH, Sebastian Kutscher 7-100, Jason Quillin 6-84, Davon Thomaston 4-44, Trate Kaufman 1-29, Desmond Neylon 1-18.