http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com Latest news from the Chicago Sun-Times - High School Sports en-us webmaster@suntimes.com (Editor) Newspapers http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/YourSeason/assets/img/logo.gif http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com 84 34 30 Copyright 2013
MERRILLVILLE — The moment was not lost on anyone from Crown Point. From Bulldogs coach Chip Pettit on down to the ball boys, Crown Point’s postseason run is understood to be exactly what it is — improbable. Their first-string quarterback and running back both out for the season with injuries, the Bulldogs continued their playoff run and won their sixth straight game … ]]> Wed, 09 May 2012 09:58:41 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8627896-393/football-crown-point-continues-playoff-run.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8627896-393/football-crown-point-continues-playoff-run.html
There are two ways to look at Merrillville’s 27-24 victory over Lake Central two weeks ago. One one hand, Lake Central’s special teams broke down and allowed Merrillville to block two punts that immediately yielded touchdowns. On the other hand, Merrillville needed two huge — and uncommon — special teams plays to beat Lake Central. Not to mention the Dylan Morang kick return … ]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:38:48 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8331455-393/familiar-foes-face-off.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8331455-393/familiar-foes-face-off.html
The start of the IHSAA football playoffs are a week away, but there’s still a lot at stake in Week 9. Lake Central and Merrillville will share the Duneland Athletic Conference title if the Indians (7-1, 5-1) beat Valparaiso (4-4, 4-2) in coach Mark Hoffman’s last regular season game and the Pirates (5-3, 5-1) beat Chesterton (4-4, 3-3). An LC loss with … ]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:52:46 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8184622-393/dac-title-up-for-grabs.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/8184622-393/dac-title-up-for-grabs.html
VALPARAISO — With the way both offenses were moving the ball for most of Friday night, the game had that feel of whichever team had it last would win. And, more or less, that was the case. Kourtney Berry’s second touchdown run of the game, a 1-yarder with 17.0 seconds left, lifted Merrillville to a dramatic 31-28 victory against Valparaiso. As part … ]]> Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:22:56 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7982494-393/merrillville-pulls-it-out-late-over-valparaiso.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7982494-393/merrillville-pulls-it-out-late-over-valparaiso.html MERRILLVILLE — Merrillville looked fast Friday night. Really fast. And LaPorte, at least did not. And the Pirates exploited that, rolling up 33 first-half points and leading 33-3 at halftime before hanging on in the second half for a 47-24 Duneland Conference victory. Behind quarterback Jake Raspopovich and running back Darryl Peppers, Merrillville used big play after big play to build the … ]]> Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:06:19 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7850775-393/speedy-merrillville-buries-laporte-with-big-plays.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7850775-393/speedy-merrillville-buries-laporte-with-big-plays.html MERRILLVILLE — Talk about vindication. After suffering an embarrassing and humiliating 62-7 loss at Lake Central last week, coach Jeromy Flowers’ Portage players never quit working, never quit practicing, and most importantly, never quit on themselves. Who would have believed it? Portage 17, Merrillville 16. That Duneland Athletic Conference final score isn’t a misprint. “Tonight’s game just goes to show you that … ]]> Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:10:00 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7624828-393/portage-pulls-off-a-shocker-in-merrillville.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7624828-393/portage-pulls-off-a-shocker-in-merrillville.html
CROWN POINT — Jake Raspopovich was so confident that Merrillville was about to mount a game-winning scoring march on Friday night, he had already named it. “I called it,” the Pirates quarterback said. “Before that last drive, I told my linemen, my receivers and running back, this right here, this is going to be The Drive.” Yes, that’s with a capital “T” … ]]> Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:56:44 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7452099-393/pirates-crack-w-column.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7452099-393/pirates-crack-w-column.html
Kourtney Berry was “always messing around” last season with Merrillville’s defensive backs coach, joking about shifting from linebacker to safety. Little did Berry know that such a move actually would be on tap for him as a senior this season. The process began last school year, when the Pirates linebackers coach had a chat with Berry. “Honestly, I was surprised,” Berry said. … ]]> Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:04:05 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7145906-394/merrillville-safety-switch.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7145906-394/merrillville-safety-switch.html
In one week, Merrillville and Lowell each will have a daunting season opener. On Friday, the two teams met for a scrimmage with much less on the line. Merrillville hosts five-time state champion Warren Central next Saturday, and Lowell resumes the state’s oldest rivalry with Crown Point on Friday. Both teams looked sharp in their tune-up on Friday. Lowell, as usual, leaned … ]]> Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:42:45 CST http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7047883-393/merrillville-lowell-fine-tune-their-skills.html http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/schools/merrillville/football/7047883-393/merrillville-lowell-fine-tune-their-skills.html