One of the events motivating the Northridge High School football team Friday night was the previous week’s 41-7 loss to East Noble.
The Raiders were on a mission from the start of the game, scoring 13 points in the game’s first 4:10 on the way to a 33-0 Northern Lakes Conference triumph over the visiting Wawasee Warriors.
“Our kids were upset about East Noble,” Northridge coach Jonathan Kirkton said. “We turned it into a good thing. We told the kids all week in practice that good teams bounce back. We played with an edge and got the lead.”
Wawasee coach Tom Wogomon said, “You could pretty much hit the replay button and what East Noble did to Northridge the week before is what they did to us.
“They came out to play. We thought we were ready, but when things start happening to young team like we are it’s hard to keep your composure.”
The victory snapped Northridge’s 13-game NLC losing streak. The Raiders’ last conference win was a 36-23 triumph over Wawasee in Week 3 of the 2007 season.
Northridge (2-1, 1-0 NLC) travels to Class 4A No. 11-ranked Plymouth next Friday.
“An NLC win is good, but we have to realize we are going to be facing another quality team next week,” Kirkton said. “Our kids have to make the decision of whether we are going to be good against average teams and bad against good ones or good against all teams.”
Five-eight (170) senior fullback Carsten Miller was the Raider standout carrying the ball 21 times for 200 yards and four touchdowns.
He is the first Northridge player to tally four TDs in a game since Justin Love in a 27-20 win over Concord in Week 7 of the 1993 season.
A lot of Miller’s effort, according to Kirkton, was due to the blocking of 5-11 (240) senior Alex Riley and 5-11 (205) senior Nate Harrington at tackles, 5-11 (210) junior Garrett Cook and 5-10 (180) sophomore Austin Cook at guards and 6-10 (210) sophomore Kody Bontreger at center.
“Miller had some nice runs. The line did a great job blocking, both at the line of scrimmage and downfield,” Kirkton said.
Six-two (195) senior quarterback Andrew Hooley was 6 of 8 passing for 99 yards.
Hooley’s snap count was key to drawing several offside penalties on the Warriors.
“We had been going a lot on No. 1 but realized teams were teeing off on us,” Kirkton explained. “We changed it up for Wawasee.”
Hooley connected with 6-2 (180) senior wideout Gatlin Rassi on a 49-yard pass completion on Northridge’s first possession of the third quarter. The play advanced the ball to the W-25, setting up Miller’s 4-yard TD scamper at 6:06.
Six-foot (195) senior quarterback Jake Sommers completed 9 of 22 pass for 95 yards to lead the Wawasee offense.
Sommers also has a strong leg, averaging 44.2 yards on six punts.
Plymouth rocks
Warsaw Tigers
The Plymouth Rockies rambled to a 41-7 Northern Lakes Conference victory Friday night at Warsaw.
Spencer Schalliol rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns to lead Plymouth. Brock Smith scored two TDs and kicked five extra points.
This was the 93rd football meeting between the Rockies and Tigers. Plymouth nudged ahead in the series 46-45-2.
Lakeland soars to 3-0
After a tough start Friday night, the Lakeland Lakers roared back for a 35-13 Northeast Corner Conference triumph over the Central Noble Cougars in Albion.
The Cougars stunned the Lakers by scoring the first two touchdowns and taking a 13-0 lead.
But, the Lakers then rattled off 35 unanswered points and improved to 3-0 on the season.
Dakotah Baldridge of Lakeland threw touchdown passes to Kole Heller and Cameron Moore. Heller and Chris Smith also tallied on runs.
Sports
Northridge bounces back from bad loss
<b>High school football recap</b>
- Sports
-
-
Pacers, Heat again
MIAMI — A year ago when Miami and Indiana faced off in the postseason, there were blood-drawing hits, flagrant fouls, technical fouls, choke signs being directed toward LeBron James and more than a few sharp-tongued comments.
-
OUTDOOR COLUMN: DNR plan will lengthen deer season in Indiana
If a new regulations package is approved by the Natural Resources Commission this summer, Hoosier bow hunters will get an additional 15 days in the field.
-
KEIM'S KORNER: A new area grid rivalry is birthed
The NorthWood Panthers have a long established tradition in high school football.
-
PREP BOYS GOLF: Golf overtime
It’s been quite the week for the Erekson family.
-
PREP BOYS GOLF: Lakers outduel Falcons for tourney title
Most of the suspense of Saturday’s NECC boys golf tournament at Noble Hawk Golf Links was focused on Fairfield and Lakeland.
-
NBA PLAYOFFS: Pacers knock out Knicks with 106-99 win in Game 6
Lance Stephenson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and led a late 11-2 run Saturday night, leading the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks, 106-99 and into the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004.
-
NBA PLAYOFFS: Pacers not talking about changes, George
The Indiana Pacers head into Game 6 against the New York Knicks in unfamiliar territory.
-
Walton's message of hope resonates
“I’m Bill Walton, and I’m the luckiest man in the world,” the former NBA great told a rapt audience at the Lerner Theatre Friday night as he took the stage.
-
PREP GIRLS TENNIS: Ready for regional
Long before Lisanne Scheffers finished her marathon match at No. 2 singles that lasted more than three hours, the rest of her Goshen teammates had already sprinted to the winners circle.
-
BOYS PREP TRACK AND FIELD: On to regional meet
Cristian Barron of Goshen won the 300-meter hurdles Thursday night in the IHSAA boys track and field sectional at Goshen and he was quick to credit GHS assistant coach Carl Weaver for the success.
- More Sports Headlines
-




