A STAFF REPORT
THE GOSHEN NEWS
GOSHEN —
For the most part things seemed normal on the first night of the high school football season. The teams were there, the fans packed the stands, the cheerleaders were present cheering for their teams and the bands were there to entertain the crowd during time outs and at halftime.
Still there was a feeling something was just not right. There was a familiar element generally present on the sidelines that was missing.
It was the friendly face and charming smile of Fox 28 sports anchor Allison Hayes.
Hayes, who is in her eighth year covering local high school sports, was absent Friday night following the death of her husband Rob Freeze, 37, in a car accident last Sunday when he was returning home after watching a Chicago Bears practice.
It’s a tragic loss for Allison, her three-year-old daughter Emery, and her family, friends and colleagues.
Fox 28 Sports Director Dean Huppert wrote on the station’s website, “Rob was a great family man. He’ll never be forgotten.”
While wondering why an event like this has happened it does bring to light the amazing generosity and compassion of the people in northern Indiana.
A fund has been set up in memory of Robert Freeze in honor of Emery at all Teachers Credit Unions.
Friday night at the NorthWood-Jimtown game fans of the two rival schools put aside thoughts of the game to reach out to a family in need of their support. At the end of the first quarter cheerleaders from both schools passed buckets through the stands collecting a total of $1,093.33 for the fund.
That is something for fans of both schools to be proud of regardless of whether their team was on the winning side of the final score. In this aspect both communities are winners and deserve a congratulatory pat on the back.
Based on this kind of support you know Allison and her family will be in the thought and prayers of people.
Knigga update
NorthWood senior Kenny Knigga is returning to the gridiron this season after missing all of last year with a torn Achilles tendon.
The 5-11 (185) senior defensive end limped off the field with the help of the NorthWood trainer Paul Widner during the Jimtown contest.
“The plan is for him to try and be back for the Concord game (Week 3),” NorthWood coach Scott Hoover said. “He has a problem with his knee cap moving around. The trainer didn’t seem too worried about it.”
Jimtown highlight
Senior quarterback Brody Olson tossed touchdown passes of 47 and 2 yards to classmate Carter Gill in the NorthWood contest.
A year ago, Jimtown QBs Drew Zeiger and Shawn Garriott combined for a total of five TDs all season. Zeiger graduated and Garriott shared playing time Friday evening with Olson.
Olson is the first Jimmie signal caller with multiple scoring passes in a game since Brian Hosinski against Mishawaka Marian on Oct. 23, 2009 as Jimtown rallied to defeat the Knights 17-14.
Hosinski connected with Herman Pollard on a 12-yard TD with 4:14 to go in the third period and with Ryan Serafino on the game-winner of 13 yards with :29 remaining.
Hosinski finished the season with 8 TDs as the Jimmies advanced to the semistate before being sidelined by West Lafayette by a 28-14 score.
Redskins improve in second half
There will surely be better nights for the Goshen High School football Redskins as the 2012 season unfolds.
It was a tough opener Friday as the Redskins were crushed 45-7 by the Carroll Chargers of Allen County at Foreman Field.
Senior Austin Henke was on the field early and often for the Redskins, as he is both the kickoff return specialist and punter.
The Redskins were outgained, 250-45, in total yardage for the first half.
A 152-78 GHS edge in the second half wasn’t enough to overtake the Chargers who emptied their bench in the fourth quarter.
Goshen’s offensive line to start the season featured 6-6 (272) senior Hunter Warrick, 6-4 (278) junior Christian Macon, 5-9 (247) senior Austin Miller, 6-3 (270) junior Mitchell Watts and 5-9 (221) senior Tyler Beasy.
Weather-wise, it was a delightful evening for this 80th season opener at Foreman Field which opened in 1923 when the current high school building was constructed.
This is the 40th anniversary of Prescription Athletic Turf at Foreman Field. It was installed by Purdue University for the 1972 season.
‘Strike Force’ defense
Concord’s “Strike Force” had four takeaways (two fumble recoveries and two interceptions) plus a goal-line stand in the victory over South Bend Washington.
Senior Tyrone Olenczuk and junior Steven Gattman recovered fumbles for the Minutemen while junior Trevor Wilmore and sophomore Brandon Thomas were credited with interceptions.
The pick by Thomas with 1:49 left in the game helped Concord put the game away.
Minutemen seniors off to good starts
Concord senior DuWhan Alford, who made a verbal commitment recently to play football next year at Eastern Michigan, rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries and scored three TDs Friday night.
His first TD at 9:40 of the opening period gave Concord a 6-0 lead, the second with 2:53 left before halftime helped the Minutemen to a 22-13 advantage and the third at 5:38 of the third quarter gave the Minutemen a 30-19 lead.
Fellow senior Frank House, who is getting NCAA Division I looks in both football and basketball, catch five passes for 32 yards.
Sophomore kicker Ryan Tepe, who also plays on the school’s soccer team, booted a 45-yard field goal with :02 left in the opening half.
Warriors top Wildcats
Wawasee senior D.J. Semon, who is making the switch from tailback to quarterback this season, rushed for 136 yards, including a 92-yard scoring run as the Warriors opened the season with a 20-7 win Friday night at Whitko.
Senior Derrick Sorensen added 89 rushing yards and a 10-yard TD while junior Gabe Rhodes chipped in with 78 and a 20-yard TD.
Mangy Lion returns to Central
The Elkhart Central Blue Blazers defeated the Elkhart Memorial Crimson Chargers 51-3 to return the Mangy Lion traveling trophy to the school for the first time in four years.
Central’s last win in the rivalry between the crosstown schools was by a 14-7 score in 2007.
For the defense
Northridge coach Jonathan Kirkton can take several positives away from Friday night’s season-opening 46-20 loss to South Bend Adams: One of those was the play of his defense, which forced five Adams turnovers, including a fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD.
Those positive feelings, however, were tempered somewhat by Northridge’s own turnover struggles on offense.
“You want to win the turnover battle, not come out even,” Kirkton said.
In the trenches
Northridge had trouble establishing its running game, which in turn led to troubles with the passing game, Kirkton said.
That was because the Eagles won the line of scrimmage, especially in the second half.
“We’ve got to win that battle up front,” Kirkton said. “Our passing game depends on establishing the run.”
Falcons’ ground assault
Fairfield’s punishing running game was the key to the Falcons’ 56-0 thrashing of NECC rival Central Noble.
Running backs Kyle Ostrander and Cameron Kitson both topped the 100-yard plateau, with Ostrander rushing for 111 yards on 10 carries and four TDs and Kitson adding 101 yards on seven carries with two TDs.
Farfield defense sharp
The other side of the coin in Fairfield’s dominant victory was on defense, where the Falcons limited the Cougars to 109 total yards and just nine first downs.
Central Noble ran 53 plays — an anemic average of just over two yards per play.
The Falcons also had a takeaway on an interception.
Falcon coach Bob Miller was pleased with the way his team played against Central Noble’s option offense.
“When you play against an option team, your defense needs to be ready,” Miller said. “Our defense held very well.”
Goshen News Sports Editor David Vantress, sports reporter Greg Keim, former sports editor Stu Swartz and freelancer Shane Miller contributed to this report.
