Times Staff Report

Andrean

Tonight marks the first football meeting between the 59ers and E.C. Central, which explains why both coaches watched more film this week than Ebert and Roeper. "Obviously, we know their reputation. They always have good athletes," said Andrean skipper Brett St. Germain. "We can tell they've got some weapons we have to be concerned with. Their marquee player is the tight end that's going to Purdue, Kawann Short. It all starts with him."

Bishop Noll

First-year coach Mike Juscik's Warriors might be off to an 0-2 start, but you won't see him harping on the negatives. In fact, he feels his team's 22-point fourth quarter against Andrean last Friday will be something to build on going into tonight's showdown at South Central -- the first Greater South Shore Conference game for both programs. "We're close," Juscik said. "We just keep emphasizing playing an entire game -- four quarters. We're a few small plays away."

Calumet

Just when you thought Calumet's starting roster couldn't get any younger, a 5-foot-3, 115-pound freshman made an impression on Warriors coaches this week to enter the roster conversation.

Jose Rodriguez is playing running back, receiver and linebacker. (Yes, linebacker).

"He's really come out of nowhere," Calumet coach Ivan Zimmer said. "He knows how to play the game of football and he's not afraid. He better use his speed. He's very quick and this week, he came out and dropped one of our better running backs. We could start him (tonight)."

Chesterton

The Trojans came into the season playing a 3-5 alignment but switched to a 4-3 prior to their first game.

"We realized it wasn't the best fit for our personnel," coach John Snyder said. "In a 3-5, we're not really quick and our linebackers were getting covered up. The strength throughout our team is our linemen. We feel they can go both ways, so we made the decision to put more beef up front."

That includes adding 295-pounder Sam Jaeger to the mix. Now it's just a matter of the linebackers making the adjustment.

"We practiced a 3-5 all summer and two weeks into (practice)," Snyder said. "As the linebackers get better at making reads, we'll end up more sound in our defense."

Crown Point

The Bulldogs got a big boost from junior kick returner Nate Haverstock, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound burner who had more than 60 return yards and was one tackle from breaking a return in the fourth quarter of last Saturday's 22-20 win over Hobart. On the TD-saving tackle, Haverstock twisted his ankle and left the game.

Bulldogs coach Chip Pettit believes Haverstock should be ready for tonight's game against Merrillville.

"He's one of our juniors who we're looking to develop some play-making abilities," Pettit said. "As he gets more time and experience I think he'll get better at providing that little spark that we need. Nate also has an opportunity to do something at one of our cornerback spots."

E.C. Central

After two straight weeks of second-half letdowns, coaches at E.C. Central have been discussing options to keep up the first-half momentum.

"I don't even think I'm going to let them into the locker room at halftime," coach A.J. Rodriguez said. "We're just going to stay out there and run warm ups.

"They need to stay more involved, like it's just a timeout instead of a full halftime."

Gavit

South Bend Riley, this week's Gladiator opponent, hasn't played a Hammond team since losing to Clark 16-14 in 1977. Since 1930, the Riley Wildcats have played every public school team in Hammond -- including four games against Tech -- except Gavit.

Griffith

Everybody knew Russ Radtke was fit to be tied after last week's 14-6 loss to Times No. 1 Merrillville. The Panthers had plenty of chances, including two fourth-quarter drives that ended by the goal line. Radtke wasn't happy with his offense and said so after the game. He's cooled down some, but is finally admitting it's going to take longer than he expected for nine new offensive starters to get acclimated.

"Hey, we didn't get rid of anybody and nobody got fired," Radtke said. "We just went back to work. We've obviously got some adjustments to make."

And if the offense doesn't come around against Hobart tonight?

"Maybe we'll have the defense go out on offense, too," he said.

Hammond

Hammond had to wait until its first game was over before it could look like a pack of Wildcats. First-year coach Robert Robinson told his players that they couldn't apply the Wildcat decals to their helmets until they won their first game.

While sitting inside during one of last week's many rainstorms -- after beating E.C. Central in Week 1 -- the 'Cats stuck the appliques to their helmets. They then captured a win in Week 2, becoming the first Hammond team since 2004 to start 2-0.

"I told them they're Wildcats now, they're no longer pussycats," Robinson said. "This is a one-time only deal. ... Or it could get expensive if we win seven or eight games."

Senior Melvin Williams will get a second decal for toughness. The two-way lineman broke his leg at Tuesday's practice and is out for the rest of the regular season, at least.

Highland

Last week's physical loss to Portage took a toll on the Trojans, who had three defensive starters -- middle linebacker Val Covarrubias and cornerbacks Mark Fentress and Mike Storms -- go down with injuries. Covarrubias joins brother Emilio on the disabled list, while Storms and Fentress should return tonight against a Munster program that's won 11 of the last 15 meetings in this intense rivalry. Highland has allowed 63 points in its first two games, so good health is key.

Hobart

Some teams attend motivational camps, have sleepovers, or throw pasta parties to help them bond. The past week, coach Wally McCormack's Hobart squad joined school administrators in cleaning up a flood zone -- their Brickie Bowl -- which was completely under water late last Friday. "On the visitors' side of the field, water was 4 to 5 feet deep," McCormack said. "We have no locker room, no meeting rooms, no equipment room, no training room, no coaches' room. Nothing's there. Everything had to be ripped out.

"Right now, we're using the deck of the high school pool for our locker room. All the coaches' stuff is in my classroom."

Torrential rains Thursday caused Duck Creek, which surrounds three-quarters of Brickie Bowl, to overflow its banks and turn the facility into a lake.

"Two players' cars were destroyed at home and Andrew Jackson had a tree fall through the roof of his house and land in the kitchen," McCormack said.

Kankakee Valley

It's called the "Milk Can" game and Kankakee Valley would love to take home the trophy.

"Our kids are pretty excited about playing Lowell," coach Mike Peo said. "We have a traveling trophy that started in '93 when I played here. Plus, they've knocked us out of the playoffs the last two years so it doesn't take much to pump up our kids."

The Red Devils are 11-0 vs. K.V. dating back to 1994 and will again be a heavy favorite tonight. "Our kids know Lowell is going to get more press, more coverage, but we've got to earn that," Peo said. "The last three years, we've gone 5-5, 7-4 and 8-2, so we're showing improvement as a program."

Lake Central

In last year's 10-3 win over Portage, the Blue Indians held the Red Indians to 33 yards rushing, helping L.C. to the win that snapped a 21-game losing streak in the Duneland Athletic Conference. Tonight, a hobbled Albert Evans will bring Portage to the Burial Grounds, hoping to stay above grass level.

In L.C.'s first two games, the defensive starters have allowed less than 60 yards rushing and less than 100 yards of total offense.

Lake Station

After capturing their only win of the season over River Forest last year, the winless Eagles are primed to host the Ingots. The Eagles have been susceptible to giving up big plays, but River Forest has yet to score this season. It might not be pretty, but there might not be a game played with more passion tonight.

LaPorte

The Slicers will face a larger set of running backs tonight against Valpo, but size didn't matter in last week's loss. Mishawaka's Steve Sandefer, who weighs just 133 pounds, rushed 24 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-0 blanking of the Slicers.

Lew Wallace

It could be a tough week for the Hornets as they prepare for a four-hour bus ride to play at Arrowhead (Wisc.) tonight and likely will play without star running back/defensive back DeShannon Fryerson, who suffered a sprained left thumb last week in a lopsided loss to Cahokia (Ill.).

"We'll probably just let him heal and rest up, because it's difficult for him to hold the football and tackle," coach Fred Nolan said. "Besides, I want him to be ready for the conference season next week."

Lowell

The Red Devils' ownership of the "Milk Can" is understood, and nothing else matters.

"We've never lost it," Lowell coach Kirk Kennedy said. "It sits right there in our trophy case at school."

Kennedy's concerned about which Lowell team will show up in Wheatfield, where the two old Northwest Hoosier Conference foes kick off the Northwest Crossroads Conference season. After shocking C.P. in Week 1, Lowell struggled to a 3-0 win over Morton last week.

"They had more fight in them and they wanted it more," Kennedy said of Morton. "Hopefully, we'll learn from that experience and be smarter. K.V.'s looking for respect. They're hungry and they're sick and tired of being told every year what they can and can't do. We better be ready."

Merrillville

Last Thursday's storm was so bad at Demaree Stadium that coach Zac Wells and his 100-plus kids were locked inside four restrooms in Merrillville's fieldhouse for 45 minutes. The storm blew in just as practice was finishing, so Wells took a cart around the premises to make sure all the kids were safe.

When he returned, he had pebbles lodged in his face and forehead.

"We thought there was a tornado," Wells said.

Because of the rain the Pirates didn't play Griffith on Friday, meaning tonight's game at C.P. will be their first under Friday night lights. The season-opener against Warren Central was on a Saturday.

"It's our second short week in a row, it's tough," Wells said. "It makes for a very long Sunday evening, which is hard on the coaches and families."

Michigan City

Before the season started, new coach Craig Buzea talked about getting sophomore Adam Harmon the ball. That wasn't a problem last Saturday, as Harmon rushed 25 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a win over South Bend Washington.

Morton

The Govs' program isn't like many suburban ones, where there is a kicking coach, three assistant kicking coaches and 17 pieces of kicking equipment to help the players practice. In fact, Morton coach Roy Richards is just hoping there isn't a soccer game on Friday night or he'd be out there with his toe pointed down.

In their 3-0 loss to Lowell, senior Abe Valencia walked over on the Govs' final drive and said, "Coach, I'm ready." But Morton couldn't get close enough.

This week a parent bought a kicking tee and a net for the program, so Valencia can practice during the week.

"We look like a real football team now," Richards said.

Munster

A win tonight against neighboring rival Highland would be the 170th of Leroy Marsh's 28-year career at Munster.

"I guess it's pretty good but those things don't mean as much to me anymore," Marsh said. "I'd rather see our kids win and have a great season. Two-hundred wins would be real special. I would love to have (retired coach) John Friend and I win 300 games combined at Munster High School."

North Newton

In terms of school size, the schedule does not get any easier for North Newton this week in their first game in the GSSC. After falling to Class A South Newton 57-13 in the season opener, the Spartans lost 61-13 to 2A Rensselaer Central and are preparing for tonight's game against 3A Calumet. Four of the next five games, though, are against A schools.

Portage

The injury bug bit Portage again in Friday's 28-0 win over Highland. Already without WR/DB Billy Doll and FB/LB Jeff Hensley, the Indians lost DL Nolan Chavez to a knee injury for at least a week, maybe more. Then there's RB Albert Evans, who had his left ankle rolled up on early in the second quarter but played the rest of the half -- even dashing off a 57-yard touchdown run -- before shutting it down at halftime. Evans did not practice Monday or Tuesday and took limited reps the rest of the week, but coach Mark Peterson said he expects him to play tonight at Lake Central. Hensley and Doll will dress but be limited.

Rensselaer

The Bombers get senior linemen Dustin Minix and Tim Fleming back on the field tonight. The two-way duo had to sit out the first two games for academic reasons dating back to the final grading period last school year.

"We've got a no F policy," coach Chris Meeks said. "They know grades come first. That's the way our school is. They're excited to be back."

Meeks said Minix and Fleming have been practicing all along and will play tonight against North Judson.

"They give us experience and depth," Meeks said. "Some lineman have been playing all 48 minutes, which is tough, especially in the heat and humidity."

River Forest

After being shut out in their first two games, the Ingots are looking to get on the positive side of the scoreboard against 0-2 Lake Station this week. River Forest has dropped the last three in the rivalry series.

Roosevelt

The Panthers were in danger of losing their home game with Thea Bowman tonight because coach Kennedy Hannah said Monday he didn't have any officials to call the game. But Hannah solved the problem the next day and a crew from Indianapolis is coming to the Region to officiate.

Junior defensive tackle Victor Lee will be held out of the game with a twisted knee suffered in a loss to Valparaiso last Saturday.

South Central

Effort is a key to success and the Satellites were lacking it last week, when they lost 40-8 to Culver.

"Culver is a very good football team, but we didn't play a very smart, enthusiastic game," coach Travis Flora said. "We came out flat and stayed flat. There's nothing really more disappointing to me than guys just not playing with any spark."

Flora's message apparently got through to the team.

"They knew it Monday. They knew I wasn't very happy and they've really turned it up," he said. "They've put their best foot forward this week to get squared away."

Valparaiso

The Vikings have dropped four in a row to tonight's foe, LaPorte, and the last three meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. The Slicers rallied for a 57-56 double-overtime win last season.

"It's been kind of wild the last few years," Valpo coach Mark Hoffman said. "They are the defending regional champions, so it's exciting."

West Side

Since they haven't been able to play a home game in over two years, the Cougars weren't sure where their game against Chicago Robeson would be this week.

Coach Gene Johnson confirmed the game against Robeson would be played at 6 tonight at Lew Wallace.

"It's supposed to be a home game, so you'd rather it was at home," Johnson said. "Unfortunately, there are several spots on our field, which could potentially cause a serious injury."

Wheeler

After watching his team commit nine turnovers in a sloppy loss to Kankakee Valley last week, Bearcats coach Dan Klimczak realizes his team probably couldn't have 1/3 of that total and still manage to beat Whiting tonight.

"We made some adjustments, looked at our schemes and fundamentals and tried to go back to the basics," he said. "To win that game we needed to compete at a high level and I don't think we did that up front."

Wirt

Due to a lack of enthusiasm and some attitude problems, Coach Eric Yarbrough left seven players at home before last week's loss at Munster.

"I wanted to get their attention and I think I got it," Yarbrough said.

All seven of the players returned to practice this week.

Whiting

Brock Vale has been everything and more for the Oilers this season. In two wins, the senior wide receiver has 15 catches for more than 360 yards and five TDs. Throw in an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown against River Forest, and a key interception and two punts inside the 5-yard line against Gavit and you're looking at one of the area's most versatile threats.

"He's doing it all right now," Whiting coach Jeff Cain said. "He's got that attitude we'd love to see rub off on the others. He just has a will on both sides of the ball."