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Andrean sets the pace against Crown Point
Updated: August 13, 2011 10:22AM
CROWN POINT — After two months of summer workouts, Andrean coach Phil Mason said what everyone was thinking Friday night: “We just needed to get out and play.”
And his 59ers displayed that in their preseason scrimmage on the road against Crown Point.
Andrean quarterback Matt Desomer, a sophomore, raced 65 yards for a touchdown on the scrimmage’s first play, as Andrean’s offense consistently found its way into the end zone all night long.
“Matt did a good job running the show, and he’s going to be a great athlete for us at that position,” Mason said. “And he’s going to need to do that because teams are going to key on our running backs.”
One of those backs, Mason Zurek, broke several Bulldogs tackles on his way to a 44-yard TD scamper just two plays after Desomer’s touchdown.
“We had a fantastic night tonight,” he said through a big grin. “I wasn’t sure how we were going to match up against a 5A school. If we can match up with them, we can match up with anyone.”
Crown Point’s offense, meanwhile, put together drives in every session, though it didn’t score until its third appearance on the field. But Crown Point coach Chip Pettit didn’t see that as a problem.
“I’m not disappointed in our guys tonight,” he said. “Some of our kids, when they get the chance to make a play, they’re going to have to make them. We were looking for them to approach tonight like a (regular season game). I liked our approach and the way that they played.”
The sound of crunching shoulder pads permeated the Crown Point field all night — mainly from hits delivered by 59ers.
“We think we’re a pretty physical team and I think we showed that tonight,” said Mason.
It was a veteran unit on the field for Andrean’s defense, which is returning eight starters from last year’s squad. Senior Brandon Pavlina was the biggest playmaker on the night with two interceptions.
Said Mason: “This group has been fun to work with because they love to play defense and they’re good at it. We expect a lot of our defense … and we know they’re going to be pretty good.”
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, were looking to expose some younger players to the high school football stage.
“Our defense is breaking in a lot of new bodies,” Pettit said. “That’s what nights like these are for: to get those guys experience.”
Andrean opens the season next week at Bishop Noll, while Crown Point will be on the road at Lowell.
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