Friendship briefly on hold

Updated: August 25, 2011 10:54PM

Crown Point football coach Chip Pettit and Hobart coach Ryan Turley have been friends for more than a decade.

Turley spent seven years as an assistant under Pettit with the Bulldogs and two seasons with him at Wheeler.

“Chip’s always been very supportive of me and is a friend for life,’’ said Turley, whose Brickies (1-0) meet the host Bulldogs (1-0) in an intriguing nonconference matchup Friday night.

“It’s pretty neat to be actually competing against him. I’ve grown up with him. He’s been an important part of my life for the last 10 to 12 years. I have the utmost respect for Chip. He’s taught me a lot about the game. It’s like an honor to play against them. It’s going to definitely be different, but I think it’s going to be exciting. I’m sure they’re excited, too. There’s a lot of mutual respect. I’m looking forward to the opportunity. It’s going to be a special night.’’

For Pettit, though, facing his long-time friend on the opposing sideline is really difficult.

“It’s hard,’’ he said. “Is it special? Not really. Is it fun? No, not really. It’s hard, because you’re going up against someone you’ve been with so long — and is such a good friend — and you know know that one of us is going to go home with a loss. So just knowing one of your good buddies is going through that — or you’re going through that — is a tough one. It’s (something) we’d rather not do.’’

The Brickies play the Bulldogs again next season, before both programs start playing other teams. Crown Point will play Mishawaka, and Hobart will play LaPorte starting in 2013.

Pettit and Turley, who spent Saturday night watching the Boone Grove-Wheeler game together, will put their friendship aside for about three hours tonight.

Pettit claims it’s not a big game for him in terms of trying to beat Turley’s team.

“No, it’s a big game because it’s a chance for us to win our home opener and get the season off to a 2-0 start,’’ he said. “The actual winning and losing, isn’t about me, or isn’t about the coaches, it’s about the kids. The kids are going to determine who wins and loses.’’

Last week, Hobart whipped West Side, 33-6, as quarterback Sam Kosich tossed a pair of touchdowns and Zac Randall rushed for 102 yards and scored twice.

Meanwhile, Crown Point’s defense forced six turnovers in a 27-6 road win over Lowell.

Another strong showing defensively against the Brickies could tilt the outcome in the Bulldogs’ favor.

“We have to clean a lot of things up,’’ Pettit said. “If we do that and make reasonable improvement from week one to week two, limit penalties, take care of the ball, and play solid in the special teams game, I think we’ll have a chance to be in the ball game.’’

Turley said for the Brickies to win, his players have to remember the team’s motto.

“Our kids have to believe,’’ he said. “If they believe, it can and will happen. It will happen if we block and tackle better. That’s what it’s going to come down to. It’s going to be a battle in the trenches. They’re big up front. They have some size. We have to set the intensity level. If we do that, good things are going to happen. We have to win the line of scrimmage. We have to come out there and make it happen.’’

Quarterback Joe Hopman and tailback Jake Lindeman lead CP’s offense.

Hopman completed 7 of 16 passes for 119 yards last week, while Lindeman rushed for 115 yards on 24 carries and a TD.

“I liked the fact we had no big mistakes, very few penalties and no turnovers last week,’’ Pettit said. “We played like a mature group.’’

Pettit also liked the way Hopman performed.

“He didn’t throw the ball away and he didn’t take any sacks,’’ he said. “I don’t think Joe’s ever going win anyone over with his physical attributes, but (last) Friday night, he played with a lot of moxie. He made good decisions. If he always does that, we’ll have a chance.’’

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