Panthers pound Brickies in second half

Hobart's Mathew Barras (7) cannot get rid of the ball before being sacked by a Griffith defender.
(Charles Mitchell/For The Post-Tribune )

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GRIFFITH — Griffith’s streak continues, and Hobart’s Brickie Bowl officially closes.

Behind a swarming defense and a multi-pronged rushing attack, the Panthers downed the Brickies 35-14 in the second round of Class 4A Sectional 9 on Friday night, advancing to a sectional championship for the 21st straight season.

Griffith (7-4) outscored Hobart (9-2) 28-0 in the second half, not allowing a point after the middle of the first quarter, avenging a 19-0 regular-season loss.

“They kicked our (butt),” Hobart coach Wally McCormack said. “Pretty simple. We couldn’t gain a yard.

“They blocked and tackled better than we did, they coached better than we did. They deserved to win.”

Hobart’s Mat Barras completed 8-of-11 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and finished 10-of-15 for 225. Bobby James had four catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns — in the first quarter. He had seven for 188 at halftime, and finished with eight for 186.

His early absolute domination of the game turned to frustration, and he eventually was ejected with 3:18 left in the game after his only second-half catch, for minus-2 yards.

Griffith coach Russ Radtke said at halftime he told his team the Panthers had the Brickies right where they wanted them. They didn’t necessarily believe him, but he was proven right.

“I thought we dominated the first half, except for No. 3 (James),” Radtke said. “Maybe having to play both ways wore him down. When he’s fresh, we don’t have anyone. He’s a man out there.”

The Panthers also racked up nine sacks, including six in the second half; McCormack said Barras hadn’t been sacked once all season.

“It’s a package that we have,” said Radtke, crediting assistants Tyler Radtke and Brian Orkis. “The exciting part is seeing it work with young kids.”

The Panthers, who next will play at home against Morton, rushed for 392 yards, after the Brickies held them to just 92 in the regular season.

Ed Johnson led the way with 162 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Austin Guzior had 84 yards on 10 carries, quarterback Greg Joyce 74 and two TDs on nine, and Mark Butkus also 74 on nine.

Joyce scored on a 47-yard keeper to give Griffith the lead for good at 21-14 with 4:55 left in the third quarter. That TD came three plays after Joyce picked up 3 yards on a fourth-and-inches from the Panthers 42.

The Panthers all but put away the game by capitalizing on a Brickies miscue.

James muffed a punt, and Griffith’s Calvin Bonewits recovered at the Hobart 19 with 8:13 left in the game. The Panthers converted the takeaway into Johnson’s 3-yard touchdown run with 4:50 left in the game.

One play after Hobart went for it on fourth-and-28 from its own 2, Johnson scored with 3:10 to account for the final margin.

After the Panthers got shut out by the Brickies on Sept. 5 — it was the first time Griffith had gotten shut out since Week 3 of the 2003 season against Lowell — it took them all of one play to get on the board. After Hobart punted, Johnson raced 68 yards for a touchdown on Griffith’s first play from scrimmage.

Hobart answered with a big play of its own on the next series, as Barras connected with James for an 84-yard touchdown. The Brickies moved ahead 14-7 with 5:03 left in the first quarter on a brilliant individual effort by James. He snagged a pass in triple coverage, broke a tackle, cut inside and turned the play into a 58-yard TD.

The Panthers tied the score on the opening possession of the second half, on Joyce’s 18-yard touchdown run. Guzior’s 53-yard run had helped set up the score.

“I can’t see anything better than the Boneyard on Halloween,” Radtke said.

Contact Michael Osipoff at 648-3137 or mosipoff@post-trib.com. Comment on this story at www.post-trib.com.