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Lake Central downs Munster in OT
Updated: May 9, 2012 9:43AM
Munster coach Leroy Marsh was right in his pre-game assessment of Lake Central, saying it would be one of the most improved teams in the region. He was also right about his team.
“We won’t be a fast starter like last year’s team,” he said.
What Marsh didn’t say is that his Mustangs, coming off their third straight seven-win season, would be a strong finisher, at least in regulation against the Indians on Friday.
Trailing by 14 points at the half, the Mustangs staged a furious comeback in the second half to send the game into overtime before Drew Hollingsworth’s 10-yard run on the first play of the extra session made the Indians a 28-21 winner at Munster.
It gave the Indians a little payback against the Mustangs, who had beaten them three straight times, including a season-ending loss last year in the sectionals.
“We had control of the game before we gave up the momentum but it was nice to see our kids, when it really counted win this game,” said LC coach Brett St. Germain. “This was something that we talked about involving our kids lack of confidence because last year in situations like this we didn’t seem to have the confidence to come through.”
That confidence was tested after the Indians, spotting the Mustangs a 7-0 first-quarter lead on a pick-six by defensive back Colin Mudroncik for 59 yards to score 21 straight points, beginning with running back Alec Olund’s 55 yard TD pass to Dylan Morang.
A Munster fumble, a big problem for them with eight total, cost them when Ike Spearman picked up a loose ball and ran it back 18 yards for one score, then a Chase Fieldhouse two-yard run made it 21-7.
“We had a lot of motivation for this game, so we came out hard in the first half,” Hollingsworth said.
Which brings us to another Marsh pre-game quote: the Indians size would make a difference in this game. As it turned out, in the first half it did when the Indians ground game got the better of the Munster defense.
In the second half, it was the Mustangs’ running game that turned the tide. Running back Christian Leonakis’ 22-yard run made it 21-13 late in the fourth quarter before the Mustangs caught a break.
A botched Lake Central punt gave the Mustangs the ball at the Indians’ 21 yard line when quarterback Mark Strbjak hit Nick Brajak on a slant pattern pass that went the distance with 44.7 seconds left in the game. Brajak’s two-point conversion run sent the game into overtime.
After Hollingsworth’s TD to open the extra period, a second-down pass by Munster’s Strbjak to the left side was picked off by Morang at the two yard line.
“There was good blocking by my offensive line and my receivers,” said Hollingsworth about his game-winning run. “I got hit a couple of times but I just had to tuck my head in and get the touchdown.”
And what was learned from debatably the most exciting game Friday night? That Marsh was so right. The Indians, a team that was offensively challenged last season, will be a challenge for future opponents this year.
Another lesson: Don’t sleep on Munster, either. The Indians almost did and look what happened.
“They came out in the second half and showed some heart,” Hollingsworth said. “This is my senior year, so finally beating Munster, I’m darn proud.”
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