South Central: The people mover

Updated: August 18, 2011 5:19PM

It’s the type of season that will fondly flicker in the memory banks of the communities that feed into South Central High School.

After what were back-to-back mediocre years for the football program, the Satellites (10-3) won more games than those efforts combined in 2010. In fact, victories were bountiful for the club that set the school’s wins record, made it to the first sectional title game in more than 20 years (since 1986) and, while there, brought home a first-ever crown.

And for those who flipped through sports pages during that time, it was standout running back Ethan Biggs (who broke the school rushing record) that shined. Biggs and the team engineered quite the turnaround under last year’s coach, Jeff Karras.

But as important as Biggs’ running game was, there was another spark that ignited the Satellites at just the right time — an enforcer, of sorts, lineman Dalton Moore.

Moore, a 6-4, 320-pounder, missed much of the limelight last season, however. Because of poor grades at the end of his sophomore year, he was ineligible until the second round of the Class 1A sectional. And after acclimating in that 47-20 victory over Triton, he helped pave the way to history against Culver in the championship. The No. 7 Satellites ousted the No. 3 Cavaliers 20-7, avenging a one-point loss from Week 2. Moore was also with the squad when it fell to Lafayette Central Catholic in the first round of the regional.

“I came back harder than I ever have before and we came back and won the sectional game,” Moore said.

Since last fall — when he found out he wasn’t cleared to play — Moore has also been tackling the books.

“I got lazy in school and let my team down for last year,” he said.

His improved classroom technique?

“I actually paid attention,” he said.

To coincide with that improvement, Moore also has spent the offseason toning up. With the same build, but even more strength, new Satellites coach Mel Hay (who was the defensive coordinator last year and replaced Karras, who left to be an assistant at Michigan City) feels confident with the athlete who will play both offensive and defensive tackle.

“I feel great about him plugging up the middle of the defensive and requiring a minimum of a double team to slow him down,” Hay said. “Dalton’s work ethic has improved — he’s leaned up over the summer. Last year he was good player and to me he’s gotten better.”

Now that both Biggs and Moore are seniors, it’s one last chance to further stake their names on the program — as a dangerous tandem on offense.

“It drives me, I love blocking for Ethan,” Moore said. “I love it and Ethan appreciates blockers. With the talent that we have coming in, I believe our line can piece it together to block for Ethan.”

Coach

Mel Hay

Record

At school 0-0 (first year)

Overall: 35-45 (ninth year)

Last Season

Lost 35-14 to Lafayette Central Catholic in regional

key returnees

RB Ethan Biggs

OL Dalton Moore

OL Jonah Pacione

LB Blake Geskey

DL Adam Clindaniel

Key Losses

WR Matt Walker

QB Bryant Hoover

DB/WR Ricky Rigsby

RB Devin Wiltse

Season Outlook

While it’s true that many have graduated from last year’s sectional championship team, former defensive coordinator and first-year coach Mel Hay still has a strong group returning.

Under Hay, who’s making his second region appearance as a head coach after leading Clark for three seasons, is a group of four players that have significant playing experience. Atop that list is senior Ethan Biggs, who is coming off a school rushing record in 2010. As the season is quickly approaching, the coach is going through the selection process to fill in the remaining holes, including the starting QB job.

Hay, who’s implementing the I-formation this season, has high expectations.

“My expectations are very high and I think the team’s expectations are very high,” he said. “Whenever you have a great running back coming back, hopefully you can do something with that.”

Postseason

Class 1A Sectional 33 (Bishop Noll, Culver Community, South Central, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central. Whiting, Winamac)

Schedule

Aug. 19 at LaVille

Aug. 26 Culver

Sept. 2 Bishop Noll

Sept. 9 at Whiting

Sept. 16 Wheeler

Sept. 23 at Lake Station

Sept. 30 at North Newton

Oct. 7 Calumet

Oct. 14 River Forest

HISTORY LESSON

Season Record

2001 8-2

2002 3-8

2003 1-9

2004 4-7

2005 5-6

2006 5-6

2007 6-4, 5-2

2008 3-7, 3-4

2009 3-8, 2-5

2010 10-3, 6-1

Sectional titles: 2010

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

1 Garrett Walter 5-11 220 12 QB

2 Mark Roney 6-0 180 11 DB

3 Adam Clindaniel 6-1 215 11 TE

4 Kyle Cromey 5-7 180 11 K

5 Blake Geskey 5-10 200 12 LB

6 James Wills 5-10 155 10 DB

7 Kane Klimczak 5-11 180 9 QB

8 Robert Miller 5-7 160 10 WR

9 David Leonard 5-8 155 9 DB

12 Kyle Sturday 6-1 185 12 QB

14 Alec Sturdy 5-10 190 11 FB

16 Devon Lopez 5-6 160 11 DB

20 Dustin Becker 5-8 165 12 WR

21 T.J. Wherrett 5-9 180 12 LB

22 Micheal Knotts 5-9 170 12 FS

25 Mitchell Woff 5-6 165 10 RB

26 Caleb Brown 5-6 150 12 RB

28 Dylan Poort 5-9 165 12 DB

30 Ethan Biggs 6-0 205 12 RB

32 Michael Anderson 5-7 145 9 DL

33 Dan Silverman 5-10 180 10 LB

34 Hazen Imes 6-1 220 12 LB

35 Seth Carlson 5-10 175 9 RB

38 Jeff Gifford 5-10 175 12 FS

46 Paul Roney 5-6 160 9 WR

48 Matt Avery 5-10 175 10 LB

49 Kyle Lippold 5-8 170 10 LB

51 Matt Gibbs 5-8 210 9 DL

54 Alex Morrow 5-8 155 10 C

57 Luke Hatley 5-9 200 11 OL

59 Steven Aldrich 6-2 250 10 OL

60 Dylan Johnson 5-10 175 10 DL

62 Brandon Miller 5-9 215 11 OL

63 Kasz Billings 6-0 190 10 OL

64 Nick Walker 5-6 150 9 DL

66 Austin Magley 5-10 185 12 LB

72 Dalton Moore 6-4 310 12 NT

76 Jonah Pacione 6-1 215 10 OL

77 Brandon Dickson 5-10 270 11 DL

80 Zack Michaels 6-0 190 12 WR

81 Garrett Magley 5-7 155 9 WR

82 Jacob Gilmore 5-10 175 10 TE

83 Chance Rowe 5-9 175 12 DB

84 T.J. Pisowicz 6-0 160 10 DB

85 Anthony Smith 5-11 125 11 LB

86 Carter Brown 6-1 175 9 DE

87 Aaron Villicana 6-0 180 12 WR

88 Stephen Williams 5-11 185 12 DL

89 Hunter Anderson 6-1 165 9 DB

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