By Dan Vance
MaxPreps.com
ÿ
Less than 10 seconds into the start of South Side's game against Bishop Dwenger Friday, the Archers were hoping for a mulligan.
ÿ
Dwenger senior John Goodman took the opening kickoff 94 yards down the field, splitting South Side defenders for his fourth kickoff return score of the year. That was all that Dwenger needed as they stayed a perfect 5-0 with their fourth-straight shutout, 20-0.
ÿ
Goodman gave the Saints much more in the game, including starting Dwenger's second possession with an 82-yard punt return for a score that was called back for an illegal block against the Saints. Just for good measure, however, Goodman also recorded an interception and a 35-yard touchdown pass, reaching high above the shorter Archer defenders for the catch.
ÿ
"I just told Kevin to throw it up there and I would get it. And that is how it happened, I just reached up and got it," Goodman said.
ÿ
South Side threatened on a couple of occasions, including early in the second half when South back Deontrai Campbell came within 20 yards of a kickoff return touchdown of his own. But, it was to no avail as Dwenger kept their shutout streak alive. Kevin Fogler added a pair of field goals, one in the first half and another in the fourth quarter.
ÿ
The four-game shutout streak is the longest in the area since Homestead did the same in 2002. Only four other schools in the area have recorded longer shutout streaks, the longest coming in 1935 when the now-defunct Central High School recorded nine-straight shutouts.
ÿ
In the wins, Dwenger has outscored their opponents 174-7. The 20 points against the Archers was a single-season low in scoring for the Saints.
ÿ
"It has been a result of how hard we work day in and day out," Dwenger coach Chris Scarczkopf said.
ÿ
ACAC Title Hopes Head North
ÿ
Brotherly love and brotherly teamwork led Heritage (5-0) past Adams Central (4-1) and into the driver's seat of the Allen County Athletic Conference with a 17-7 win Friday.
ÿ
Kyle Klingenberger rushed for 191 yards, pounding the Flying Jet defense and pacing Heritage. Klingenberger's brother, Neil, made sure that Adams Central could not do the same, picking up two interceptions to stop the explosive Jets.
ÿ
Neil Klingenberger also kicked a 45-yard field goal in the win for Heritage.
ÿ
With the conference down a bit this year, a loss for either team in the remaining season is unlikely, making Heritage's win (their seventh-straight against the Jets) utterly important. The Patriots face Leo next week while Central will battle conference rival South Adams. The game against the Starfires may be the toughest left on the schedule for Adams Central because of the intense rivalry.
ÿ
Elsewhere in the ACAC, the Lions of Leo got their first conference win since Sept. 17, 2004, edging South Adams by a single point, while Woodlan upset Southern Wells.
ÿ
Making a Positive Out of a Negative
ÿ
Norwell took New Haven's negative and turned it into a positive, topping the Bulldogs 51-0 and continuing its dominance over the Northeast Hoosier Conference opponents.
ÿ
Norwell (5-1), departing from its normally high-powered offense, proved to be a defensive power by forcing New Haven into negative rushing yards. The Bulldogs (2-3) ran 26 times for -1 yard and passed for just 23 yards in the loss.
ÿ
Halfway through the season, the Knights have outscored opponents 244-28, recording their second shutout of the year.
ÿ
The power team of quarterback Chandler Harnish and running back Cole Hoopingarner again led Norwell. Hoopingarner ran 10 times for 202 yards (20.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He reached the end zone on runs of 28, 54, and 74 yards.
ÿ
Harnish continued to display his versatility as he ran for 60 yards and passed for 50. One of Harnish's passes, a touchdown to Seth Wanner, made the receiver the all-time school receiving touchdown leader.
ÿ
Snider, North Side Win to Setup Intriguing Contest
ÿ
This Friday there will be the usual at Spuller Stadium - lights glaring down on the field, helmets cracking together, and all-around good spirit as the Snider Panthers take the field.
ÿ
But there will be something a little different in the air when the perennially-strong Snider faces North Side.
ÿ
The Redskins (4-1) are off to their best start in 13 years thanks to a route of Concordia Lutheran last Friday, 47-21. With recent aerial struggles of sophomore quarterback Taylor Howenstine (five of his six interceptions had been thrown in the previous two weeks), North Side kept the ball on the ground, pounding away with sophomore Aris Allen, who rushed for 256 yards.
ÿ
"They have a good run game and so do we," Snider senior Brent Bostic said of North Side. "It may come down to who's defense can slow the other team."
ÿ
Howenstine stayed solid in the win, rushing for 89 yards and passing for 110 more with two scoring strikes to Demarlo Belcher and Chris Hawthorne.
ÿ
The win ties North Side for second in the SAC with Snider (4-1), who dominated Bishop Luers, 35-0. The Panthers racked up 303 yards of total offense, only allowing 95 to the perennial SAC power Knights (1-4).
ÿ
Like North Side, Snider made their move on the ground, scoring all five times that way. Bostic had three scores, while senior Jordan Jackson had one on a team high 102 yards. Senior quarterback Artis Chambers chipped in with a 27-yard rushing score.
ÿ
North heads into the contest with momentum after beating the Cadets, who topped Snider in week one. A win for Snider keeps them firmly in the conference race headed for a showdown with Bishop Dwenger. North Side would need a win over the Panthers coupled with a win for the Panthers over the Saints to consider a tie for the conference.
ÿ
North Side has not won the SAC since 1991. The Panthers are the defending conference champions.
ÿ
"We have been on a roll since we lost, proving that we are still the team. We just have to keep that going," Bostic said.
ÿ
Northeast Indiana Player of the Week
ÿ
Aris Allen of North Side ran 16 times in a big victory over Concordia to rack up 256 yards on the ground. Four of Allen's rushes were for touchdowns, coming in increments of 1, 44, 57, and 76 yards.