Dan Vance
MaxPreps.com
As much as week one was full of refreshing upsets, week two was full of refreshing blowouts - refreshing at least for those on the right end of the scoreboard.
Predicted by some in the area to suffer their first loss of the season, the Norwell Knights responded with an astounding flurry of offense, led by the one-two punch of Chandler Harnish and Cole Hoopingarner in 75-0 victory over Bluffton.
The win marked the largest point total and margin of victory in the history of the school.
After what was considered by most as just an "o.k." opening week against Leo, Harnish was on key from the first snap on Friday night. Harnish led the team down the field on their opening drive, setting up a 16-yard score for Hoopingarner. The back ran in three touchdowns on the night.
By the end of the first, the Knights were on top by 21, a lead they extended to 55 by the half, leaving the Tigers in the dust.
"We had their (Bluffton's) number from the get go," Norwell coach Jeff Miller said. "When you come out like we did, the other team is so rattled that they are almost out of the game."
Harnish is now 22 of 36 on the season with 377 yards and two scores. He has also proven himself to be a moderately mobile option on the ground, running for 20 yards and one more touchdown.
"Chandler is a special kid," Miller said. "Without him leading the charge, whether he puts up 200 or 20 yards, we are not as good of a team."
Hoopingarner's 156-yard performance against Bluffton gives him 224 yards on the ground this season. Norwell is now 7-0 against Bluffton during the Miller administration, outscoring the Tigers a combined 328-42.
Heritage Dominates Manchester
The Allen County Athletic Conference leader Heritage Patriots did some routing of their own against visiting Manchester. Kyle Klingenberger rushed only four times in racking up 121 yards and three scores in the Patriots 81-7 win. Klingenberger also returned a fumble 20 yards for a score.
Neil Klingenberger kicked nine of ten extra points successfully.
Heritage put up 34 points in the second quarter to take an insurmountable 53-0 halftime lead. Manchester's only score came on a two-yard run late in the third quarter.
The loss drops Manchester to 0-2 on the year. They are not alone as all seven other teams in the Three Rivers Conference also sit at 0-2 as the conference schedule begins next Friday.
Huntington North toppled Columbia City 45-0 in another area route. The Eagles have yet to score in the first two weeks of the season. Meanwhile Elmhurst again stumbled, falling 55-0 to Summit Athletic Conference favorite Bishop Dwenger. The Trojans, under first year head coach Trent Grider have lost their first two games by a combined score of 111-12.
SAC Stays Wide Open
The week began with five unbeaten teams in the SAC, and as expected only ended with three as two match ups were made up of 1-0 programs.
The unexpected part? The teams that won those meetings.
Northrop, who shocked South Side one week ago, were at it again as they mounted a comeback against the visiting Concordia Cadets. After a scoreless first quarter, the Cadets took a 15-8 lead to the locker room at the half on the legs of quarterback Armando Bustamante, who ran in scores from 12 and five yards.
However, a Logan Powell field goal in the third set the Bruins up for a last ditch effort in the fourth. Brandon Russell, who racked up 172 yards on the night, took off for a 60-yard score in the fourth for the lead. After having a touchdown called back for holding, the Cadets lost focus and Bustamante was sacked two times on the final drive, allowing Northrop to pull a second-straight upset and improve to 2-0.
"Before, we would have just folded," junior back Tyler Spillner said of the team's turnaround from a 3-7 campaign a year ago. "We got down, we fought back. It feels so good to win some games."
On the south side of town, North Side was doing the same as they upended perennial SAC power Bishop Luers 28-13. It was the first win for the Redskins against the Knights since 1991. Sophomore quarterback Taylor Howenstine had the only score of the first half with a one-yard run for North. But, it was Arris Allen who opened the game up with a 77-yard rushing score in the third. Allen ran for only 79 yards all night.
Junior Javon Eaton ran back an interception 50 yards in the third and Howenstine found receiver DeMarlo Belcher open for an 18-yard score in the fourth to finish off the Knights. Howenstine ended with a 10 of 15 passing night for 139 yards. Bishop Luers only had six passing yards total.
North Side will meet the also 2-0 Bishop Dwenger Saints Friday, while Northrop will battle defending conference champions Snider (1-1) at Spuller Stadium, a field that the two teams share as a home venue.
Northeast Hoosier Conference Readies For League Openers
After a rocky start to the season, the NHC will begin conference play Friday. Because of the league's eight-team format, teams have been playing outlying area teams for the first two weeks. NHC teams have a combined record of 7-9 for the first two weeks.
"In a league with so much, this really could be anyone's year," Norwell coach Jeff Miller said. "As of now, records for the first two weeks don't really mean much."
The NHC season is expected to culminate with a week nine meeting between conference favorites Norwell and Homestead, who are the only teams in the NHC currently at 2-0. Furthermore, the meeting will also showcase the conference's top two players - senior quarterbacks Jordan Wise and Chandler Harnish. Wise has passed for 509 yards this season to lead the Spartans to a 2-0 start.
Norwell will open the NHC season against 0-2 Carroll while Homestead hosts East Noble. Other conference match ups include the winless DeKalb Barons facing New Haven and Bellmont traveling to Columbia City.
Player of the Week
Chandler Harnish, starting for the third-straight year as Norwell quarterback, showed just how dangerous he can be with a 186-yard effort in a 75-0 route of Bluffton. The senior put in two scores on 8-of-11 passing. And while other players in the area put up better week two numbers, Harnish's leadership cannot be overlooked in the school's biggest win ever.