Crown Point Triumphs over Merrillville in Pivotal Matchup
Crown Point’s Jaden Saddler shone on a hot Friday night during a critical moment. The senior cornerback, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 175 pounds, made essential plays in the second half. He recovered a muffed punt early in the third quarter and made an interception late in the fourth. Crown Point faced off against Merrillville in the Duneland Athletic Conference, a match featuring two top state teams.
“It felt great, but I couldn’t do it alone,” Saddler said. “My teammates supported me when I struggled, allowing deep balls and a touchdown. They picked me up.”
Crown Point’s defense contained Merrillville’s potent offense, led by senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr., securing a 23-14 victory. “It takes a lot of hard work,” Crown Point coach Craig Buzea commented about his defense’s performance. “We can’t replicate what they do. They’re tough to defend, but John Snyder, our defensive coordinator, is excellent, and our players execute well.”
The Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0) stood firm, even when challenged. “Saddler got a little talking to at halftime and responded,” Buzea said. Saddler added, “You have to look past mistakes and continue playing. It was 0-0 for us, so we had to persevere.”
Saddler played limitedly last season, mostly on special teams, earning 11 tackles. He intercepted a pass against Indianapolis Pike last week and made three tackles in the opener against Lowell. “I’ve been training since December. It’s about the unseen work all summer and spring that people miss,” Saddler expressed.
His dedication impressed sophomore linebacker AJ Summers. “He’s a great guy, leader, and works hard. J-Sad is driven and made it happen,” Summers said.
With 11:44 remaining, the score tied at 14-14. Hill was hit during a scramble, and a backup quarterback entered the game with 7:55 left. A safety for intentional grounding in the end zone pushed Crown Point ahead 16-14.
Following a free kick, Crown Point extended their lead to 23-14 with a 46-yard touchdown catch by Ethan Ziolkowski from senior quarterback Tyce Custy. Sophomore linebacker Brody Hood forced a fumble recovered by senior Ben Clark with 4:34 remaining.
Hill returned with 2:26 left, completing 3 of 4 passes, but left with over a minute remaining. He amassed 217 passing yards with two TDs, thrown to junior receiver Curtis Walker, who totaled nine catches for 164 yards. Custy also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior Kingston Connelly, and senior Brayden Schutt rushed for 103 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.
“We committed to playing and fighting for each other,” Saddler shared. “We might not all have shown up consistently, but together, we did.”
Crown Point achieved their 39th regular-season win in a row with victory over Merrillville, who reentered 6A this season. Both teams might face off again in sectional play.
“This isn’t the best of Crown Point football yet,” Buzea stated. “But we’ll improve. If there are many teams better than Merrillville, retiring might be sensible. They’re a force, undoubtedly.”