Hanover Central High School

by Kevin Driscoll (Cedar Lake, IN) On a windy night at the Wildcat Den, head coach and offensive play caller Brian Parker knew he would need to rely on his running game. That’s a no-brainer when you have Caiden Verrett in the backfield. Verrett rushed 16 times for 222 yards (13.9 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, leading Hanover (5-1, 4-0 Northwest Crossroads Conference) to a 42-6 win over Munster on Homecoming at the Wildcat Den. It was the sixth-straight Homecoming win for HC. Verrett’s 17 touchdowns place him in a tie for 3rd-most in the state of Indiana and in a tie for 8th-most in the nation. After surrendering 21 points in the 1st quarter, Munster (1-5, 0-3 NCC) showed some fight, holding the Wildcats scoreless on its final three drives of the 2nd quarter. HC led 28-0 at the half. On Hanover’s second play from scrimmage in the 2nd half, Verrett broke open for an 83-yard TD run and a Logan Zilz PAT made the score 35-0, starting the IHSAA-mandated mercy rule running clock. Rocco Bartolomeo scored two TDs, one on a jet sweep run (22 yards), and another hauling in a 44-yard Tommy Bonner pass. Bonner had a good night on the field and off: he was an efficient 6-for-9, 89 yards, 1 TD, and was named Homecoming King at halftime. Donovan Mason added a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Luke Kopec and Jacob Ferko each had eight tackles and both had a tackle-for-loss to lead the defense. The opportunistic Wildcat defense forced and recovered three Mustang fumbles, recovered by Lincoln Zerby, Kopec, and Jacob Hiland respectively. The Wildcats extended their regular season home winning streak to 25 games. HC hasn’t lost a regular season home game in over six years. Hanover travels to Hobart Friday, October 4th with a conference title on the line. With both teams undefeated in NCC play, a win for either team Friday would clinch at least a share of the conference title. Hanover wraps up conference play October 11th against Andrean (currently 3-1 NCC). Hobart has a non-conference game at Morton October 11th before visiting Highland October 18th for their last NCC game. + + + + + Stats courtesy Adam Noel, Hanover Central football statistician