Hanover Central High School

by Kevin Driscoll (Cedar Lake, IN) When the season ends, Hanover Central football will have a Northwest Crossroads Conference trophy to add to its case. Pending Week 9 results, Andrean and Hobart could have their own versions of that trophy to add to their cases, too. A 30-yard PJ Cusick field goal in the 2nd quarter is all Andrean needed to knock off Hanover Friday night, 3-0. Hanover concluded its conference slate at 5-1 in the NCC, and clinched their trophy last week with a win at Hobart. Andrean and Hobart, both currently 4-1 in NCC play, can earn a three-way tie for the NCC title with wins next week. The 59ers host Lowell, and the Brickies travel to Highland. Andrean’s swarming defense shut down Hanover’s typically high-powered offense, holding the Wildcats to just 112 total yards for the game. Like HC, the Niners were unable to find the end zone, but didn’t need to: they successfully played keep-away, winning the time of possession nearly 2-to-1 (30:36 to 17:24). Andrean RB Ethan Reyna (21 carries for 82 yards) and QB Brady Elish (18 carries for 80 yards) were the main culprits, helping the 59ers nearly double Hanover in 1st downs, keeping the chains moving and the Hanover offense off the field. The Wildcats were shutout for the first time since September 21, 2018 (61-0 loss at Whiting), and lost a regular season home game for the first time since September 28, 2018 (16-14 loss vs. Wheeler). It was Hanover’s first-ever loss in the NCC, and was the first time they dropped a conference game since September 18, 2020 (35-8 loss at Griffith). Dylan Bowen led the defense with 11 tackles. Kyron Turner and Henry Maurer had nine each. Turner had 2.5 tackles-for-loss. The Wildcats wrap up the regular season next Friday, October 18, at Hammond Central. + + + + + Stats courtesy Adam Noel, Hanover Central football statistician