Crown Point senior linebacker Reilly Granger said there’s a hunger for the spotlight among his teammates.
“There are a lot of guys stepping up,” Granger said. “We have a lot of guys who wanted to work their way up to varsity but couldn’t because of all the seniors we had (last year). They want to show that they’re ready for Friday nights.”
Senior running back Matt Walters, a co-captain with Granger, has noticed that during practice.
“We’re looking a lot more physical than we were at this point last year,” Walters said. “It’s their desire to play, knowing that every play could be their last one.”
Crown Point (6-5), ranked No. 7 in the preseason by the Post-Tribune, will count on veteran players like Granger and Walters.
They were statistical leaders for the senior-laden Bulldogs last season. Granger led the defense with 109 tackles, and Walters was the leading rusher with 707 yards and 10 touchdowns on 141 carries.
They were voted captains by their teammates, although they bring differing styles of leadership, according to coach Kevin Enright.
“(Walters) is a silent leader,” Enright said. “He leads by example. Everything he does is 1,000 miles per hour. His silent confidence is really evident.”
Granger is the more vocal of the two, by far, making him a good fit in the middle of the defense as an inside linebacker.
“(Granger) grew up in the locker room,” Enright said. “Some of the things he’s able to do on the football field are because of his high football IQ. You can see that he’s well-versed in the defensive side of the game, especially at inside linebacker.”
Although Crown Point may not have a lot of returning starters this season, Enright noted veteran players occupy many of the most important positions.
“The seniors that we do have coming back played some significant roles,” Enright said. “Matt was our No. 1 tailback, and Reilly played in the middle of our defense. Even though we graduated a bit around them, we like our group so far.”
The returning players for Crown Point also include senior quarterback Will Pettit, who threw for 1,766 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. Although Pettit’s top three targets — David O’Toole, Tysen Cazy and Ben Uran — have graduated, senior tight end Felix Meeks is back after making 14 catches for 179 yards and one TD last season.
This summer’s unusual circumstances left Granger and Walters responsible for organizing team workouts away from the program to the Bulldogs were ready for the start of the season in August. Enright said the atmosphere created during those activities has carried into the first two weeks of official practices.
“This group’s attitude has been extremely positive,” Enright said. “They’re extremely coachable. The locker room is in a good spot. When you have a good, positive attitude, you’ve got a chance to be successful.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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