After experiencing a combination of emotions during the week, Ryan Bolda was all smiles Friday night.
The junior quarterback made his first start of the season in a Class 6A Sectional 1 opener, helping Crown Point post a 10-6 win against visiting Lake Central.
He completed a pass for the game’s only touchdown and had key rushing yards in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs (5-5), who will play Merrillville in a sectional final.
“There were a lot of nerves, but the excitement overtook the nerves,” Bolda said. “I was happy to play.”
Senior quarterback Grayson Lynk did not play for undisclosed reasons.
“We’re going to talk about the guys who were out there,” Crown Point coach Kevin Enright said. “We really came together.
“Ryan was really, really poised. He made good decisions. I’m sure he was nervous and anxious, but we had full confidence in Ryan.”
With the wind a significant factor, Lake Central (4-6) took the wind in the fourth quarter and the strategy nearly worked.
The Indians drove Crown Point’s 2-yard line, but were stopped by the Bulldog defense on fourth down with 3:58 left.
“We expect our defense to do that,” Enright said. “That’s not arrogant. They’ve been doing it all year. We’ve been riding them.”
Using all three of their timeouts, the Indians still forced the Bulldogs to punt with 2:20 left, but the kick hit a Lake Central player and Sam Krutz recovered at the Crown Point 39 with 2:11 left.
“You have to fight through adversity and you have to have things go your way,” Enright said. “That happens in sports. It wasn’t pretty. It was a defensive struggle and that’s a credit to them, too.”
After Crown Point took possession following a Lake Central punt into the wind put the ball at the 28, the Bulldogs took advantage. Bolda threw a 6-yard TD pass to Tyler Jones with 4:59 left in the third to take a 10-3 lead.
“Exhilarating,” Bolda said. “That was one of my best friends. It’s something you imagine happening in your backyard.”
The Indians closed within 10-6 when Cole Rainwater kicked a 28-yard field goal with 9:53 left in the fourth.
The teams traded field goals in the first half.
Ben Fridrich kicked a 21-yarder as time expired in the first quarter. The Bulldogs set up that score by blocking a punt, with Zach Stewart recovering at the 18.
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Rainwater nailed a 44-yarder with 49.1 seconds left in the half. The Indians converted two fourth downs on that possession to move into position to score.
“We had our chances, we had our opportunities,” Lake Central coach Brett St. Germain said. “The last three weeks we capitalized, we didn’t (Friday).
“Their defense is really good. They have as good a chance as anyone next week because of their defense.”
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FRIDAY FOOTBALL RESULTS
Class 6A Sectional 1
Crown Point 10, Lake Central 6
Merrillville 22, Portage 21
Class 6A Sectional 2
LaPorte 17, Chesterton 7
Penn 35, Valparaiso 7
Class 5A Sectional 9
Michigan City 49, Elkhart Central 33
Mishawaka 43, South Bend Adams 14
Class 4A Sectional 17
Lowell 49, Morton 2
Munster 36, Highland 15
Class 4A Sectional 18
Hobart 55, Kankakee Valley 21
New Prairie 28, Andrean 14
Class 3A Sectional 25
Griffith 28, Rensselaer 21
Mishawaka Marian 43, Hanover Central 6
Class 2A Sectional 33
Whiting 21, North Newton 12
Knox 12, River Forest 7
Class A Sectional 41
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Pioneer 62, Lake Station 0
North Judson 27, South Central 22