Senior running back Tyler Gomez was overcome with emotion.
Crown Point reached a Class 6A regional for the second straight season.
The Bulldogs’ season came to an end against Penn for the second straight time.
“We tried to go out there and play the best we possibly could and make the most of it,” Gomez said Friday night after Crown Point lost 33-3 to visiting Penn. “We were trying, but it wasn’t enough. Hopefully we can get our stuff together and keep trying.”
The Kingsmen (11-1) won their fifth straight regional title. They limited the Bulldogs (7-5) to 70 yards, and sophomore quarterback Ryan Lynch completed 10 of 15 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns.
Crown Point coach Kevin Enright was philosophical.
More Top Picks Best Ellipticals For Seniors With Knee Problems
“Any time you lose, it’s not fun,” Enright said. “Any time your season ends, it’s not fun. But it’s a life lesson, how you handle adversity. But this group still accomplished a lot and I’m very proud of these guys.”
Crown Point sent the opening kickoff out of bounds three straight times, and it portended the rest of the game.
“You never know what can happen, but I did not see that kind of game coming,” Enright said. “We had a great week of practice. It just wasn’t our night.
“Penn, in all three phases, played at a high level, played very fast. We did not match that intensity or speed. They’re used to playing in these kinds of games. We’re trying to get to that level.”
Gomez, dismissing the notion that his left ankle he rolled last week was bothering him, gutted it out for 28 yards on 16 carries. Senior quarterback Ryan Bolda completed 7 of 21 passes for 40 yards with three interceptions.
Penn, which posted back-to-back shutouts in its two sectional games, limited the Bulldogs to five first downs, including none in the second half.
Kingsmen coach Cory Yeoman liked the way his defense played.
“They have a heck of a rushing attack, and we knew we’d be challenged there,” Yeoman said. “We had to try to fit really well and play great team defense. It couldn’t be just one guy. You have to play great team defense to stop somebody like that.”
Zach Usenick had four receptions for 66 yards and two TDs for Penn, which has won 11 straight after a 12-7 season-opening loss to Penn. Ryan Whiteman had a 64-yard TD on a screen and George Ohlson had a 6-yard TD reception.
“We had some good protection, the guys up front gave Ryan some time,” Yeoman said. “Our receivers ran some nice routes and caught some balls in chilly conditions.”
Penn will play Carmel (8-4) in a semistate. It’s a level Gomez envisions the Bulldogs reaching at some point.
“We put in a lot of time and effort,” Gomez said. “I know this next class is very hardworking and hopefully they’ll succeed. I have a lot of faith in those guys to do that and the coaches do a wonderful job.
“I just appreciate everyone here. We had a hell of a year. But they have a very good team.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff