Crown Point’s Jaden Saddler made a significant impact on a hot Friday night. The senior cornerback, weighing 175 pounds and standing 5-foot-11, recovered a muffed punt early in the third quarter. He also intercepted a pass in the last moments of the fourth quarter during the Bulldogs’ Duneland Athletic Conference game at Merrillville. This match featured the top two teams in the region and among the best in the state.
“It felt great,” Saddler shared, “but I couldn’t do it alone because my teammates were there. When I made mistakes, like giving up deep passes and a touchdown, they supported me. They lifted me when I was down.”
Indeed, the victory was a team effort as Crown Point managed to contain Merrillville’s strong offense. This offense is led by senior quarterback Michael Hill Jr., yet Crown Point secured a 23-14 win. Coach Craig Buzea emphasized the role of coordination within their defense. “A lot of hard work went into this. We couldn’t replicate what they do since they’re quick and complex to defend, but I believe we have the best defensive coordinator in the state in John Snyder. Along with his team, our kids executed extremely well.”
Saddler played a vital role for the Bulldogs, who now have a 3-0 overall and 1-0 conference record. Buzea remarked, “Saddler received some criticism at halftime and he responded.” Saddler accepted this by stating, “He got on me about my play, but you have to move past it. The game wasn’t over, so for us it was 0-0 and we had to keep playing.”
Last season, Saddler primarily participated on special teams, recording 11 tackles. He intercepted a pass against Indianapolis Pike the previous week and contributed three tackles in the season opener against Lowell. Saddler reflected on his progress: “I’ve been committed since last May, starting when last season ended. I have trained my hardest all summer.” His efforts were recognized by sophomore linebacker AJ Summers. “Saddler is a great leader, super vocal, and works hard. He deserves it. He’s committed and you can see it.”
The score tied at 14-14 with 11:44 left when Hill was injured. When the Pirates regained possession with 7:55 on the clock, they had to field a backup quarterback. This led to an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone, granting Crown Point a 16-14 lead due to a safety. Later, Crown Point wide receiver Ethan Ziolkowski’s 46-yard catch-and-run touchdown from quarterback Tyce Custy extended the lead. Brody Hood forced a fumble that Ben Clark recovered to solidify the win.
Hill returned with 2:26 left, completing passes but exiting the game with a minute left. He finished with 217 passing yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Curtis Walker who had nine catches for 164 yards. Tyce Custy also connected on a 21-yard touchdown with Kingston Connelly and running back Brayden Schutt rushed for 103 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.
“We committed to playing for each other pregame, and that’s exactly what we did,” Saddler explained. “Not everyone excelled in both halves, but we succeeded together. That’s all football is about, playing for each other.”
Crown Point has extended its regular-season winning streak to 39 games, marking their fifth consecutive victory against Merrillville this season. These teams are likely to meet again in the sectional playoffs.
Coach Buzea stated, “This isn’t the best version of Crown Point football yet. We are improving and will continue to. There aren’t many teams better than Merrillville. They are a tough opponent for any team.”