The 2024 CHS football season started off with a bang. The Trojans, who had practiced on grass all summer, opened the season on an all new turf field last Friday.. CHS took the lead in the first half and held on to it. Great plays were made in the rush game all night and the Chesterton linebackers were standouts in their season opener.
Alex Zairis made a great tackle on the opening kickoff to pin the Brickies in bad field position. The Trojan defense made quick work of the Brickie offense and got off the field to let their own offense take over. From there, the offense ran the ball for first downs over and over again, all the way up to a Brady McCormack three yard touchdown run. The defense once again held Hobart inside their territory and forced them to punt. McCormack again utilized the run game and scored a quick six on a 46 yard touchdown. At the start of the second quarter, Hobart was able to drive the ball inside the five yard line on a long pass play. However, the Trojans executed a great goal line stand. On second down, junior linebacker Robert Stabolito blitzed off the line and wrapped around to make the tackle on the opposite side. Next, on third down, senior linebacker Josh Davis ran up to make the tackle on the ball carrier, forcing the Brickies to settle for a field goal. Hobart kicked the ball back to the Trojans, and they gave junior running back Andrew Goveia the ball over and over. McCormack would also break loose for a 30 yard run. Finishing the drive, Goveia ran up the middle for a four yard touchdown. As the half was winding down. Brickies couldn’t match up to the Chesterton defense and went three and out. Chesterton had to manage the clock, throwing the ball for a change. They got the ball down into Hobart’s territory, but scored no points on the final drive, as the half ended.
Chesterton received the ball to begin the third quarter. For the first and only time that night, the maroon and gold was forced to punt the ball. They gained some yardage, but were stopped at the Chesterton 43 yard line and punted back to the Trojans. Beginning on the 4 yard line, the Chesterton running game took them a long and methodical 96 yards, ending with a short McCormack scamper for six. This would put the score at 27-3 in favor of the home team. Hobart went to the air, passing for a swift touchdown, and missed the 2 point conversion. The Brickies then surprised the Chesterton special teams unit and kicked an onside kick. Hobart took the ball off a high bounce, giving them life in the game again. The Chesterton defense once again took out the hopes of the visiting team, giving the ball back to their offense, who would end up eating the rest of the clock on a drive going into their own territory.
Chesterton would finish the day with 440 offensive yards, while only allowing 187 on defense. Key to the victory was the rushing attack of Brady McCormack (228 yards and 3 touchdowns), Andrew Goveia (126 yards and one touchdown), and blocking back Kaden Summer (27 yards). Davis would finish the day with 4 tackles, and Zairis added two tackles on special teams. The team loved the win but is focusing on their next opponent, Hammond Morton, whom they play in an away game this Friday, August 28.
“I was really hyped and excited,” said Braxton Ozug, a junior offensive lineman.
The Chesterton crowd was very hyped and energetic throughout the whole game. The team loves the energy and noise that the crowd brings.
“I was just pretty hyped. We ran for like 400 yards. I didn’t even know that. That was a lot,” concluded Ozug, after the game.
Ozug is part of the line which paved the way for the backfield to rush for 4 touchdowns, a group whose name won’t be in the stats, but plays a bigger role than any other on most of those rushing attacks.
