Crown Point stops Merrillville rally to reach sectional final

Crown Point defeated Merrillville 43-33 on Friday night at Merrillville High School, securing a spot in the Class 6A sectional final. The Bulldogs entered the game ranked No. 4 in the state and left with a 10-0 record, while the Pirates dropped to 8-2.

Merrillville mounted a late surge that nearly tied the game, closing the gap to 29-27 in the third quarter. Crown Point led 29-0 before the Pirates began to cut into the margin. The Bulldogs held their ground to win by 10 points.

Sophomore AJ Summers was the primary force on the Crown Point offense. The quarterback and linebacker rushed for 222 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries. He also played on defense for every play of the game. Coach Craig Buzea described Summers as the best player in Indiana high school football.

Junior free safety Jake Jaeger anchored the defensive effort. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Jaeger recorded one interception and nearly made two others. This pick marked his third of the season and ties him for the team lead with senior cornerback Jaden Saddler. Jaeger had an interception for a touchdown in the regular season finale against Michigan City.

Buzea noted that Jaeger is in his first year playing free safety. The coach said Jaeger consistently earns selection as a game captain and directs the secondary effectively. Jaeger, who also plays basketball, stated that he has been working on calming his nerves and playing with more confidence compared to last season.

Merrillville quarterback Michael Hill Jr. threw for 415 yards and five touchdowns on 31 of 54 attempts. Hill nearly engineered a comeback in the second half. He praised Jaeger, noting that the Bulldogs' safety is tall and long, making it difficult to throw the ball over his head.

Other Merrillville receivers also had strong games against the Bulldogs' defense. Senior Cameron Jordan caught 12 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Curtis Walker caught 12 passes for 152 yards. Sophomore William Golden caught two passes, both of which resulted in touchdowns.

Merrillville coach Brad Seiss said his team decided to throw the ball on every play in the second half to let Hill extend plays with his legs. Seiss commended Hill for his composure while evading rushers and finding open teammates. The Pirates have won seven straight sectional titles, with six regional titles in that span, before moving up to the 6A division this year.

Crown Point will play Lake Central in the sectional final on the road. Lake Central is currently 5-5. This is the second loss for Merrillville this season, and the first since 2021 against a Region team for Crown Point.

Buzea said the matchup was the type of game the two schools are supposed to have. He expressed respect for Seiss and his staff. Jaeger said he is glad to contribute to the team's accomplishments as they prepare for the next round.