Hobart holds again
Mummey-led defense limits Lowell to 63 yards in sectional final, posts 4th shutout in past 6 games
At 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, Hobart linebacker Mark Mummey knew he’d be dwarfed by some of the offensive linemen he’d face in his first year as a varsity starter.
While working through fundamentals for shedding opposing blocks at a summer camp, though, the senior realized something: Those fundamentals were working.
“It totally changed my mindset,” Mummey said. “I don’t even think about how big those guys are anymore because I can still find ways through them or around them. I just know I have to get my job done so I don’t mess things up for my teammates.”
Mummey shed plenty of blocks against Lowell on Friday night, as Hobart recorded its second straight shutout in a 20-0 win at home to secure the Class 4A Sectional 17 championship.
Hobart (10-2) will host New Prairie (11-1) in next week’s regional championship.
The Brickies limited Lowell (7-5) to 63 total yards, earning a shutout for the fourth time in their past six games. Mummey led a linebacker corps that includes three juniors: Bobby Babcock, Tyler Turley and Cameron Smith. That quartet lived in the Red Devils’ backfield, as the Hobart defense combined to stop Lowell ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage 12 times.
Babcock said the defense’s success stems from its wide range of playmakers.
“As an offense, you have to run to the left or to the right,” Babcock said. “And, either way, you’re going to run into somebody good.”
Hobart’s defense has allowed just 9.8 points per game, helping coach Craig Osika win his first sectional title.
“Every time our defense steps on the field, we want a threeand-out or a turnover,” Osika said. “They’ve been pretty good this year.”
Osika said that defense was relied on heavily as the offense endured some early growing pains, but Hobart’s offense did more than enough to notch a 10th straight win.
Senior running backs DJ Lipke and Tyler Schultz led a Hobart offense that rushed for 245 yards against Lowell. Lipke had 141 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while Schultz added 87 yards on 11 attempts.
Hobart junior quarterback Riley Johnston threw just four passes but connected on two big plays. One was a 30-yard pass to junior wide receiver Zach Vode in the first quarter, setting up Lipke’s first TD run. The second was a 38-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Matthew Benton late in the second quarter, giving Hobart a 13-0 halftime lead.
To open the second half, Hobart forced a Lowell threeand-out and then drove 59 yards on six plays, with Lipke scoring from 1 yard out to keep momentum in the Brickies’ favor.
Hobart’s defense took over from there, keeping Lowell from crossing midfield in the second half.