FOCUSED 59ERS
Andrean rallies past Hobart behind Walsh, Flesher and Cimino
Andrean spotted Hobart a twotouchdown lead on Friday night.
And then the visiting 59ers showed the Brickies a thing or two about how to stay composed and keep focused in a 35-24 Northwest Crossroads Conference victory.
Andrean turned three Hobart turnovers into three TDs.
And the 59ers (5-1, 2-0) moved the ball relatively easily against Hobart’s defense when they weren’t turning it over.
Andrean’s Ryan Walsh rushed for 99 yards and a TD on 19 carries, and teammate Nick Flesher caught two TD passes and returned an interception 22 yards for a TD. Andrean quarterback Joe Cimino completed 10 of 14 passes for 113 yards and three TDs with an interception.
Hobart (3-2, 0-1) and Andrean both were looking for a measuring stick to see how good they were.
The 59ers were ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and Hobart was ranked No. 4 in Class 4A in the Associated Press polls. Both teams had lost to Merrillville, which is ranked No. 3 in Class 6A.
Andrean reaffirmed its No. 1 ranking.
It looked like Hobart could route the 59ers early, though.
After Andrean’s first drive stalled, Marc Enslen took a handoff from Hobart quarterback Riley Johnston. Enslen got through the line of scrimmage and ran 91 yards untouched, mostly down the sidelines, for a touchdown with 9:28 left in the first quarter. That was Hobart’s second offensive play.
The Brickies’ defense set up their second touchdown when Cimino, faced with second-and-long, was intercepted by Julian Ruiz.
That led to a 1-yard TD run by Tyler Turley for a 14-0 lead with 7:46 left in the first quarter.
Andrean found its groove on its next possession.
The 59ers went on a 12-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard TD pass from Cimino to Flesher with 9:34 left in the first half. Andrean converted one fourth down in the drive, which lasted 7:50. That made it 14-7.
It didn’t long for the 59ers to tie it.
Andrean’s Drayk Bowen recovered a Hobart fumble on the next possession. Ryan Walsh scored from 10 yards out with 9:20 left in the half.
Hobart started the second half with a 37-yard field goal by Miki Djankovich with 7:45 left in the the third quarter.
Andrean countered with three straight TDs to break it open.
Cimino spread the ball around, using five receivers.
A 15-yard TD catch by Dominic DiTola with 4:34 left in the third quarter gave Andrean the lead for good.
That TD was set up after Andrean pinned Hobart deep in its territory. Flesher returned a punt to the 30, and then Hobart was whistled for a personal foul.
Andrean scored again after Danny O’Shea recovered a fumble at the 19.
That set up a 15-yard TD pass to Flesher for a 28-18 lead.
Flesher finished off Andrean’s scoring with the interception return with 7:20 left in the game.