County stars enjoy grid spotlight

Monday, July 15, 2019

INDIANAPOLIS — Greencastle’s Gavin Bollman and South Putnam’s Dalton Scott officially brought their high school careers to an end on Friday night in the Indiana Football Coaches Association North-South All-Star Game at North Central High School.

While their South team lost 25-24 despite leading 24-15 with 10 minutes to play, both enjoyed their second week of competing together this summer.

The long-time rivals on both the football field and the basketball court also teamed up for the Gold Division team in the last week of June for a 42-3 win over the Black Division team in the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association All-Star Game at Indiana State University.

Bollman enjoyed his high school career with the Tiger Cubs, but has also welcomed the chance to have different teammates.

“It’s been great to play with all these new guys,” he said. “I’ve played with the same people for four years now, and it’s great to play with the best people in Indiana. Everyone is on point and learned the offense so quickly.

“It has been an honor to play in both games.”

Bollman was not “targeted” very much in the South passing attack, but he knew that was the strategy and wasn’t disappointed.

“Our game plan was to run the ball, and I’m a run-blocking tight end,” he said. “I think I played fine. Our receivers did a good job and our quarterback did a good job. I just wish we could have come out with the W.”

While Bollman will continue his career this fall at Marian University in Indianapolis, Scott will not be playing college football and knew he had more at stake this summer than the many college-bound players.

“I knew these were my last two football games ever,” he said. “It’s sad. I’ve been playing all my life. I thought about it all my senior year, and I could have gone to play at a lot of DIII schools.

“It just wasn’t for me.”

Scott plans to try to get a job with Hendricks Cooperative Power and possibly become a lineman down the road.

“Going into the Wabash Valley game, I knew quite a few of those guys. I didn’t really know anyone coming into this game besides Gavin.

“By the end of the week, I was friends with a lot of guys and even with a county rival [Bollman].”

Bollman admits not knowing Scott very well prior to these two week-long all-star events, but is glad he got to know his rival.

“We hung out a lot both weeks,” Bollman said. “We were rivals before, but it was nice getting to know him and he’s a good guy.”

Scott knew the North-South game would easily be a huge step up in talent level considering its much bigger talent base.

“I knew going into the Wabash Valley game I could play with those guys and do pretty well,” he said. “When I got here, the guys were all a lot better. They are all good guys and it’s fun to compete with a lot better.”

He started at middle linebacker and also saw time on special teams, even dropping back into pass coverage on occasion.

“I think I played all right considering how good the talent was,” he said. “It was definitely different to be in pass coverage, after being a run-stopper in high school. I wish we could have gotten the win.”

Bollman reports to camp with Marian on Aug. 12, and is looking forward to the opportunity to continue his career.

He knows the two-week training camp will be tough, but is glad he had the two weeks of summer competition to get him ready.

“I will be playing tight end,” he said. “It will be a tough two weeks, but I’m ready for it and I’m excited.

“Almost every single person on our team this week is going on to play in college,” Bollman added. “It’s the best players from all over the state, and they just boost me up. I have to play better myself.”

North 25, South 24

North6361025
South7010724

N – Chris Harness 1 run (kick failed)

S – Trevor Larence 73 interception return (Cade Browndyke kick)

N – Chris VanEekeren 40 field goal

S – Browndyke 27 field goal

S – Logan Benson 24 pass from Liam Thompson (Browndyke kick)

N – Brian Jenkins 33 pass from Norman Knapke (run failed)

S – Jon Eineman 16 pass from Thompson (Browndyke kick)

N – Zack Merrill 24 run (VanEekeren kick)

N – VanEekeren 28 field goal

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