Andrean quarterback Dylan Gore anticipated any eventuality for the showdown against Griffith in their Class 3A sectional quarterfinal on Friday.
The 6-foot, 180-pound junior delivered as the opportunity arose.
“It’s just a lot of preparation throughout the week — watching a lot of film, all our guys working hard day in and day out, communicating,” Gore said. “We didn’t necessarily know what to expect from an offensive standpoint on what they were going to give us. So we just had to be ready for everything.
“We came out firing, and we just kept going.”
Indeed, Gore connected with junior wide receiver Tyler Vo for a 76-yard TD on the 59ers’ first play from scrimmage.
Gore ended up completing 15 of 22 pass attempts for a career-high 309 yards and two touchdowns as Andrean, which is ranked No. 3 in the 3A state coaches poll, pulled away from the No. 9 Panthers for a 38-20 victory in Merrillville.
“Dylan gave me the perfect ball,” Vo said. “We practiced it a lot throughout the whole week too.”
Gore actually was perfect in the second half, completing all seven of his passes, including a 12-yard TD to junior linebacker/tight end Vinny Zsuppon.
Also for the 59ers (9-1), senior linebacker/running back Ethan Reyna, a Purdue recruit, rushed for two TDs, including a 26-yarder with 2:48 left in the third quarter that snapped a 20-20 tie. Junior linebacker/running back Javier McCoy, another high-level Division I prospect, had a TD run, as well, and freshman running back MJ Kull capped the scoring against the Panthers (9-1) with a 30-yard scamper.
During Andrean’s Northwest Crossroads Conference title-clinching victory against Lowell in the final regular-season game, the nasty weather conditions contributed to Gore completing 8 of 12 pass attempts for 97 yards, all season lows.
On a glorious night a week later, Gore exhibited his true ability, which helped him land an offer from Tennessee-Martin over the summer. He has continued to impress Andrean coach Chris Skinner, who notched the 100th victory of his career.
“I do think he has that quarterback moxie,” Skinner said. “I’ve talked about this before. He just has that kind of ‘it’ factor that you want in a quarterback. It’s kind of a blend of confidence that doesn’t breach into arrogance. But it’s confidence in your ability. It’s confidence in your receivers. As a quarterback, sometimes you have to make some throws, have to cut it loose. You have to trust that your talent is going to deliver the ball where it needs to be and that receiver’s going to make a catch. So we made some big-time throws.
“This was a unique challenge in just the way that they bring pressure. At times, we didn’t handle it well. But I thought in general, Dylan did a good job of distributing the football, making good reads, not holding onto the ball too long, and that’s a credit to coaches, too, because we tried our best to prepare for kind of all the different looks they would give us.”
Gore is getting his first look as Andrean’s full-time starter after sharing reps last season with then-senior Brady Elish as the 59ers won the Class 2A state championship.
Gore entered the game against Griffith having completed 152 of 223 pass attempts for 1,671 yards and 17 TDs with just one interception. He completed 77 of 112 passes for 930 yards and eight TDs with three interceptions last season.
“It’s been a lot,” Gore said. “I’ve had to really take the reins. I’m trying to learn to be a better leader, and I think I’m doing all right. I just have to make sure all the guys know what they’re doing. Last year, I was on the sideline just watching half the time so I can see what’s going on. But now I really have to make time when the defense has the ball to go over the film and see what they’re doing and just adjust from there.
“My pocket presence is getting a lot better. Coach Skinner has been helping me out a lot in practice, getting on me when I’m bailing too early. So I think I’ve grown a lot just staying in the pocket a little bit, trying to deliver the ball with pressure.”
Vo, who had seven catches for 195 yards, has seen the strides Gore has made.
“He’s improved a lot,” Vo said. “Ever since last year, he was good, but now he’s taking command. He’s a very good leader on and off the field. I have math class with him, and he’s just a good leader. I love him to death.
“After every assignment, we talk to each other about it. I’m good buddies with him, and we’re like this (crossing his fingers). We have good chemistry together.”
The 59ers, who will play Benton Central (1-8) in a sectional semifinal, largely contained Desmond Neylon. Griffith’s star senior running back had 121 yards and two TDs, including a 41-yard burst, on 35 carries. He added a 9-yard TD reception from senior quarterback Ryan Bullion, who threw for 171 yards.
There was no containing Gore.
“I’m truly blessed,” he said. “I have a great, great receiving corps, great O-line. I have, like, eight running backs, and they’re all great. I am truly blessed as a quarterback. I couldn’t do anything I do without them. It’s great.”