A lot of people are expected to be at Rensselaer this Friday night when the Bombers host Wheeler in the Class 2A Sectional 25 championship game. Slowly this game is turning into a fantastic small-school rivalry.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere for high school football," Rensselaer coach Chris Meeks said. "This game is what high school sports are all about."
The fact that Bombers running back Justin Bohannon will be there, in uniform and ready to play, was an unknown a year ago. Bohannon was actually benched last season for not bringing it every time he took the field.
"We needed to light a fire underneath him," Meeks said. "He wasn't giving us everything he had. It worked. He is now and he's done it all season."
Bohannon went over 1,000 yards for the season in Rensselaer's 64-6 win over Bowman Academy last Friday. He is one of only five senior starters for the Bombers.
This is the time of year where Bohannon has made a name for himself.
After being benched at the end of the regular season last year, Meeks inserted Bohannon into the starting lineup when sectionals started. He rushed 11 times for 159 yards in the 2008 sectional opener against Bishop Noll. He had 139 yards in a win over Winamac. He rushed for 59 yards in a win over North Judson in the sectional final.
And he had 79 yards in a regional loss to Lewis Cass.
"Coach knew how to work me," Bohannon said of Meeks. "He knew what buttons to push to make me be my best. Sitting out angered me. It made me work harder. I had my best game as a Bomber in the sectional opener."
Through 11 games this year Bohannon has carried the ball 164 times for 1,029 yards and has 16 touchdowns. He's caught 24 passes for 312 yards, two going for touchdowns.
The last time Rensselaer played Wheeler was in 2007, losing 12-0 in the sectional semifinal.
"We have to keep our heads up and play every down like it's our last because it could be," Bohannon said. "We have to go in and know that we can win this game."
For Meeks, he's expecting a great night of high school football and he knows Bohannon will be on the field. He's earned it.
"Justin did not know how talented he was," Meeks said. "He's come out with a vengeance. He's become our go-to guy and we'll need him. Wheeler is an extremely talented team. They have great skill players and a great line. It's going to be a war."
PREP FOOTBALL
CLASS 2A Sectional 25
Championship
Wheeler (11-0) at Rensselaer (9-2), 7 p.m. Friday.
Vote online
Who will win Friday's sectional final between Morton and Hobart? Vote at nwi.com/sports.
Talking prep pigskin at nwi.com
Join Times sportswriters Jim Peters and Nate Ulrich this Thursday at 7 p.m. on nwi.com for a one-hour chat on this week's prep football sectional finals.
