Scouting Merrillville: Dual threat quarterback Michael Hill and track star receiver Mikel Smoot just two of the many burners who will test Chesterton’s defense tonight at Merrillville
The leading receivers for each team in tonight’s Chesterton at Merrillville football game, Louis Raffin, left, and Mikel Smoot. Raffin took third at this DAC race and Smoot placed second.
Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com
Chesterton senior reserve safety and special teams standout Alex Zairis said he and teammates all were asking each other the same question after a JV game vs. Merrillville a year ago: “What’s this guy doing playing in the JV game?”
By “this guy,” Zairis meant Pirates junior dual-threat quarterback Michael Hill, who rushed the ball once in the varsity game a year ago that was won by Merrillville, 29-23. Hill, who wears No. 3, not only is a varsity player this season, he has been among the top offensive players in the DAC this season.
Hill has rushed for 509 yards and six touchdowns and averages 9.4 yards per carry, and his running ability ranks a distant second to passing in the list of many ways he helps the Pirates (6-2 overall, 5-1 in the DAC) average 39.5 points per game.
Hill has completed 67.1% of his passes, thrown for 2,367 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has been intercepted seven times and averages 9.3 yards per pass attempt. Defenses are left to pick their poison scheming against Hill since he averages more than 9 yards every time he handles the ball either as a rusher or passer.
Hill’s most productive receiver is No. 5, Mikel Smoot, who averages 16.3 yards on his 42 receptions, 10 of which have been touchdowns. Smoot also plays defensive back, so it’s possible he will cover Chesterton’s leading receiver Louis Raffin at times. The two burners know each other from track season, when they both qualified for the state meet at the same regional meet. Smoot took second in the regional with a 48.46 in the open 400 meters, and Raffin placed third with a 49.40.
Hill also banks heavily on No. 21, Cameron Jordan, both handing him the football and throwing it to him. Jordan has rushed for 324 yards and three touchdowns and amassed 624 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
Senior Jac’Quarious Johnson, No. 2, leads the Pirates in rushing yards (598) and touchdowns (seven) and averages 7 yards per carry.
Merrillville is ranked No. 6 in the state 5A poll and is No. 23 in the state in the Sagarin rankings listed on johnharrell.net, which has Chesterton at No. 65.