October 19, 2019 at 5:38 a.m.
Scoring surge
Jay County ends losing streak with 46-21 win over Heritage
Scoring surge
Through the first eight games, Jay County totaled 50 points.
They nearly eclipsed that with a trophy on the line in the last game of the regular season for the seniors.
Jay County High School’s football team had a complete game on offense and a dominant defense in thrashing the Heritage Patriots 46-21 on senior night Friday at Harold E. Schutz Stadium in the conference and regular-season finale for both teams.
“It’s obviously fantastic,” said JCHS coach Tim Millspaugh, whose team had lost its last nine games including going winless through the first eight games of the year for the first time in program history. “Every game certainly matters, but when you talk about the two games that are the most significant on the schedule, you have to win homecoming and you have to win senior night. Those two really matter.
“There’s no question what our senior class means to our team. I think it’s pretty obvious what our team thinks of our seniors.”
In the third year of its existence, the Patriot Trophy will stay with Jay County.
The Patriots (1-8, 1-5 Allen County Athletic Conference), who host the New Haven Bulldogs (5-3) in the opening round of the sectional tournament Friday, were stout offensively moving the ball on the ground.
Junior Bailey Cox, who had a career-high 204 rushing yards on 23 carries, opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter and the host Patriot rout was on as they never trailed. He also matched his jersey number with a TD from the 30 in the fourth quarter.
Quinn Faulkner, a sophomore, also had a career night with 133 yards on just 11 carries, including a 12-yard score in the third quarter for his first career touchdown.
Rylee Huftel finished with 64 yards on just seven carries, but he had second-quarter touchdowns of 11 and 20 yards.
“The offense definitely goes through those guys,” Millspaugh said. The Patriots had 412 yards on the ground. “I am very proud of our offensive line to be able to block our scheme.
“We changed our offense after week two, and getting them to understand exactly what they need to do in a new offense during the season is not easy but they did a nice job tonight.”
They nearly eclipsed that with a trophy on the line in the last game of the regular season for the seniors.
Jay County High School’s football team had a complete game on offense and a dominant defense in thrashing the Heritage Patriots 46-21 on senior night Friday at Harold E. Schutz Stadium in the conference and regular-season finale for both teams.
“It’s obviously fantastic,” said JCHS coach Tim Millspaugh, whose team had lost its last nine games including going winless through the first eight games of the year for the first time in program history. “Every game certainly matters, but when you talk about the two games that are the most significant on the schedule, you have to win homecoming and you have to win senior night. Those two really matter.
“There’s no question what our senior class means to our team. I think it’s pretty obvious what our team thinks of our seniors.”
In the third year of its existence, the Patriot Trophy will stay with Jay County.
The Patriots (1-8, 1-5 Allen County Athletic Conference), who host the New Haven Bulldogs (5-3) in the opening round of the sectional tournament Friday, were stout offensively moving the ball on the ground.
Junior Bailey Cox, who had a career-high 204 rushing yards on 23 carries, opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter and the host Patriot rout was on as they never trailed. He also matched his jersey number with a TD from the 30 in the fourth quarter.
Quinn Faulkner, a sophomore, also had a career night with 133 yards on just 11 carries, including a 12-yard score in the third quarter for his first career touchdown.
Rylee Huftel finished with 64 yards on just seven carries, but he had second-quarter touchdowns of 11 and 20 yards.
“The offense definitely goes through those guys,” Millspaugh said. The Patriots had 412 yards on the ground. “I am very proud of our offensive line to be able to block our scheme.
“We changed our offense after week two, and getting them to understand exactly what they need to do in a new offense during the season is not easy but they did a nice job tonight.”
On a 9-yard carry in the fourth quarter, Cox eclipsed his previous high of 158 yards, and his final touchdown run left it in the dust. But none of that mattered to him once the clock struck zeroes.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to get sick because I’m so excited. It’s just great to have it on senior night, the trophy game.
“I don’t even care about the stats. Just the win is sweet.”
And Jay County was able to sing the fight song at the end of a game for the first time this year.
“I’m just really, really proud of their effort and their attitude because when things aren’t easy it’s real easy to give up, to kick the dog, to blame other people,” Millspaugh said. “We’ve got a great group of kids and they continue to believe in each other and it really means a lot.”
Steady improvement defensively over the last three weeks culminated in a dominating effort Friday night against Heritage. Jay County had three interceptions — Huftel returned one 49 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter for the team’s first defensive score of the season — and recovered two fumbles.
Heritage had just 87 yards at halftime — it trailed 27-7 at that point — and finished with 254 for the game. But that total was not indicative of the JCHS defense, as 148 of it came on two plays. Kiel Eldridge scored on a 73-yard run on the first drive of the second half, and Gage Pritchard scampered 75 yards for a TD in the final minute of the game against Jay County’s reserves.
“Our defense is getting a lot better,” Millspaugh said.
In addition to his pick-6, Huftel added seven tackles. Sheldon Eley and Kess McBride also had interceptions, senior Charlie Brunswick and Cox teamed for the third-quarter safety and Brunswick also jumped on a loose ball for a fumble recovery.
“That group has been coming on of late, “Millspaugh added. “I mean, what a better time to get better … if you’re going to do anything in tournament you have to have a good defense. I am proud of that group.”
“It’s awesome,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to get sick because I’m so excited. It’s just great to have it on senior night, the trophy game.
“I don’t even care about the stats. Just the win is sweet.”
And Jay County was able to sing the fight song at the end of a game for the first time this year.
“I’m just really, really proud of their effort and their attitude because when things aren’t easy it’s real easy to give up, to kick the dog, to blame other people,” Millspaugh said. “We’ve got a great group of kids and they continue to believe in each other and it really means a lot.”
Steady improvement defensively over the last three weeks culminated in a dominating effort Friday night against Heritage. Jay County had three interceptions — Huftel returned one 49 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter for the team’s first defensive score of the season — and recovered two fumbles.
Heritage had just 87 yards at halftime — it trailed 27-7 at that point — and finished with 254 for the game. But that total was not indicative of the JCHS defense, as 148 of it came on two plays. Kiel Eldridge scored on a 73-yard run on the first drive of the second half, and Gage Pritchard scampered 75 yards for a TD in the final minute of the game against Jay County’s reserves.
“Our defense is getting a lot better,” Millspaugh said.
In addition to his pick-6, Huftel added seven tackles. Sheldon Eley and Kess McBride also had interceptions, senior Charlie Brunswick and Cox teamed for the third-quarter safety and Brunswick also jumped on a loose ball for a fumble recovery.
“That group has been coming on of late, “Millspaugh added. “I mean, what a better time to get better … if you’re going to do anything in tournament you have to have a good defense. I am proud of that group.”
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