Sectional opener is Friday

Jay County Patriots

Portland, 1-8

Coach: Tim Millspaugh, seventh year

Conference: Allen County

Last week vs. Heritage: After scoring 50 points combined through its first eight games, Jay County picked up its first win of the season with a 46-21 victory against the Heritage Patriots. Bailey Cox had 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Rylee Huftel had two rushing TDs and a pick-6 and Quinn?Faulkner recorded 133 rushing yards. Sheldon?Eley and Kess McBride also had interceptions, while Braden McIntire and Charlie?Brunswick recovered fumbles.

Season leaders: Passing — Sam Dunlavy (injured) – 18-of-53 for 271 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions. Rushing — Bailey?Cox – 142 carries for 781 yards and seven touchdowns. Receiving — Bailey Cox – four catches for 78 yards. Defense — Kess McBride – 53 tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception.



vs.



New Haven Bulldogs

New Haven, 4-5

Coach: Jimmy Linn, second year

Conference: Northeast Eight

Last week at Huntington North: New Haven scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters in rolling to a 35-7 road victory over conference rival Huntington North. Jakar Williams had 249 yards passing with four touchdowns, two each to Jamarr Hutchins (five catches, 155 yards)?and Lamarr Hutchins (three catches, 56 yards). Jamarr Hutchins’ two scores were of 55 and 57 yards respectively

Season leaders: Passing — Jakar Williams – 99-of-196 for 1,345 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Rushing — D’Andre Wright – 92 carries for 386 yards and two touchdowns. Receiving — Jamarr Hutchins – 34 catches for 528 yards and six touchdowns. Defense — D’Andre Wright – 54 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.



Last meeting: Te’Vaughn Hurse rushed for nearly 250 yards and four touchdowns on just 10 carries in leading the Bulldogs to a 73-14 victory on Oct. 22, 2010, in the first round of the sectional tournament. Hurse, who later attended a junior college in Minnesota before transferring to Winston-Salem State in North Carolina, was the state’s second-leading rusher that season. The Bulldogs had a 42-0 advantage in the second quarter and went into halftime leading 59-7. Cade Price had an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown for JCHS, and Zach Cash scored late in the fourth quarter for the Patriots.

Game notes: This is the fifth meeting all-time between Jay County and New Haven and the third straight in the playoffs. The Bulldogs won back-to-back games against the Patriots in 2009 and ’10, with Jay County’s wins coming in 1976 and ’77 ... New Haven has won its first sectional game each of the last 11 seasons, whereas JCHS?has won its first playoff contest twice since the program’s only sectional championship in 2007 ... Jay County averages 10.7 points per game offensively — including getting shut out three times — and allows 37.2 PPG?on defense. New Haven scores 25.1 PPG?and gives up 23.8 PPG, and has won four out of its last five games after starting the season with four consecutive losses ... The Bulldogs boast a 55.4 Sagarin rating, which is 111th overall and 24th in Class 4A, while Jay County sports a 16.88 rating, good for 264th overall and 55th in Class 4A ... John Harrell’s website predicts a 38-14 New Haven victory, while Calpreps.com lists the Bulldogs as 37-point favorites.