Stormed out

WOODBURN — The Patriots went through their offensive game plan Friday night.

The defense got some work too. As did the special teams.

It just happened to be indoors. In a gymnasium. Against teammates.

The Jay County High School football team never got to put its pads on Friday night as thunderstorms in the northeastern part of the state canceled most games in the area, including the Patriots’ matchup with the host Woodlan Warriors.

The game is rescheduled for 4 p.m. today.

“We don’t control the weather,” said JCHS coach Tim Millspaugh. “If this game was at our place it would probably be over. That’s Mother Nature.

“Our kids were ready to play tonight. We utilized our time with our team really well in the gym. I really feel like our kids were ready. It is what it is.”

The Patriots never got to warm up on the field as storms rolled through the area before 6 p.m.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” senior lineman Trevor Shaneyfelt said. “Rather just play tonight and get it over with.”

Regulated to a gymnasium, Jay County had time to sit back and relax.

Some took advantage, while some chose not to.

Sophomore Sam Dunlavy was throwing passes with a few teammates. Others were huddled along the baseline, while even more were peppered sitting and lying throughout bleachers. A handful of them had their phones out, and even more were near the gym entrance checking out the skies.

Shortly after the originally scheduled kickoff — 7 p.m. — Millspaugh instructed the team to line up and go through drills.

First was the offense.

Trap left. Power toss right. Quick hitch right. Players zoomed by and Dunlavy zipped passes to his receivers.

Then it was time for the defense. After that the third phase of the game got some work.

“I really feel like the kids did a really nice job in there,” Millspaugh said. “We let them have some time … I really feel like we were very productive and I feel like the kids were focused. I was really, really pleased with that.”

Shaneyfelt, one of the team’s captains, agreed.

“I feel like we handled (the delay) pretty good,” he said. “I feel like we could have handled it a lot worse.

“I felt like we stayed pretty positive the whole time.”

Shortly after 9 p.m., following a delay of more than two hours, while nearby Leo had already canceled its game with Bellmont, athletics directors for both schools decided to call this one a night.

The last time Jay County had a game postponed was during the 2016 season on the road at Blackford. The Patriots were leading the Bruins 14-0 late in the first quarter before it was pushed to a Saturday. The Patriots won that contest 48-6.

A year earlier, Jay County and Delta never got to kick off before their game at Harold E. Schutz Stadium was delayed. Storms early in the day made the field unplayable, but a day later it was fine. Delta won that one, 63-0.

Heritage, Fort Wayne South Side, Bishop Luers, New Haven and as far north as Churubusco also postponed their respective games to today.