‘Make them earn everything’

The Patriots snapped a six-year sectional drought, securing their first postseason win since 2017 on Oct. 25.

If they want to make their first sectional final appearance in 16 years, they will have to go through the Knights.

They know they will need a clean game and can’t beat themselves if they want a chance. While they are coming in as the underdogs, they are looking to utilize that mentality to set out for the upset.

The Jay County High School football team will take on the reigning Class 2A state champs Bishop Luers Knights on Friday in the IHSAA Class 3A Sectional 28 semifinal on Friday.

A victory for either team would advance them to Nov. 8’s sectional championship game hosted by the winner of Delta and Mississinewa. It would be the Knights’ first sectional appearance in Class 3A after moving up for competitive balance. If Jay County makes the final, it would be the first appearance since 2007 when Tim Millspaugh’s team beat Muncie South before falling to Bishop Dwenger in the regional. (The Knights have only missed the sectional championship game once in the same time span.)

According to JohnHarrell.net, Jay County comes in as 25-point underdogs, while Calpreps.com has the Knights winning 41-0.

“We’ve always been underrated,” said JCHS running back A.J. Myers. “Everyone thinks, ‘Look at the record, we’re 3-7.’ But look at our games. We play some really good teams and we’ve had some really close games with some really good teams. You’ve got to use that as motivation to keep yourself going every single day.”

Defensively, the Patriots (3-7) know they will have their hands full trying to contain the athleticism of Bishop Luers (6-4).

The Knights have found success both passing and running the ball, with the bulk of their touchdowns coming from the latter. 

While he has only had 15 touches since the BLHS loss to Bishop Dwenger in week No. 7, Daryea Williams leads the team with 149 carries for 983 yards and 11 touchdowns. While Williams has operated as a fullback the past three weeks, Dee Houge has played a bulk of the snaps as the tailback. Houge currently has 401 yards and three TDs on 49 carries.

“They’re pretty fast so it would be huge to stop them,” linebacker Isaac Dues said about dealing with the Knights’ run game. “Everyone just has to do their job.”

Bishop Luers also boasts a balanced passing game with five receivers catching the ball eight or more times and each having 110 yards or more. Daveon Surry leads the way with 17 receptions, 173 yards and one score. 

Jayce Whitehas manned the quarterback position for the Knights the past two games. He has completed 20-of-43 passing attempts for 295 yards and two TDs. Devin Patterson led BLHS under the center for a bulk of the year, completing 54-of-96 throws for 574 yards and four TDs.

“They’re athletic, they’ve got some burners at wide receiver and just speed everywhere,” said JCHS coach Grant Zgunda. “Defensively, giving up big plays has and that has been our Achilles heel all year. At critical times, we’ll give up a huge play and we can’t let those things happen.”

The Patriots will also have to deal with a defense that has sacked opponents 26 times, picked the ball off 21 times, recovered 10 fumbles and blocked three field goals.

During the season, the Patriots have been picked off eight times and lost nine of 19 fumbles.

“Their defense causes chaos,” Zgunda said. “They’ve got a defensive tackle that’s really good, speed everywhere, they blitz a lot. We’re going to have to deal with that if we’re going to win.”

Zgunda said a key to weathering the Knights’ defense will be finding a balance between throwing and running the ball. 

While Bishop Luers’ schedule includes plenty of tough opponents – like Class 4A No. 10 Leo, a 5A school in North Side and two 6A schools (Northrop and Homestead) – they have dropped a game to South Side, a team that hasn’t won more than two games since 2018.

“Anybody can beat anybody on any given night,” Zgunda said. “It sounds like coach speak but it’s really that simple, you’ve got to play clean offensively not not give them short field position.

“Let me put it this way, we’ve got to make them earn everything they get. That’s the sum of the whole thing. We can’t throw a pick-six or give up a kickoff return for a touchdown or a 70 yard pass play.”