July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Date is within reach (10/25/07)
JCHS football
Date is within reach (10/25/07)
By By RAY COONEY-
11-02-07.
It's just another day on the calendar.
But for the Jay County High School football team, it's something more.
The Patriots have had it highlighted since about this time last year.
It's the day they've been counting down to.
Lest they forget, it's even been stamped on the back of their practice T-shirts.
That date represents the sectional championship game, a goal that has eluded JCHS since the program has returned to a winning tradition in recent years.
"We've talked about the excitement of playing in a sectional championship game," said Patriot coach Shane Hill, "but that doesn't matter if we don't beat New Castle."
Hill and his Jay County team know that from experience.
Opening round playoff wins and sectional semifinal games have been regular in Hill's first five years at the helm of the Patriots. They have been their four times, losing 6-0 to Muncie Central a year ago, 28-6 at Delta in 2005, 36-12 against Muncie Southside in 2003 and 20-0 versus Central in 2002.
But it's that sectional championship game, the one Jay County has played in just twice - and never won - in 32 years of school history, that they have set their sights on. It's the Trojans who stand in the way - the teams meet in semifinal action Friday at New Castle at 7 p.m. - and it's no secret what needs to be accomplished to earn a victory.
"Defensively, we have to stop their two running backs," said senior lineman Kaleb Hemmelgarn. "That's their offense. They love to run the ball."
New Castle (4-6) keeps the ball on the ground more than 75 percent of the time, using a pair of strong backs.
Andre Turner is their No. 1 runner, and one of the elite backs in the state. His 1,332 yards rank 17th in all of Indiana, and he has also racked up 13 touchdowns, including three in last week's 42-36 sectional quarterfinal victory over Pendleton Heights in overtime.
He is paired with Andrew Alford, who has picked up 657 yards and 10 TDs on 112 carries.
"Their running backs are really good," said Hill. "They've been around for quite a while in coach Warren Cook's system over there. He's had them since they've been in middle school ...
"We're really going to have to shut (Turner and Alford) down offensively. That's really what they hang their hat on."
That could be a good thing for Jay County.
The Patriot defense, led by junior linebacker Lance Franklin (110 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions), has been stout against the run all season. It limited Muncie Central to just 84 yards on 31 carries - that's just 2.7 yards per attempt - in last week's 49-29 sectional quarterfinal win.
At the same time, Jay County has greatly improved its own rushing attack over the last few games. Integrating the read option with quarterback Billy Wellman, the team picked up 180 yards in the regular-season finale against Greenfield-Central. Then it gouged Muncie Central for more than 300 yards on the ground in the sectional opener.
"We had to kind of revert to running it more," said senior Michael Jobe, who joined Wellman and Franklin in clearing 100 yards against the Bearcats, noting the injuries to the receiving corp. "I think that's made us stronger."
The Patriots will still be without Adam Garringer this week thanks to a concussion suffered in the second half at Greenfield-Central. However, Brandon Reynard will return to the lineup after missing the Muncie Central game because of an illness.
Senior Aaron Daniels, primarily a defensive back, is questionable for Friday night after injuring his hip against the Bearcats.
But there is no question about where the Patriots would play the sectional championship game if they can get past New Castle. The sectional final, whether it be against Muncie Southside or Class 4A No. 9 Delta, would be at Harold E. Schutz Stadium.
"Being at home is a big motivation for us," said Hill. "To be able to bring that sort of atmosphere to our school is very exciting for our team and for our community. ... It would be exciting to be at home."
Hemmelgarn relishes the opportunity as well.
"I think it would put us in an elite category," he said. "To be able to come home and play in front of a home crowd, that's a great opportunity.
"We had two good practices this week. The No. 1 thing is we're confident in ourselves."
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It's just another day on the calendar.
But for the Jay County High School football team, it's something more.
The Patriots have had it highlighted since about this time last year.
It's the day they've been counting down to.
Lest they forget, it's even been stamped on the back of their practice T-shirts.
That date represents the sectional championship game, a goal that has eluded JCHS since the program has returned to a winning tradition in recent years.
"We've talked about the excitement of playing in a sectional championship game," said Patriot coach Shane Hill, "but that doesn't matter if we don't beat New Castle."
Hill and his Jay County team know that from experience.
Opening round playoff wins and sectional semifinal games have been regular in Hill's first five years at the helm of the Patriots. They have been their four times, losing 6-0 to Muncie Central a year ago, 28-6 at Delta in 2005, 36-12 against Muncie Southside in 2003 and 20-0 versus Central in 2002.
But it's that sectional championship game, the one Jay County has played in just twice - and never won - in 32 years of school history, that they have set their sights on. It's the Trojans who stand in the way - the teams meet in semifinal action Friday at New Castle at 7 p.m. - and it's no secret what needs to be accomplished to earn a victory.
"Defensively, we have to stop their two running backs," said senior lineman Kaleb Hemmelgarn. "That's their offense. They love to run the ball."
New Castle (4-6) keeps the ball on the ground more than 75 percent of the time, using a pair of strong backs.
Andre Turner is their No. 1 runner, and one of the elite backs in the state. His 1,332 yards rank 17th in all of Indiana, and he has also racked up 13 touchdowns, including three in last week's 42-36 sectional quarterfinal victory over Pendleton Heights in overtime.
He is paired with Andrew Alford, who has picked up 657 yards and 10 TDs on 112 carries.
"Their running backs are really good," said Hill. "They've been around for quite a while in coach Warren Cook's system over there. He's had them since they've been in middle school ...
"We're really going to have to shut (Turner and Alford) down offensively. That's really what they hang their hat on."
That could be a good thing for Jay County.
The Patriot defense, led by junior linebacker Lance Franklin (110 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions), has been stout against the run all season. It limited Muncie Central to just 84 yards on 31 carries - that's just 2.7 yards per attempt - in last week's 49-29 sectional quarterfinal win.
At the same time, Jay County has greatly improved its own rushing attack over the last few games. Integrating the read option with quarterback Billy Wellman, the team picked up 180 yards in the regular-season finale against Greenfield-Central. Then it gouged Muncie Central for more than 300 yards on the ground in the sectional opener.
"We had to kind of revert to running it more," said senior Michael Jobe, who joined Wellman and Franklin in clearing 100 yards against the Bearcats, noting the injuries to the receiving corp. "I think that's made us stronger."
The Patriots will still be without Adam Garringer this week thanks to a concussion suffered in the second half at Greenfield-Central. However, Brandon Reynard will return to the lineup after missing the Muncie Central game because of an illness.
Senior Aaron Daniels, primarily a defensive back, is questionable for Friday night after injuring his hip against the Bearcats.
But there is no question about where the Patriots would play the sectional championship game if they can get past New Castle. The sectional final, whether it be against Muncie Southside or Class 4A No. 9 Delta, would be at Harold E. Schutz Stadium.
"Being at home is a big motivation for us," said Hill. "To be able to bring that sort of atmosphere to our school is very exciting for our team and for our community. ... It would be exciting to be at home."
Hemmelgarn relishes the opportunity as well.
"I think it would put us in an elite category," he said. "To be able to come home and play in front of a home crowd, that's a great opportunity.
"We had two good practices this week. The No. 1 thing is we're confident in ourselves."
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