Grand scheme (10/20/05)

It was a good feeling for the Patriots three seasons ago when then-senior Alex Loucks went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark. This year they’re likely to experience it twice.

Justin Gilbert has already cleared 1,000 yards, reaching the milestone as he racked up 156 yards on just 13 carries in Friday night’s 44-26 victory over South Dearborn.

Steven Castillo needs just 37 yards in Friday night’s sectional quarterfinal game at Pendleton Heights to give him 1,000 yards for the season as well.

The senior running back duo has been key to the Patriots winning their most regular-season games since 1988 and hoping to make a tournament run.

“It opens the play book wide open,” said JCHS coach Shane Hill of having two star backs. “... The defense is the one making all the adjustments instead of us making adjustments to what the defense is doing because we have the ability to go either direction at any point in time. Both of them have the ability to break it. Defenses can’t overload one side thinking that’s where we’re going to go because if they do we’ll just hit ’em on the other side.

“The thing that I think they both share in common is that they want the other one to be successful. Because of that, they have to lead block for each other, and without lead blocking for each other I don’t think either of them would be as good as they are right now.”

The players took different paths to their big 2005 seasons.

Gilbert transferred to Jay County in 2003 and gained 231 yards as the No. 3 back during his sophomore season.

Castillo, who picked up 561 yards behind Loucks in ’03, took the starting job in 2004. He was on pace for an excellent season, but played in just two full games after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first half against Southern Wells.

That opened the door for Gilbert, who went on to rush for 603 yards in six games.

Castillo’s return from injury this year has given them both a chance to shine.

“(It’s) awesome,” said Castillo of being back on the field, “especially in my senior year. If (the injury) happened my senior year I don’t even know what I’d be doing right now, but it’s nice to be able to come back.

“Last year when Justin stepped up and started playing it was cool because he showed he could do just as well as I can. Now that we’re together it’s awesome because we’re competing with each other every day.”

The pair can likely claim the title of best backfield duo in Jay County history, and not only because of their matching 1,000-yard milestones.

With Castillo watching in 2004, Gilbert ran for more than 200 yards in a game on two different occasions. He picked up 202 yards against Muncie Southside, and torched South Dearborn for 204 yards in the regular-season finale.

Castillo ran for 200 yards in this season’s thrilling 45-44 overtime victory over Anderson Highland.

They are two of just four backs in Patriot history, joining Jeff Alberson (1977) and Robin Finch (1981), to rush for more than 200 yards in a single game.

After practice Thursday, each player talked about what makes the other special.

“(His) moves,” said Gilbert of Castillo. “He makes a lot more moves than I do, more effectively.”

“Justin’s faster than me,” Castillo said. “I think Justin looks for holes down the field more and then he kind of sets it into his mind that he’s going to get to that hole no matter what.”

They have each gone over 100 yards rushing in the same game on four occasions this season.

“If they key on me, Steven’s going to get big yards,” Gilbert said. “If they key on him, I’m going to get big yards.

“They can’t key on both of us.”

As they always do after their big rushing efforts, Gilbert and Castillo credited the offensive line with much of their success.

They said while their line isn’t very big, they are smart about what they do. And they fire off the ball hard to open holes for their running backs.

“The offensive line has gotten a lot better,” said Hill. “The big thing ... is because they’re smarter. ... we’re smarter about the game this year. We’re smarter about what the defense is trying to do to us and we take advantage of that.”

In addition to their 1,000-yard seasons, both backs have a chance to go over 2,000 career yards. Unofficial totals have Gilbert with 1,864 career yards while Castillo has gained 1,758.

And with Castillo looking so close to the 1,000-yard mark it would be easy to understand if statistics were on their minds.

But when asked what they want to do Friday night when they play at Pendleton Heights in the first round of sectional play, yardage was not high on the list. Castillo answered simply, and with a phrase every coach loves to hear.

“We expect to help our team every way we can,” he said.[[In-content Ad]]