July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Huge 2nd half powers Patriots (10/16/05)
JCHS football
By By MIKE SNYDER-
AURORA — A second-half response to a first-half whipping has given the Jay County Patriots their best regular-season record in nearly two decades and plenty of momentum heading into the postseason.
The Patriots, who were fortunate to trail by only nine points after a lackluster opening two quarters, used three Justin Gilbert touchdowns in the third quarter (and four for the game) along with a rejuvenated defensive effort to roll to a 44-26 victory over the South Dearborn Knights Friday night.
Jay County, which finishes with its first six-win regular season since 1988 and only its second winning record since that same year, turned what looked like a long and disappointing three-hour bus trip home into a joyride. After a week of preparation, the Patriots will open sectional play Friday at Pendleton Heights.
JCHS coach Shane Hill, who was doused with ice water shortly after a quick post-game chat with his team, couldn’t pick between the efforts of the offense and defense in the second half.
“Both sides of the ball got punched in the mouth (in the first half) and the kids just responded,” he said. “We didn’t do anything differently, the kids just responded.”
That response came on both sides of the ball, with Gilbert, who picked up 156 yards on just 13 carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, leading the offensive charge. Quarterback Cory Locke was also extremely effective in limited chances through the air, hitting on 9-of-12 attempts for 129 yards and three scores. Locke also converted two crucial fourth down passes to wideout Josh Glessner.
Gilbert scored three touchdowns in a span of 7:12 during the third period — including a 5-yard pass from Locke and TD runs of 32 and 66 yards. The 32-yard score at 3:11 put Jay County ahead 28-23 — plenty of cushion for a defense that transformed itself from porous in the first half to punishing in the second.
The JCHS defense, which was rattled and ineffective for much of the opening two periods against a no-huddle offense by the host Knights gave up only three first downs in the second half and came up with a crucial stop late in the third period after South Dearbon (3-6) had first-and-goal at the 7. Gilbert made a touchdown-saving tackle of the Knights’ Brett Redwine and the JCHS defense clamped down and forced a field goal, leaving them ahead by a 28-26 margin.
Gilbert shook loose for his 66-yard score less than a minute later to give the Patriots a cushion they easily held.
The JCHS defense had interceptions from Clint Muhlenkamp, Chris Elmore and Micah Enyart.
“You responded tremendously. Tremendously,” Hill said at mid-field to his team as they gathered around him after shaking hands with the Knights. “If this doesn’t carry us over to sectional, I don’t know what will.”[[In-content Ad]]
The Patriots, who were fortunate to trail by only nine points after a lackluster opening two quarters, used three Justin Gilbert touchdowns in the third quarter (and four for the game) along with a rejuvenated defensive effort to roll to a 44-26 victory over the South Dearborn Knights Friday night.
Jay County, which finishes with its first six-win regular season since 1988 and only its second winning record since that same year, turned what looked like a long and disappointing three-hour bus trip home into a joyride. After a week of preparation, the Patriots will open sectional play Friday at Pendleton Heights.
JCHS coach Shane Hill, who was doused with ice water shortly after a quick post-game chat with his team, couldn’t pick between the efforts of the offense and defense in the second half.
“Both sides of the ball got punched in the mouth (in the first half) and the kids just responded,” he said. “We didn’t do anything differently, the kids just responded.”
That response came on both sides of the ball, with Gilbert, who picked up 156 yards on just 13 carries to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, leading the offensive charge. Quarterback Cory Locke was also extremely effective in limited chances through the air, hitting on 9-of-12 attempts for 129 yards and three scores. Locke also converted two crucial fourth down passes to wideout Josh Glessner.
Gilbert scored three touchdowns in a span of 7:12 during the third period — including a 5-yard pass from Locke and TD runs of 32 and 66 yards. The 32-yard score at 3:11 put Jay County ahead 28-23 — plenty of cushion for a defense that transformed itself from porous in the first half to punishing in the second.
The JCHS defense, which was rattled and ineffective for much of the opening two periods against a no-huddle offense by the host Knights gave up only three first downs in the second half and came up with a crucial stop late in the third period after South Dearbon (3-6) had first-and-goal at the 7. Gilbert made a touchdown-saving tackle of the Knights’ Brett Redwine and the JCHS defense clamped down and forced a field goal, leaving them ahead by a 28-26 margin.
Gilbert shook loose for his 66-yard score less than a minute later to give the Patriots a cushion they easily held.
The JCHS defense had interceptions from Clint Muhlenkamp, Chris Elmore and Micah Enyart.
“You responded tremendously. Tremendously,” Hill said at mid-field to his team as they gathered around him after shaking hands with the Knights. “If this doesn’t carry us over to sectional, I don’t know what will.”[[In-content Ad]]
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