Jay Co. win extends season (10/25/03)

PORTLAND — One more week. That’s all Jay County football coach Shane Hill was asking for.

The Patriots earned themselves another week Friday night, using a trio of big plays to make the difference in a 34-12 victory over the Connersville Spartans in first-round sectional action.

Now Hill will have the same request next Friday. One more week.

“The tournament is about survive and advance,” he said. “That’s what we did tonight. We did it in pretty convincing fashion, but there are some things we need to correct.

“It ‘s always good to live and play another day.”

The victory sets up a date at Muncie Southside (3-7) Friday night in the sectional semifinal round. The Rebels beat Greenfield Central (2-8) in their first-round game Friday 42-15.

Jay County lost to Muncie Southside during the regular season, 21-12.

“We’ve just got to play hard,” said Steven Castillo, who rushed for 84 yards on 11 carries and anchored the Jay County defense. “We have to come in ready to work Monday. No one is excited to get this season over.

“We actually have some confidence now, so that’ll help us.”

The Patriots built that confidence with their first back-to-back victories of the season and their second 20-plus point victory over Connersville. Jay County defeated the Spartans 33-7 during the regular season.

This tilt between the two teams started somewhat similarly to the first with Connersville grabbing the lead. It also ended similarly, with the red and blue controlling most of the rest of the game.

Alex Loucks scored on a 2-yard run with 2:13 left in the first quarter, and Adam Foster found Adam May uncovered on the Patriots’ offset point-after-touchdown play for the 8-6 lead.

The Patriots never trailed again, thanks to three mammoth second-quarter touchdowns.

After a Connersville punt to open the second quarter, Justin Gilbert ran for negative-four yards. It looked like he was in store for a similar total on the next carry, but came out the opposite side of the pile and flew 63 yards for the touchdown.

Not to be outdone, senior Alex Loucks ripped off a 68-yard scoring run on the third play of the next drive to make the score 20-6 with 4:43 to go in the half.

Connersville closed the gap to eight points, moving the ball on a 61-yard drive which ended on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Dominic Woodward.

However, Gilbert quickly handed Jay County back the comfortable lead. He took the ensuing kickoff 91 yards down the right sideline, and Trent Bailey added the extra point for the 27-12 lead.

The Spartans still nearly scored again, but failed on three tries to put the ball in the end zone from the 7-yard line as time expired.

“(During) the first run I got held up a few times,” said Gilbert. “I just ran my legs as hard as I could and broke the tackles.

“(On the kickoff return) I saw an open hole. I ran right by Adam Foster, who had a nice block.”

Connersville had chances to get back in the game in the second half, but couldn’t hold onto the ball. The Spartans (1-8) moved the ball to the Jay County 33-yard line on their first drive of the second half only to have a Kyle Miller pass intercepted by Gilbert.

It marked the first of four Connersville turnovers in the second half.

The Spartans later tried to go to a funky formation which featured four receivers on one side, but it didn’t work. The Patriots put constant pressure on quarterbacks Joe Gesell and Miller to force hurried and off-balance passes.

“We hurt them really bad in the end when they went to five wide receivers,” said Castillo. “They had less players in to block me and Corey Comer.”

Coach Hill agreed: “We had used that defensive front against Broad Ripple. It was very effective. With Comer and Castillo on the outside — I don’t know too many defensive tackles that can keep up with them.”

The Patriots scored a final touchdown on a 1-yard run by Cory Locke in the third quarter for the final margin.

Loucks finished with 90 yards on 12 carries, putting him over 900 yards for the season. Jay County ran 44 times as a team for 246 yards.

Connersville actually won the yardage battle on the night 340-280. It also had two more first downs than the Patriots, but lost the game by allowing the big plays and turnovers.

The Spartans were led by senior do-everything man Kyle Miller. He ran 17 times for 137 yards, completed three passes for 79 yards and even caught one pass for three yards.

Tanner Cox and Woodward each added 35 yards rushing. Caleb Lutz had two receptions for 58 yards.[[In-content Ad]]