Marian slams Jay Co. (10/18/2008)

MISHAWAKA - Just one letter will change in their opponent's name next week. The Patriots will hope to alter a lot more on the field.

The Jay County High School football team, which visits Marion in sectional action next week, went scoreless in the second half of a 49-20 defeat Friday to the host Marian Knights.

After trading scores with Marian early, the Patriots fell behind by 15 at halftime and never recovered. The Knights (3-6) posted single TDs in the third and fourth quarters while JCHS (3-6) was held scoreless and limited to just 46 total yards in the second half.

Jay County has given up at least 45 points in each of its six defeats this year.

Marian scored on its first possession of the game, but the Patriots needed just over a minute to pull even when Billy Wellman hit Ben Vance with a 21-yard TD pass. Again the Knights took a one-score lead only to have Dexter Shreve catch a 6-yard TD toss from Wellman to pull Jay County within 14-13 at the end of one quarter.

But in the second Marian took control, scoring three times while the Patriots were limted to a 37-yard TD connection from Wellman to Shreve.

The duo nearly had another score in the seocnd quarter when Shreve caught a deep pass and was tackled at the 1-yard line. But three plays later JCHS had slipped all the way back to the 19-yard line and went to the locker room trailing 35-20.

The Patriot offense sputtered after the intermission as the team picked up 289 of its 335 total yards in the first half. Wellman tossed for 250 yards with Shreve as the leading receiver. JCHS ran for 85 yards, most of which came from junior Michael Daniels.

Matt Thomas and Paul Ogren led the Marion offense, which racked up 345 rushing yards. The Patriots gave up more than 450 rushing yards last week in their loss to Greenville.

Marian cornerback Ryan Kubacki completed the only two passes he attempted, both to Ogren, for 57 yards.

Jay County's sectional game at Marion will be its fourth straight on the road.

[[In-content Ad]]