Quick play key for Jay (09/26/2008)

A year ago Isaac Poole scored the game-winning goal in overtime of the Patriots' sectional semifinal game against Blackford.

Then he scored the game-tying goal with less than two minutes to play in the sectional championship game versus South Adams to force overtime.

He drew on that experience Thursday night.

Poole didn't score the game-winner, but his quick thinking led to Patrick Johnson's goal as the host Jay County High School boys soccer team defeated the Marion Giants 3-2.

"We were caught off guard," said Marion coach Jorge Berry. "The thing is, we should be more experienced. Everybody just watched what happened. Unfortunately that's a tough lesson to learn, but maybe we'll learn from this and it'll make us better in the end."

The game between the host Patriots and the Marion Giants was deadlocked at two when the visitors were called for a foul with about one minute on the clock. Instead of waiting for the offense, or defense, to get set up, Poole played the ball quickly as he sent a pass to Patrick Johnson.

The Giants were left scrambling to get in position while Johnson's shot went off the left post and in for the game-winning goal.

"We talk about that all the time," said JCHS coach Alan Bailey. "Actually I would have like to seen a fast ball out here out of Joe (Rasmussen earlier in the game), but it didn't happen. We talk about ... getting that ball down and playing it fast. It was a perfect opportunity and it worked. ... It was a nice heads up play by Isaac."

Johnson's score, his second of the game, came with just 53 seconds left as Jay County avoided a second straight tie. After opening with nine consecutive wins, the Patriots settled for a 1-1 tie Saturday at Centerville.

They face another stiff challenge this Saturday as they visit Olympic Athletic Conference rival Anderson Highland at 10 a.m.

"10-0-1 doesn't mean anything unless we get that W Saturday," said Bailey. "That conference means everything right now."

Marion controlled the early minutes of each half, scoring the game's opening goal less than two minutes after the opening kickoff. It took the Patriots until the final two minutes of the half to really get its offense going, just missing on three great scoring opportunities before Johnson converted his first goal of the game.

That came just before halftime as he took the ball on another pass from Poole, this time near midfield on the right side. He worked toward the middle, eventually getting past Marion senior Gabe Waigram and firing past goalie DavRon Williams to even the score just 43 seconds before halftime.

A pass from Waigram helped give the Giants the lead again with 22:16 to go in the second half as Cortland Weatherspoon deflected the ball inside the left post.

Just minutes later Williams made a sliding save toward the right post, deflecting the second of three Patriot shots. But that effort was not enough. On the ensuing play, Trey Dunn used a header from Johnson's corner kick from the left side to tie the game with 19:32 to go.

Johnson scored again in the final minute of the game off Poole's quick kick to lift the Patriots.

"That's the sign of a winner, when you're relentless like that," said Bailey. "We could have died ... when we went down 2-1. But the kids just down stop ... That's what I like about this bunch of kids."

Johnson had three of Jay County's 10 shots on goal as he contributed to each of his team's three scores. Dunn added two shots, and Poole, Rasmussen, Brad Horn, Aldo Castro and Jeremiah Cotherman each added one.

"Alan's got a great squad this year," said Berry. "I didn't realize they were 9-0-1. Now they're 10-0-1. I'm not going to give any excuses. Their kids play with a lot of heart."

Marion had just three shots on goal, but converted on two of them. Adam Daniels made one save.

Junior varsity

The Giants took a one-goal victory, knocking off Jay County 2-1.

Lance Louth scored the lone goal for the Patriots on an assist from Aaron McLaughlin.

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