Third-ranked Central ends Jay County's year (10/23/04)

MUNCIE — The big Delaware County rivals will come to a clash again next weekend when the undefeated Muncie Central Bearcats visit the undefeated Delta Eagles. It comes at the expense of Jay County.

The Patriots struggled offensively all night, losing 32-6 in the first round of sectional action to host Muncie Central.

No. 4 Delta rolled over winless New Castle in another first-round sectional game Friday, 55-6. The Eagles, who won the 2001 sectional title, and the two-time defending champion Bearcats will meet in sectional action for the fourth straight season Friday at 7 p.m.

Jay County’s problems started early against Central as none of the Patriots picked up the ball. Instead, the Bearcats recovered at the 29-yard line for what amounted to a 41-yard onside kick.

The defense held up as Jordan Nicholson missed a 28-yard field goal. But, Jay County managed just on first-half first down while Muncie Central kept coming.

“We could have bounced back from that,” said Patriot coach Shane Hill, whose team finished at 3-7. “They missed their field goal. ... Offensively we just couldn’t get anything going. Our main focus in this offseason is going to be figuring out how to sustain offensive drives.”

The Class 4A No. 3 Bearcats (10-0) marched down the field on their second drive, needing just five plays to go 42 yards for the opening score. Ben Botts capped the drive with the first of two touchdown passes to Will Bryant — a 7-yard strike at the 6:48 mark of the first quarter.

Reggie Lampkins racked up 62 of his 115 rushing yards in the first quarter. He put Central up 14-0 with a 5-yard scoring run late in the first quarter.

Nicholson added a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter, and Botts hit Bryant with a 30-yard touchdown pass with just 1:03 left in the first half for a 24-0 Bearcat lead.

Bryant finished with four catches for 47 yards as Botts went 11-of-22 passing for 126 yards.

“(Will Bryant) is No. 1,” said Muncie Central coach John Hochstetler. “Will’s the best football player around.”

“The best thing right now is (everyone is) healthy. We’ve gotten through the injury part of the season. Now we’ve got to step up to the plate.”

Jay County got its first and only first-half first down with four minutes left before the intermission. It finished with just 76 yards of total offense, completing just one pass while throwing three interceptions.

The Patriots also put the ball on the ground five times, but only lost one fumble.

Michael Myers led the offense with 62 rushing yards on 18 carries in his first action at running back this year. He replaced Justin Gilbert, who managed just four carries before being pulled from the game because of a shoulder injury.

“We didn’t have any holes to run into,” said Hill. “When our offensive linemen are either stale-mated at the offensive line of scrimmage or we’re being pushed a couple of yards into our backfield it forces our backs to make cuts before they should.”

Most of the positives for the Patriots came on the defensive side of the ball. Four times the Bearcats got inside the 20-yard line and were forced to try field goals.

One of those stops came as senior Ben Freeman stood up Lampkins at the goal line. Freeman has been the team’s top tackler all season, and was joined Friday by seniors Devon Huftel with 12 tackles and Ryan Younts with 10.

Still, Nicholson converted several of those stalled drives. He hit three field goals, with kicks of 34 and 46 yards in the third quarter.

“When you put (the defense) on the field for 80-85 percent of the first half nobody is going to be able to withstand that,” said Hill. “The defense did a great job.”

The Patriots’ lone touchdown came against Central’s second-string defense as Myers scored on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. The run completed a drive on which Jay County converted a pair of fourth downs.

Hill said losing seniors like Freeman and Younts will be difficult, but he hopes the team continues what the 2004 group has emphasized — a sense of family amongst teammates.

“They’re outstanding,” said Hill. “Maybe three wins isn’t exactly what they wanted, but this is by far the tightest group of seniors that I’ve had. They’ve kept everybody together and kept everybody focused. ...

“They’re great role models, they’re great leaders, they have a great work ethic. I could go on and on and on about this group of guys.”[[In-content Ad]]