Patriots to visit Southern Wells

Jay County Patriots
Portland, 1-1
Coach: Tim Millspaugh, third year
Conference: Allen County Athletic
Last week Blackford: Jay County scored on each of its first four possessions — all in the first quarter — in a 46-21 defeat of the visiting Blackford Bruins. The Patriots took advantage of four Bruin turnovers. Cole Stigleman rushed for 144 yards and scored three total touchdowns. Quarterback Holton Hill threw for 219 yards, the most in any game for Jay County since 2008.
Season leaders: Passing — Hill – 14-of-29 for 262 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rushing — Stigleman – 21 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Receiving — Aaron Neal – five catches for 103 yards and one touchdown. Defense — Caleb Kunkle – 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.

Southern Wells Raiders
Poneto, 2-0
Coach: Steve Yencer, third year
Conference: Allen County Athletic
Last week at Fremont: Southern Wells scored 21 points in each of the first two quarters in a 29-7 thumping of the Fremont Eagles. The Raiders ran the ball 57 times, totaling 396 yards on the ground. Bryce Bonewit had 115 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries and Seth Trissel 12 times for 102  yards and three TDs.
Season leaders: Passing — Bonewit – 2-of-3 for 67 yards. Rushing — Trissel – 33 carries for 187 yards and four touchdowns. Receiving — Trissel – one catch for 52 yards. Defense — Grant Harris – 13 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Last meeting: Ryan Younts returned an interception for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter helping the Patriots to a 13-7 victory in 2004. The Patriots’ defense picked off two more passes in the third quarter, and had to punt on its only two drives of the final period. Steven Castillo had 68 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and Devon?Huftel tallied 65 yards on 14 carries in a game during which both teams combined to fumble nine times.

Game notes: This is just the third meeting and the first as conference opponents between Southern Wells and Jay County, and the first in more than a decade. Southern Wells won the first meeting in 47-26 in 2003  ... Jay County is 4-6 in week three the last 10 years, including a 13-7 victory in 2013 against Wallaceburg, Ontario. From 2005 to 2012 the Patriots were 3-5 against Franklin County ... Southern Wells has run the ball 115 times for 664 yards in two games, compared to just four total pass plays. Jay County has thrown the ball 30 times — it did so 65 times total in 2014 — and has ran the ball 79 plays this season.