Patriots to meet Vikings on Friday

Jay County Patriots

Portland, 1-0

Coach: Grant Zgunda, 25th year

Conference: Allen County

Last week vs. Blackford: Jay County never trailed and used a stout rushing attack to thrash the Blackford Bruins 33-6, snapping a 10-game losing streak. The Patriots rushed for more than 300 yards, including 179 yards and three touchdowns from Quinn?Faulkner.

Season leaders: Passing — Sam Dunlavy – 7-of-15 for 37 yards. Rushing — Quinn Faulkner – 21 carries for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Receiving — Justin DeHoff – three catches for 31 yards. Defense — Kadin Ridenour – 11 tackles and one fumble recovery.



Huntington North Vikings

Huntington, 0-1

Coach: Bob Prescott, third year

Conference: Northeast 8

Last week at Eastbrook: Huntington North and Eastbrook were tied 6-6, but it was short lived as a 27-point first quarter helped the Eastbrook Panthers trounce the Vikings, 41-6. Keagan Landrum threw for 77 yards and a touchdown, all to Cam McCarver. Garret Johnson had 18 rushing yards.

Season leaders: Passing — Keagan Landrum – 2-of-9 passing for 77 yards and one touchdown. Rushing — Garret Johnson – six carries for 18 yards. Receiving — Cam McCarver – two catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.



Last season: Huntington North racked up 502 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in handing Jay County a 47-8 loss at home. The Patriots were down 40-0 before finally ending the shutout with 26 seconds left in the third quarter. Bailey Cox led JCHS with 106 yards on 18 carries. Huntington North’s Garret Johnson was one of 11 Viking players to record at least one carry.

Game notes: This is the 27th meeting all time between Huntington North and Jay County, with the Vikings holding a 19-7 lead in the series, which took a break from 2003 to 2018 ... The Patriots have lost four in a row against HNHS, and their last win in the series was a 28-7 triumph in 2002 ... This is the first of back-to-back road games for Jay County and the first of five games away from Portland ... Huntington North standout Cam McCarver has reportedly suffered a broken ankle against Eastbrook and is expected to miss two to six weeks ... Jay County has a chance to go 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2011 when Delta had to forfeit its 55-0 win because of the use of an ineligible player. The last time the Patriots won each of its first two games on the field was in 1996 ... Jay County’s 57.77 Sagarin rating ranks 176th overall and 38th in Class 4A, while Huntington North’s 54.79 is 202nd overall and 47th in Class 4A ... John Harrell predicts Huntington North to win, 31-17, while Calpreps.com lists the Vikings as 27-point favorites.