‘Let’s go find out’

Back-to-back Allen County Athletic Conference champions.

An average of 11.5 wins per year since 2015.

The state runners-up in Class 1A in each of the last two seasons.

Being 3-0 for the first time in nearly four decades is enough to make for a big game.

Facing a team the caliber of Adams Central takes it to a different level.

Jay County High School’s football team is relishing the opportunity as they prepare to host the Class 1A No. 2 Jets on Friday night.

“I’m excited about it and the players are too,” said JCHS coach Grant Zgunda while walking off the practice field Wednesday. “It’s like, ‘Let’s go find out.’”

The Patriots, who are 3-0 for the first time since 1985, know they are going to learn a lot about themselves in their next couple of games. (After Adams Central, they host Class 2A No. 5 Bluffton next weekend for homecoming.)

The first three JCHS opponents are a combined 1-8 through the first three weeks. The Jets, meanwhile, have won 19 consecutive regular season games.

“They’re where you are trying to get to — where you don’t make mistakes offensively, you execute; defensively you play good, hard, aggressive football,” Zgunda said. “And then they have good special teams. That’s why they are who they are.

“They’re well-coached. They don’t hurt themselves at all.”

The Patriots opened with a win over Blackford, not unusual in recent years as they’ve topped the Bruins in each of the last dozen meetings.

It was the next game, a 14-9 triumph at Huntington North, that sparked excitement. Jay County had not won its first two games on the field since 1996. (It was 2-0 in 2011 because Delta had to forfeit the opener for using an ineligible player.)

In years past, it was the type of contest the Patriots might have found a way to lose. Huntington North put the pressure on in the closing minutes.

But they held on.

“We found a way to persevere,” said senior lineman Ryne Goldsworthy. “We held them. Our defense did a great job. … 

“We’re all there to pick each other up after something fails or something goes wrong.”

JCHS led by just one at the close of the first half against Southern Wells last week, but exploded in the second half to pull away for a 43-12 win.

Zgunda, in his third season leading the Patriots, is a big believer in offensive balance. It’s not about how many passes are thrown versus how many rushers are attempted, but more about productivity.

As he was updating statistics Wednesday afternoon, something jumped out at him.

“We’ve run for 460 yards and we’ve thrown for 462,” he said. “That’s the thing we’ve been working toward. I think we’re a lot better now, and that’s what’s allowed us to have a little more success.”

Scoring will be a challenge against Adams Central. The Jets have allowed only 25 points so far this season.

Then again, the Patriots have given up just 28.

Jay County’s players and coaches exuded nothing but respect for their upcoming opponent. There’s no one guaranteeing a win, no one offering any bulletin board material.

But the Patriots are excited.

Excited to be 3-0.

And excited about what the rest of the season could be.

“It feels really good at the moment,” said senior receiver/defensive back Justin DeHoff. “Being 3-0 for the first time since ’85, it feels really good to be in that spot. But we’re also not satisfied with 3-0. …

“We want to change the culture at Jay County. It starts with us.”

Jay County has been 4-0 just twice in its history, in 1981 and ’82. (The 1981 team was victorious in its first eight games.) It has not won a game in week four since 2013 — 69-28 over Anderson Prep — the year before the team joined the ACAC and Adams Central stepped into that slot on the annual schedule.

The Patriots are looking forward to Friday for the opportunity to strive for 4-0, and to find out how they match up with the class of the conference.

“Three games doesn’t make a season,” said Zgunda as his team prepares to take on consecutive state-ranked rivals. “These aren’t make or break games for us, but they are big to see just where we’re at.”