Jay County faces Heritage on Friday

Jay County Patriots

Portland, 2-6, (1-4 ACAC)

Coach: Eddie Fields, first year (fifth overall)

Conference: Allen County

Last week at Lapel: The Patriots couldn’t slow down the third-ranked Bulldogs on the ground or in the air as Lapel scored all 42 of its points in the first half to hand JCHS a 42-14 loss. Along with the defense struggling, the offense managed just 92 total yards in the game.

Season leaders: Passing — Nick Laux – 63-of-111 for 655 yards and six touchdowns. Rushing — Leighton Brown – 111 carries for 551 yards and four touchdowns. Receiving — Brady Jetmore – 20 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

Heritage Patriots

Monroeville, 5-3 (2-3 ACAC)

Coach: Jeremy Hullinger, second year

Conference: Allen County

Last week at Southern Wells: The Raiders struck first in the opening quarter on a keeper by Trey Slusher, but Heritage took over in the second for the 42-7 victory. The Patriots finished with 391 yards. Three TDs came in the air with the other rushed in.

Season leaders: Passing — Zeb Tigulis – 30-of-39 for 366 yards and three touchdowns. Rushing — Lucas Webber – 97 carries for 722 yards and nine touchdowns. Receiving — Lantae Cassel – 19 catches for 249 yards and five touchdowns.

Last season: Jay County opened last year’s game with a 13-play, drive that lasted 8:30 to go up 7-0 on Heritage, but the home team figured things out defensively to pull out a 35-13 victory. Heritage scored four straight touchdowns before Sean Bailey found Benson Ward on a 34-yard pass for the only other JCHS score of the game.

Game notes: This is the 16th time Jay County and Heritage meet for the battle of the Patriots. Heritage leads the series 9-5 ... JCHS last came out on top in 2019, while the previous four battles of the Patriots in the ACAC went to HHS ... Jay County has a 37.3 Sagarin rating, which is 205th overall and 39th in Class 3A. Heritage’s 54.23 rating is 136th overall and 23rd in Class 3A ... John Harrell projects Jay County to lose 31-17.