Sterling Jets VS Prague Panthers
August 29, 2009
By Brent Heusman
September 01, 2009
Sterling 44 Prague 8
Jake Wirthele led the Jet offensive attack with 86 yards and 2
touchdowns while the Jet defense forced 4 turnovers in the opening
night victory.
Sterling got on the scoreboard early in the 1st quarter with Zach
Lempka capping off a short drive with a 3 yard scoring run. The PAT
pass fell incomplete. Wirthele got his first score of the evening
on the next drive also with a 3 yard run. Austin Magill found
Lempka open in the endzone to complete the PAT. Justin Puls got
into the scoring act next for the Jets on a 5 yard run. Lempka
cashed in the PAT, leading the Jets to a 22-0 1st quarter lead.
Wirthele opened the 2nd quarter in fine fashion busting loose from
43 yards out for a score. The PAT pass failed. The Jet defense got
into the scoring act when Prague lined up to punt in their own
endzone. A bad snap led to a safety for the Jets with Puls tackling
the punter in the endzone. Puls capped off the scoring in the 1st
half for the Jets with a 1 yard run. The PAT pass failed. The Jets
took a 36-0 lead into the halftime break.
Neither team was able to put points on the board in the 3rd
quarter. Prague opened the 4th quarter with a long score when
Nathan Sousek found Scott Paseka open from 58 yards out. A pass
from Taylor Collins to Paseka converted the PAT. The Jets wrapped
up the scoring for the evening when Colin VanGroningen broke lose
from 42 yards out for the final touchdown. Michael Lucas ran in the
PAT. The final score stood at Sterling 44 Prague 8.
Sterling's ground attack was led by Wirthele with 86 yards on 9
carries. Others helping out on the ground were VanGroningen 49
yards on 5 carries, Puls 42 yards on 11 carries, Michael Lucas 35
yards on 6 carries, Lempka 33 yards on 9 carries, Magill 15 yards
on 2 carries, Jake Wenzl 9 yards on 2 carries, Mark Wenzl 4 yards
on 4 carries, and Billy Richardson 0 yards on 1 carry.
Magill was 2 of 4 passing for 36 yards. Shane Benson had one
reception for 26 yards and Jake Wenzl had one reception for 10
yards.
On defense, the Jets were led by VanGroningen with 4 tackles and 2
assists. Others helping slow the Panther offense were Puls 2
tackles, 7 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, and 1 blocked punt,
Lempka 2 tackles, 5 assists, and 1 quarterback sack, John Parrish 2
tackles, 5 assists, and 1 fumble recovery, Wirthele 2 tackles, 3
assists, Neil Pella 2 tackles, 1 assist, Magill 1 tackle, 1 assist,
1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception, Travis Schellpeper 1 tackle,
Benson 7 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Klay Heusman 3 assists,
Allan Parrish 3 assists, Jake Wenzl 2 assists, Ryan Zuhlke 1
assist, and Jordan Shea 1 fumble recovery.
" We are very happy with our opening night performance. You never
know what to expect when you open a new season, but everything went
very well. We graduated several starters from last year's team,
which is always a concern, but the newcomers picked up right where
they (the seniors) left off. Its always good to get this first one
out of the way, but we can't celebrate this one for very long,
though. We know we have a big game next week vs. Johnson-Brock,
which is always a battle, and nothing less is expected this
year."
Sterling's next game is Friday, September 4th @ Johnson-Brock. Game
time is set for 7:00 pm.
