Sterling Jets VS Diller/Odell
Friday, September 25, 2009
By Brent Heusman
September 28, 2009
Sterling 52 Diller-Odell 28
Jake Wirthele rushed for a seasons best 293 yards and scored 6
times while the Jets rolled up over 500 yards in total offense in
the victory over the Griffins Friday night.
Sterling got the scoring started when Wirthele scored for the 1st
time from 5 yards out. He also ran in the PAT. Wirthele's 2nd score
of the quarter came from 11 yards out. Colin VanGroningen converted
the PAT. The Griffins capped off the 1st quarter scoring when Blake
Vitosh burrowed his way in on a one yard sneak. The PAT pass
failed. The score stood at 16-6 after one quarter of play.
Wirthele got back into the scoring column early in quarter number
two this time via the air when VanGroningen found him from 18 yards
out. The PAT pass failed. The Griffins answered that score when
Conner Pahl took one to the house from 43 yards out. The PAT run
was unsuccessful. Wirthele again found paydirt on the Jets next
possession this time from 2 yards out. He also ran in the PAT.
Sterling's next possession resulted in points once again when Zach
Lempka found open spaces from 70 yards out. Wirthele cashed in the
PAT. The Griffins got the final score before the halftime break
when Vitosh scampered in from 10 yards out. Vitosh found Pahl open
for the PAT. Sterling's lead stood at 38-18 at the halftime
break.
The 3rd quarter didn't contain quite the fireworks that the 2nd
quarter did but the Griffins were able to score once during the
frame when Vitosh found Stephen McEvers open from 37 yards out.
Pahl ran in the PAT. The score heading into the 4th quarter was
Sterling 38 Diller-Odell 28.
The Jets opened the 4th quarter scoring with Wirthele finding the
endzone for the 5th time from 21 yards out. The PAT run failed.
Wirthele capped off his spectacular evening with a final score from
19 yards out. VanGroningen ran in the PAT. The Jet defense rose up
and held the Griffins scoreless in the 4th quarter which help sew
up the victory. The final score was Sterling 52 Diller-Odell
28.
Wirthele needed 43 carries to gain his 293 yards on the night.
Lempka added 124 yards on 14 carries, Austin Magill rushed for 70
yards on 11 carries, and VanGroningen rushed for 15 yards on 2
carries. Magill was 3 of 4 passing for 32 yards and VanGroningen
was 1 of 1 for 18 yards. Wirthele had 3 catches for 40 yards and
Lempka added 1 catch for 10 yards.
Leading the defense for the Jets were as follows: Jake Wenzl 6
tackles, 3 assists, 1 interception, Wirthele 5 tackles, 3 assists,
VanGroningen 4 tackles, 2 assists, Justin Puls 3 tackles, 3
assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Shane Benson 2 tackles, 6 assists, 1
quarterback sack, 1 fumble recovery, John Parrish 2 tackles, 5
assists, 1 quarterback sack, Lempka 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1 fumble
recovery, Allan Parrish 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack,
and Neil Pella 3 assists and 1 punt block.
" We had a nice night on the offensive side of the football. Jake
Wirthele just keeps getting better and better with the ball in his
hands. Our offensive line is starting to jell together as well.
When they work as a unit, we can be tough to stop."
"On the other side of the ball, we had a little trouble containing
their spread offense at times. They do a nice job of getting the
ball to their playmakers in space. We made some adjustments at
halftime and that seemed to slow them down a little bit. But, we do
need to keep improving on the defensive side of the ball if we want
to become a complete football team. The bottom line is a win is a
win and that's all your looking for this time of the season. We
hope to keep this momentum going through the last half of our
schedule."
Sterling's next contest is set for Friday, Oct. 2nd at Parkview
Christian. Game time is at 4:00 pm. Note the start time.
