Sterling Jets VS Parkview Christian
October 2, 2009
By Brent Heusman
October 02, 2009
Sterling 54 Parkview Christian 0
On a cold and windy afternoon in Lincoln,
the Jet ground game produced 363 yards on the day in leading the
Jets to the victory over the host Patriots.
Sterling got the scoring started when Jake Wirthele busted loose
from 54 yards out for 6 points. Austin Magill ran in the PAT. On
their next possession, Colin VanGroningen called his own number
from 31 yards out for a score. Zach Lempka cashed in the PAT.
Wirthele finished off the 1st quarter scoring with a 6 yard run.
Lempka again ran in the PAT. The score was 24-0 heading into the
2nd quarter.
Lempka found the endzone for the first time midway through the 2nd
quarter on a 3 yard run. Wirthele ran in the PAT. Wirthele finished
off his fine 1st half performance with his final score of the day
from 20 yards out. VanGroningen found Wirthele open for the PAT.
The Jets took a 40-0 lead into the halftime break.
On their first possession of the 3rd quarter, the Jets went to the
air for a score when Magill found VanGroningen open from 7 yards
out. That combination also converted the PAT. The final score of
the ballgame came late in the 3rd quarter when Sterling's Justin
Puls dashed in from 12 yards out. The PAT run failed. The final
score was Sterling 54 Parkview Christian 0.
Wirthele led all rushers on the day with 208 yards on 16 carries.
Other Jet rushers on the day were VanGroningen 46 yards on 6
carries, Puls 40 yards on 5 carries, Lempka 31 yards on 8 carries,
Magill 30 yards on 2 carries, Billy Richardson 9 yards on 2
carries, Michael Lucas 5 yards on 2 carries, Trevor Huls 0 yards on
1 carry, and Mark Wenzl -6 yards on 2 carries.
Magill was 1 of 1 passing on the day for 7 yards. VanGroningen had
the lone reception for those 7 yards.
Defensive leaders for the Jets were as follows: Puls 5 tackles, 8
assists, Wirthele 5 tackles, 7 assists, Shane Benson 3 tackles, 6
assists, Neil Pella 2 tackles, 4 assists, John Parrish 2 tackles, 4
assists, Lempka 2 tackles, 3 assists, Jake Wenzl 1 tackle, 7
assists, Allan Parrish 1 tackle, 6 assists, VanGroningen 1 tackle,
5 assists, Jordan Shea 1 tackle, 2 assists, Mark Lucas 1 tackle,
Mark Wenzl 1 tackle, Ryan Zuhlke 1 tackle, and Klay Heusman 2
assists.
" Our rushing attack was the story of the
day. Our offensive line, led by Neil Pella, Allan Parrish, and John
Parrish did a good job of opening up some nice lanes for our
running backs. We always say that we will only go as far as our
offensive line takes us, and so far this season, its went pretty
well.
Our defense did a nice job of rebounding
from the below average performance of last week. We
eliminated the mistakes that caused us some headaches against
Diller-Odell. We still have a ways to go to be the kind of defense
we need to be, but this was certainly a step in the right
direction.
We have a big game this week with an undefeated Falls City Sacred
Heart coming to town. If we want to win our district, this is a
game we must have."
Sterling's next contest is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9th vs. Falls
City Sacred Heart in Sterling. Game time is 7:00 pm.
