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    Sterling 48  Meridian 0

 

     Chris Wenzl rushed for 115 yards and accounted for 4 scores and the Jet defense forced 3 turnovers in route to the shutout victory over the Meridian Mustangs. 

     Wenzl got the Jets into the scoring column early on in the game with a 49 yard run. The PAT pass from Wenzl to Michael Lucas was good. The next Jet score came via the pass with Wenzl hooking up with Kody Benson from 13 yards out. Wenzl called his own number for the PAT conversion. Wenzlcapped the Jet scoring in the 1st quarter on the defensive side of the ball with a 26 yard interception return. Levi McCartney converted the PAT. The score stood at 24-0 after one quarter of play. 

     Wenzl answered the call once again early in quarter #2 with a 54 sprint around right end for 6 points. Wenzl hooked up with McCartney for the 2-point conversion. Benson followed that score with his 2nd score of the night this time on the ground with a 20 yard run. Wenzl found Ceaton Malone open to convert the PAT. The Jets added a team safety late in the half on a bad exchange between the Mustang's long snapper and punter. The score was 42-0 heading into halftime.

      The Jets put it into cruise control during the second half as the younger kids got into the action with the running clock taking effect in the 2nd half. The Jets did get one final score late in the contest with Lukas Theisen pounding one in from 2 yards out. The PAT pass fell incomplete. The final score was Sterling 48 Meridian 0.

      Wenzl gained his 115 yards on just 4 carries. Helping Wenzl out on the ground attack were McCartney 47 yards on 7 carries, Bailey Bessey 32 yards on 11 carries, Theisen 29 yards on 7 carries, Lucas 28 yards on 5 carries, Benson 20 yards on 1 carry, Keebler 16 yards on 1 carry, Rhet Dirks 7 yards on 5 carries, and Trey Trauernicht -3 yards on 1 carry.

     Wenzl was 3 of 4 passing for 61 yards. McCartney had 1 reception for 29 yards, Lucas had 1 reception for 19 yards, and Benson had 1 reception for 13 yards.

     The Jet defense was led by Wenzl as well with 5 tackles, 3 assists, and 1 interception. Jet defenders helping the cause were as follows: Trauernicht 4 tackles, 1 assist, Lucas 3 tackles, 1 assist, and 1 interception, Billy Richardson 2 tackles, 4 assists, Richard Frerichs-Shea 2 tackles, Ryan Zuhlke 1 tackle, 5 assists, Malone 1 tackle, 4 assists, and 1 fumble recovery, Tanner Weir 1 tackle, 2 assists, Sam Tully 1 tackle, 1 quarterback sack, Bessey 1 tackle, Jesse Phillips 1 tackle, McCartney 3 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Matt Erickson 2 assists, Keebler 2 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Benson 2 assists, Stolz 1 assist, and Kale Heusman 1 assist, 1 blocked punt.

     " We came out ready to play again this week. We established our ground game early on and took control of the game from the start. Chris Wenzl had an outstanding game on both sides of the ball, which was nice to see as he was starting his first game at quarterback.  Our defense pitched a shutout, which is always a nice goal to achieve. We dominated the line of scrimmage, and in order for us to have success, it all starts with the guys in the trenches."

     " This game ends the non-district portion of our season. Now we get to take on the meat of our schedule, and right off the bat, we draw a very tough 4-0 Pawnee City team coming to Sterling this Friday. We will find out really quickly where we stand as we head into our first district contest. "

      Sterling's next game is Friday, September 23rd vs. Pawnee City at Sterling. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm.