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Sterling 38 Parkview Christian 20

    

     The Sterling Jets took on the Parkview Christian Patriots this past Friday in a battle of 3-3 teams. The Jet offense took off and raced out to a 32-8 halftime lead and cruised to the 38-20 victory.

     The Patriots got on the scoreboard first on a 1 yard run by Jaret Polivka. Polivka also ran in the PAT. The Jets answered that score with one of their own on a 2 yard run by Michael Lucas. The PAT pass failed. The Jets next score came through the air on a 20 yard hookup between Chris Wenzl and Michael Lucas. The PAT pass failed. The Jets finished off the 1st quarter scoring on a 1 yard plunge by Wenzl. A Wenzl to Kody Benson pass added the 2-pt. conversion. The score after one quarter was 20-8.

     The Jet offense kept their foot on the gas during the 2nd frame with Wenzl going to the air again this time finding Benson open from 26 yards out for the touchdown. The PAT pass fell incomplete. The Jets would add one more score before halftime with Levi McCartney blasting through the Patriot defense from 3 yards out for 6 points. The PAT pass again was unsuccessful. The Jets increased their lead to 32-8 going into halftime.

     The Jets opened the 3rd quarter scoring with Wenzl calling his own number from 9 yards for the Jets final score of the game. The PAT pass failed. The Patriots did find the end zone late in the 3rd stanza on a 4 yard run by Nathan Davenport. The PAT run failed. The score after 3 quarters was Sterling 38 Parkview Christian 14.

     Defense was the name of the game for in the 4th quarter. The Patriots got the only score of the quarter and it came from their defense when Adam Fiala stripped the Jet ball carrier of the football and raced 42 yards for a touchdown. The PAT run failed.  That turned out to be the final points of the ballgame with the Jets holding on for the 38-20 victory.

     Lucas led all rushers in the contest with 105 yards on 23 carries. Wenzl added 91 yards on 18 carries, McCartney rushed for 43 yards on 13 carries, Trey Trauernicht rushed for 9 yards on 3 carries, Benson rushed for 8 yards on 1 carry, and Archie Keebler rushed for 2 yards on 1 carry. Wenzl passed for 65 yards on 5 or 9 passing. Lucas had 3 receptions for 32 yards and Benson had 2 receptions for 33 yards.

     Wenzl led the Jet defense with 6 tackles, 11 assists, and 4 fumble recoveries. Jet defenders helping Wenzl out were Benson 4 tackles, 4 assists, 1 quarterback sack, and 1 fumble recovery, Ryan Zuhlke 3 tackles, 4 assists, Trauernicht 2 tackles, 5 assists, McCartney 2 tackles, 2 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Keebler 1 tackle, 5 assists, Billy Richardson 1 tackle, 2 assists, Lucas 6 assists, 1/2 quarterback sack, Dalton Clark 4 assists, and Matt Erickson 3 assists.

     " We came out from the start wanting to established our ground game. We thought we could get some yards between the tackles, and that turned out to be the case. Our offensive line did a nice job of getting a hat on a hat and opening some holes for our backs. Our defense helped out the cause as well by forcing 5 turnovers, which gave our offense some short fields which we were able to take advantage of."

     " On the down side we were disappointed with our 2nd half performance. We weren't able to put the game away when we had a chance. Its a good thing we had built a nice lead, otherwise we would have been in a dogfight to the very end. We have been stressing to our kids about playing a full 4 quarters and this game just re-emphasized that we still have work to do on that front."

     Sterling's next game is set for Friday, October 21st vs. Lewiston at home. This game is our Parents night. Game time is at 7:00 pm.