7-5 Lapel Bulldogs vs 12-0 Linton Miners

[Miner_Pride]

I'm gonna admit it.  I know little about the Lapel Bulldogs. I know they are always pretty good, and have a terrific senior RB in Tyler Dollar with his 2,108 yards rushing.  Considering Lapel as a team has 2,961 yards rushing it's clear that Dollar is their bread and butter.  I figure Craig must be a good athlete as well if he's starting at QB as a Freshman... was he there all year?  1,469 yards passing but what stands out is his 62% accuracy.  3 Bulldogs with over 20 catches each in Witte, Hudson and Jennings...   

Schedule wise obviously it's an indication that Lapel is playing their best right now... revenge wins over Eastern Hancock and then Heritage Christian.  Dollar with 251 on the ground last week.  HOnestly though, their regular season losses to those two teams were close.  Their other losses were to solid teams... 8-3 3A Hamilton Heights... and unbeaten 1A's North Decatur and Lutheran. Like Sullivan last week, 7-5 isnt an indication of the talent Lapel has on the field.  

I know Lapel has never won a regional so I'm sure they are hungry. Linton hasn't had much success at 2A, with last week's win being our 1st in 2A... I also know I am glad not to be travelling the 2+ hours to Lapel... I can't fathom how Lapel is in the southern regional... I don't mind of course....Mater Dei has been our demise so many times.  

I see some big boys on the Lapel roster...soph tackle Kinsinger 6'5 325, Prater at DT 6'2 320 and just 4 seniors starting on offense it's a relative young team.   DEfense is led by LB Bruin Wilson with 109 tackles 9 TFL... safety Lutz with 95 and 8.5 and DE Carpenter 72/12.

The Miners of course I know all about lol.   Gennicks at QB with 1,707 yards 29 TDs.... but add key roles from Voigtschild and Walters 400+ yards and Johns at RB with 712 and 12 TDs.  Hunter has about the same in passing as Craig at Lapel, 1,452 and both about the same attempts (gennicks 105-193, Craig 130-208)... LInton also with 3 recievers over 20 catches each (Webb, Walters and Oliver)

Linton has been led by freshman Russell Goodman at ILB, and junior Ashton White as of late at NT.  6'3 DE's Wrigley FRanklin and Paul Oliver (another freshman) having great seasons as well as Gennicks at safety a key role in Miner defense.  

Anyone care to chime in so I can learn more about Lapel... I'd appreciate it!

 

[Boilernation]

Lapel has been a work in progress all year because of injuries, youth,  and roster shakeups. For instance, the Freshman QB didn't play against Hamilton Heights. They started a Junior for the opener and he has since been playing strictly defense (IIRC). And Dollar was hurt in the 1st Eastern Hancock game.  I think it's fair to say Lapel is better than theyir record would indicate. I know the coaches really like the way the kids are playing right now. Their kids are tough and play very physical. They will try to run the ball down Linton's throats with Dollar and then mix in a little bit of the passing game. 

Edited November 10, 2022 by Boilernation

[Miner_Pride]

Linton to face unknown in Regional Tilt with Lapel Bulldogs.

 

First things first.  Linton has reached the Class 2A Regional for the 1^st time in program history.  The Miners moved up because of the IHSAA “Success Factor” in 2017 after back to back 1A state final appearances, and the big win in 2016.  I know I’m not the only Linton fan  who feels there were really good Miner teams  in these 2A years that could have made deep runs in 1A.  Linton stayed in 2A due to enrollment (by last count we were 8 students above the 1A Cutoff), and did not back down from the challenge.   Coach Oliver and the Miners have had to deal with Southridge (before they bumped to 3A) and Evansville Mater Dei both in their 2a Sectional losing to the Wildcats in sectional championship with an 8-4 2020 team, and last year’s unbeaten team losing 28-27 in semi-final.  2019’s team was 9-1 before a cold journey to the Reitz Bowl ended the season.  The move to Sectional 37 opened up new horizons, but it was anything but a given that Linton would waltz through that group of 8. The Miners went the hard way facing 7-2 South Vermillion (47-21 Win) then hosting 7-3 Southmont in what was a 35-7 halftime blow-out ending with a Miner interception at Linton’s 15 to hold of the Mounties 35-29.  That list of 8 included Linton’s oldest and bitterest rival in Sullivan.  The Arrows  at 7-4 were geared for upset hosting Linton at Sportland Field, and held a 24-21 lead going into the 4^th quarter. However, the Miners ground out a score, and Hunter Gennicks closed out the Arrows with a 35 yard run for a 33-24 Linton win bringing Linton’s 1^st 2A sectional title back to Miner City.

 

Tim Miller is in his 12^th year at Lapel, starting in 2012 with a 2-9 season.  For 4 years the Bulldogs finished under. 500 but yet won a sectiional in 2014 losing to LCC in regional play 54-12.  From 2016 onward Lapel has had winning seasons, losing to Ritter in sectional championshin of ’16.  They won back to back sectionals in 2017 (9-4) and 2018 (8-5) win wins over Shenandoah each year, then being eliminated by Eastbrook on both occasions.  The 2020 edition of Lapel winning another Sectional beating Frankton, but one more their nemesis Eastbrook took them out 46-13.  Miiler, who has a 70-57 record all at Lapel, replaced Nate Andrews who won sectional in 2008 (10-3 losing to Ritter in regional) and Woody Fields won in 1995 with a 5-6 squad.  Lapel has never advanced past the Regional level.   Linton, in Class 1A for most of their history, has 14 sectional titles,  10 Regional wins, and 2 trips to Lucas Oil to their resume.  However, until last week, post-season success hasn’t resulted in hardware.  Linton has gonee 6-5 in post-season play since moving to 2A. 

 

Like Sullivan last week, the 7-5 Bulldogs cannot be judged by their W-L record.  Those losses were in week 1 to 3A 8-3 Hamilton Heights 34-7, and back to back losses in week 4 and 5 to unbeaten 1A’s Indy Lutheran (52-14) and North Decatur (43-18).  The other losses came to 5-6 Eastern Hancock 29-22 in week 9 and 7-4 Heritage Christian 42-38 in week 7.  The Bulldogs avenged both losses with a hammering of the Royals 41-13 in Sect 38 semi’s then a big win over the favored (by many) Eagles of Heritage Christian 21-20 last week.  Lapel has quality wins over 6-5 Shenandoah 33-21, & 6-4 3A Heritage 32-37, as well as the sectional wins over EH and HC.  They beat 3-7 Frankton and 4A 2-8 Jay County but each wasn’t big margin (21-7, 29-21). The dead hammer 4-6 Winchester 49-19 to open Sectional 38 action.   Linton has wins over 7-5 Sullivan twice (40-20 & 33-24), 4A 8-4 Boonvill in a 50-40 shootout, 42-7 over 1A 6-5 North Vermillion 64-14, 7-4 1A South Putnam 35-10, as well over a 52-27 win over a full strength Monrovia team in week 3.  Monrovia plays in regional action tonight against unbeaten Owen Valley.  Add to those quality wins the victories over 7-3 South Vermillion and 7-4 Southmont. The Miners blasted though Parke Heritage (1-9) North Daviess (5-5) North Knox (4-6) and Eastern Greene (2-8) by a combined 202-20. 

 

The Miner offense averages 46.5 ppg , 426.7 per game, 305.1 of that on the ground.  The Offensive line is led by 3 seniors with Center Nathan Watson (6’0 255) and guards Wrigley Franklin (6’3 225) and Aiden Giles (6’3 200). Soph Hank Gennicks (6’2 250) and Junior Jacob Breedlove (6’7 300) at tackles.  Last week we saw Junior Ty Boyd (6’1 210) and Freshman Russell Goodman (6;2 180) at Tight End on occasions.  They will face off with Lapel defensive front and LB group that has allowed 350.3 per game, 27.3 ppg.  I don’t have anything stat wise from their Winchester win but I suspect that would lower those numbers since the Bulldogs stuffed them 49-14. The Bulldogs have DE’s Chandler Lowes (11 6’2 180) and Matt Carpenter (11 6’5 195) with DT’s Jaydon Rodriguez (11 5‘9 215) and Anthony Prater (12 6’2 320).  The Linebackers are Bruin White (12 5’10 175), Ethan Hewitt (12 5’10 175) and Luke Sundheimer (12 5’10 170).  The Db’s are Rylie Hudson (10 5’10 185) and Landon Brown (11 6’0 165) at corner, and leading tackler with 93 Tyler Lutz (12 5’10 170)  and Nick White (1 6’0 150) at safety.  After Lutz, B.White has 88 stops with 9 TFL, and Carpenter with 72 stops and a team high 12 TFL. Sundheimer adds 67.  They will have to contend with Hunter Gennicks, the Miner QB (12 6’0 195) who leads Linton with 1,707 rushing yards, 158 carries, 10.8 per run and 29 TDs.  He is surrounded with other weapons who have proven each to make big plays-Hunter Johns at RB (12 5’8 180) 109-712-12, and wing backs Braden Walters (11 6’5 190) 63-419-4 and Jesse Voigtschild (10 5’7 150) 59-446-5.  Gennicks has passed for 1,459 yards on 105 of 193 (54.4%) 19 TDs to 3 picks. He had a season high of 209 yards mid-year at North Daviess.  His rushing total bolstered by a 239 yard performance against Southmont, and nine 100+ efforts.  Considering he and other 1^st teamers got little in any action in 4 games, those number would certainly be higher.  Linton has a trifecta of height in receivers led by 6’4 205 senior Logan Webb with 33 catches for 367 yards and  4 TDs.  22 catches each for Paul Oliver (9, 6’3 205) and Walters (11. 6’5 190).  Oliver has 5 scores, 372 yards; Walters 5 TD 393 yards.  You can’t discount Voigtschild with 10-187-2. 

 

When you look at Lapel’ offensive numbers it becomes apparent that Senior Tyler Dollar (5’10 185) is central to their success.  He has 239 carries of the team’s total 379 (63%)  2,108 of the team’s 2,977 rushing yards (71%).  26 rush TD (team 38) and 8.82 per carry.  He’s coming off a 21 carry 251 yard performance against Heritage Christian, and has 6 games (of 11 played) of  230+ yards.  He missed one game, and looks like limited action in the loss to Eastern Hancock in week 9. He looks to be back to 100% with 507 rushing yards and 6 TDs in the last 2 games.  He is the workhorse with over 21 carries averaged per game, eclipsing 30 a couple times, and is a 191.55 per game.  This means their O-Line has done a great job, and it seems soph Karson Kinsinger (6’5 315) is one to watch at left tackle.  Keegan O’Connor (12 5’9 225) joins him at LG, J J Baxter (11 5’10 260) at center.  The right side is manned by G Ryan Carpenter (12 5/10 230) and T Chandler Lowes (11 6’2 180).  The Bulldogs also have a supporting cast in WB’s Nick Witte (11 6’0 150) and Ryline Hudson (10 5’10 185).  Hudson adds 3 TDs on 36-274 rushings, Witter 9-93-2.  Bruin White (12 5’10 175) filled in for Dollar against Jay County and had 94 yards rushing. For the year he’s a 43-295 with a TD.  The Bulldogs turned to a freshman at QB Devin Craig (6’0 150) in week 4 (against Lutheran of all opponents). I don’t know if it was injury that forced that move or not.  Luke Alexander (11 6’0 190) was QB the 1^st three week with 210 yards passing on 22-55 but 0 TD and 4 picks.  He also seemed more a runner with 18 carries for 60 yards and a TD.  Craig has 67 yards on 18 carries over his 9 games.  He has however thrown for 1.469 yards a 62.5% clip on 130-208.  9 TD and 9 Interceptions.  Colin Jannings (12 6’1 175) and Logan White (11 6’0 150) are wideouts as well as Landon White (11 6’1 150) but it is Witte with 70 catches-over half the completions!- for 833 and 3 TDs.  Hudson, also at Wb, is next with 38 for 414 and 3 TDs.  Jannings is 23-196-0, Lo White 7-93-2.  Clearly Lapel can pass the ball, but it looks like the wings/slots are the target, particularly #20. 

 

The Miner D allows just 17.2 ppg, 223.7 per game… and only 86.0 per game rushing, with 2.63 per carry.  Something certainly has to give!  Monrovia, behind the power running of Belcher, is the only opponent over 200 rushing years, and only 3 other games did opponents crack 100 yards.  Pass Defense has been tested but has weathered the storm, allowing 147.2 per game.  However there have been games where receivers have found success with Southmont’s 273 a couple weeks back.  Sullivan aired it out 33 times -last week hitting 16 for 179, but only 2 passes out of 11 20+ yard passes connected.  The efforts of corners Jesse Voigtchild, Hunter Johns and Hayden Feltner (10 6’1 165) were solid along with safety Hunter Gennicks and Braden Walters.  Linton will rotate a 3 man front line with Jr Ashton White (11 6’0 195), Hank Gennicks (10/6’2 250) Aiden Giles (12’ 6’3 200) and Ty Boyd (11 6’1 210).  LBs are led by leading tackler Russell Goodman (1, 6’2 180) with 108 stops 10 TFK.   Christian Shonk (11’ 5’10 180) and Braydn Cox (12 5’10 185) alternate at the other ILB.  6’3 205 FR Paul Oliver (16 TFL) and 6’3 205 SR Wrigley Franklin (15 TFL) are forces at OLB. After Goodman, White has 87 stops 11 TFL, Hunter Gennicks 86, Franklin 80, Giles with 69.

 

Other factors--- Cold Weather…   and 2.5 hour bus ride for the Bulldogs….   Kicking game???

 

Go Miners