Miner_Pride

In my honest opinion I think the option of Gennicks at QB was in consideration before the Sullivan game. I saw a lot of repetitions in the Scrimmage with Goodman at wing and found myself thinking.. .hey.. he really looks good running the ball. Course in the scrimmage his jersey was changed mid game because of a jersey issue... So I found myself wondering who is this #22... turned out to be Trey. I definitely consider Trey as asset at QB... he put some great numbers on the board in 2019... From my viewpoint... we lost all our skill players... I mean.. all. No question that Southridge totally dominated in shutting down the Miner O... I don't think it would have made any difference who was at QB. And I think Linton played much better up front against the Arrows. There were many more positive plays up the middle, and with Goodman there were several nice outside runs we had none of the week before. I think the thought process was....we have a couple power guys with Smith and Eslinger who can trudge with anyone in the trenches. Several others were battling for that other Wing spot. Losing Lance Dyer's speed doesn't help lol. Kaulin Padget has the speed for sure, and I've been waiting for him to suit up... and I believe he is cleared to play in week 3. Anyway.. back to it. Goodman runs the ball hard. I certainly think there isn't any doubt that Drew Smith is playing where he should be at 6'2 215. I think Goodman at 6;0 175 gives Linton a solid 3 options running the ball... and... add Gennicks because as we saw Friday, he runs with abandon too. I figured we might see him more involved offensively in some way Friday. I think we have a solid basis of athletes who will improve with each week of varsity work against quality opponents.... as is it ...Goodman is the only Senior in this bunch. I think it says a whole lot about Trey's character.. such as Chad Trent's character when he was moved from QB in 2015... in an effort to better the team. Passing I honestly think benefits with Goodman as a receiver. 6'0, and a great athlete, being a basketball player as well.... he gives Gennicks another set of hands who can make a play. Eli Poe has shown he's going to be a good player catching the ball... only will get better. I hope we can get the TE in the passing game as we move forward. We got three TEs playing... Lynn, Breneman, and now Grounds. add to that both Smith and Eslinger catch the ball... and Johns... well he caught the ball twice on Friday on Defense! No questions I think we have to have some passing to offset the running... just have to. We might win games this year just blasting the ball on the ground all night... but we also know that isn't going to work down the road against very good teams.... especially if they know or think they know we can't air it out when necessary.. But honestly... very seldom has Linton been a passing team. You gotta play to your strengths.. but willing to get better in all facets for the big push. Who knows what will transpire week to week.. or even if there will be another week after this or the one after. I am so thankful to have Miner Football on Friday. I am sure those players are so thankful to have it as well. I suspect if Padgett is 100% or close, he will see alot of action. I know he was in the mix started at CB and or WB.... THis will at minimum give Linton much needed depth at both spots. Goodman and Poe are both playing both ways. With Eslinger's injury prolly keeping him out of action for a bit.. this really makes the Goodman move to WB a good move. I don't for one second think that Goodman won't get some snaps at QB the rest of year.... nobody can predict what happens... As far as people not coming out this year for this reason or that... I think it's safe to say that some kids simply are not going to put in the effort to put themselves in positions to get playing time. Over my years I've had plenty of discussions off the record with a variety of coaches and players and parents about this or that. Common theme is "he doesn't put in the time"... "he doesn't put in the effort"... I am a firm believer in that you prove yourself in the days between Friday Night. Thats where you turn heads and get your name in the mix. And you won't know it because that stuff comes up over discussion later. "You know who looked good today"... or "I tell ya... Jimmy better watch himself of he will be backing up Tommy...." You get chances on special teams... you go full tilt... you make hits... you get noticed. Yeah sometimes it does suck that you get bunched into a talented group of LB's or WBs or DTs etc... and that happens... but you see this alot in small rural schools... you step up and ask what you can do... think Ian Fonseca...and so many before and after him... who transformed themselves to play whatever it took to play. I think Levi Grounds is a good example this year...he didn't play much if at all last year with a back injury. I didn't think he'd come back.. but he has... at a different position, and he's out there making plays. DOes it always pan out... nope... sometimes not. Sometimes the talent just isn't there... but you are still part of the team.. the experience.. .and that goes a long way in life to most anyone who has done it. I don't know that I've met any former player... who decided not to play their senior year for whatever the reason... who didn't regret it almost immediately... and certainly did later in life. I've heard it with my own ears too many times. And yeah we have a couple of those this year that didn't come out...and it is a real shame honestly... but there are kids that want to play... and it's next man up... their time to shine! Its always tough to talk about kids who are 15-18 years old. These are just high school kids. One thing I know about Linton kids.. and it's most likely true for kids from whatever school you vehemently defend and support to the end... the kids want to win for their school, their family, and their community. I've seen teams with players that don't have that attitude.. they may wanna win.. but for themselves not for the bigger cause. I know they give 100% if not 110% to attain that W or go down fighting. It's easy to see the individual players who hurt the most in any loss.. and I love those guys the most. I know guys who didn't play but maybe 6 plays on the field under Friday Night Lights in there entire 4 year career... who went through the practices.. took the hits... put in the work... maybe swallowed their pride... but did it.. and were part of the team and loved it.. talk about it to this day. Maybe it's the cough medicine I'm dosing on heavily...

Yep Southridge did have 2 sustained lengthy drives... 15 for 77 on the opening drive and then 14 for 60 on the drive ending the 1st half. I guess the key point was 0 points given up. They did end the game on an 8 play drive that certainly would have been a score had they not taken a knee. The rest of the possessions were either short field scoring drives or short series with punts. I think there was a failed 4th and short. Course saying that. Linton didn't cross midfield stripe after that first drive... and didn't gain another 1st down past GOodman's 33 yard scramble in the 1st. Southridge controlled the L.O.S. all night. Taylor missed on a couple pass plays that receivers were wide open...that would have been huge gains if not TDs. Still.. the Miner Defense for the most part was game and put up a fight.

Add to the passing woes... everyone graduated in the skill department. As has been said.. Linton has always been run first 90% of the time. Even in AK and Gennicks years of passing attack, we also had very good running games. Last year with Robertson and Hauser at SE, Puckett at TE... as well as Lannan, Dyer and Howard in the backfield.. all multi year starters... there were any reps going to any underclassmen. Everyone this year is truly in their first year of varsity level play. No one on the roster had caught a varsity pass until Poe last week. Looks like Poe has good hands tho. In defense of Goodman, I will say that he was truly under pressure most every pass play. Not all... but certainly didn't have time to set up and scan the field. It's definitely an offense that the opponent knows what it coming. THat's how it's been a LInton... we do what we do... you have to stop it. I agree we have to have some success in passing.. .be it short game... quick outs.. backs in flats.. anything.. to keep teams from loading the box every time. I lik the skill guys we got out there...they are just young. I know we have some solid linemen out there too... they just gotta gel and learn in game situations. I suspect a lot of work went into the offense this week... but the defense will be tested with what SUllivan always brings offensively.

QB 3 Hughes, Caleb 12 6'3" 175 RB 24 King, Jaeden 12 5'11" 165 H 12 Drake, Tristan 12 6'2" 185 Z 2 Queen, Karver 12 5'8" 135 X 1 Bell, Grant 12 5'11" 160 Y 19 Wright, Nathan 11 6'2" 170 LT 52 Hughes, Eli 12 6'3" 250 LG 50 Pirtle, Gabe 12 6'4" 210 C 57 Sluder, Lane 11 5'7" 180 RG 55 Hughes, Conner 10 6'2" 205 RT 58 Ridgway, Jack 11 6'5" 250 RB 18 Williams, Dylan 11 5'9" 155 QB 6 Adams, Rowdy 10 5'9" 150 Arrows show a lot of formations. Use both Hughes (more run...8-40 1TD) and Adams (more pass...10-11 fo 186 yards 2 TD) at QB BOth WIlliams and King are involved on Off. King 13-80 2TD WIlliams 11-76 5 returning starters-- -3 on line (Pritle, E.Hughes, Sluder). Drake was starting QB vs. Linton last year...passed for 2 TDs 259 yards. Arrows put up 500+ offense last week. 337 on ground, 203 in air. MIKE 12 Drake, Tristan 12 6'2" 185 SAM 32 Newby, William 11 6'0" 170 ROV 2 Queen, Karver 12 5'8" 135 NICK 31 Dyar, Seth 12 6'0" 160 FS 1 Bell, Grant 12 5'11" 160 NT 50 Pirtle, Gabe 12 6'4" 210 DE 55 Hughes, Conner 10 6'2" 205 DE 52 Hughes, Eli 12 6'3" 250 WS 11 Kelley, Randy 11 5'11" 155 CB 3 Hughes, Caleb 12 6'3" 175 CB 5 Adams, Luke 10 5'9" 145 D returns 4 Starters... gave up 92 on ground, 107 in air last week. Bell and Newby were in top 5 tacklers last year. Depth seems to be good for Sullivan. I saw several different players making plays other than these starters listed. Kicking seems good too with Leone hitting 4 of 5 PATs. QB 15 Goodman, Trey 12 6'1 175 RB 13 Smith, Drew 11 6'2 215 RB 2 Eslinger, Gabe 11 6'0 195 WB 12 Johns, Hunter 10 5'8 170 TE 45 Lynn, Jackson 11 6'0 185 WR 24 Poe, Eli 11 6'1 160 LT 56 Giles, Aiden 10 6'2 230 LG 77 Carpenter, Dalton 11 5'10 215 C 69 Giles, Damien 12 6'2 220 RG 58 Debruhl, Donovan 11 6'0 275 RT 57 Giles, Landon 12 6'2 230 MIners didn't have much success in any offensive facet against 3A Southridge last week. 88 Total offense. Not much to say. Eslinger lined up at WB most of the night with JOhns. Also saw BRacey Brenneman #44 11 5'11 185 at TE. MIners return 4 starters on offense from 2019, 3 of those on the line and QB goodman. MIners on completed 3 of 13 passes.. and had 3 picks, one for a TD. ILB 13 Smith, Drew 11 6'2 215 ILB 2 Eslinger, Gabe 11 6'0 195 OLB 14 Gennicks, Hunter 10 5'10 175 OLB 45 Lynn, Jackson 11 6'0 185 DE 69 Giles, Damien 12 6'2 220 DT 58 Debruhl, Donovan 11 6'0 275 DT 63 Fields, Jackson 11 6'0 205 DE 77 Carpenter, Dalton 11 5'10 215 CB 24 Poe, Eli 11 6'1 160 CB 15 Goodman, Trey 12 6'1 175 FS 32 Miller, Jaydan 11 5'8 150 used 5 man fronts against Southridge will Lynn among others at NT. Smith was at MLB in those fronts with Eslinger outside. Pass D will be obviously tested with Sullivan's wide open attack, but did well vs Raiders (3-13-35 yards) not giving up the big play. All new Defensive Backfield. 28 points from Southridge were really not a reflection on the performance of Miner D... 1 TD was pick six, two others from drives started within the Miner Red Zone, the other after a pick retuArrowrned to the MIner 30. Southridge ran 51 times for 249 yards and 284 total yards on the night. Smith with 20 tackles, Eslinger and Gennicks each over 10. THis game is very important for Linton. Arrows have numbers and depth..plus size. Have several run options...yet several pass options as well. Linton did not show much of either.. granted... Southridge is one of the better programs in the southern part of Indiana. LInton will have to eliminate numerous false start penalties...and i did notice Sullivan had over 100 yards in penalties... but the turnover were crucial to Linton' s demise. One that didn't show up on turnovers but was just a bad was the busted pitch out on 3rd down in the only appearance in Raider Territory on that first drive. Also noticeable were a couple big glitches in the return game. Twice, one on a punt, another on a kickoff...you could tell the youth and inexperience.. but both times Linton ended up with the ball. Linton is going to have to be able to run the ball....and to do that, the offensive line is going to have to win the trenches more often than not. I fear depth issues will be in play for Linton... HAving both Smith and Eslinger..and Goodman... all key offensive players.. also on defense put a lot on these guys. Granted 8 MIners play both ways this year. I am very very interested in how LInton comes out in this game..and how they handle adversity again...this time in a huge rival. I am interested in senior leadership on a team with only 5 to start with...and 2 of them are injured and out. Go mIners .

GUys.. i am ready for the game Friday.. Got all my info.. and started a pre game write up.. but I got sick with a mega cold..I hope.. last night...and just have not been able to do much today... I sure hope I am better tomorrow... ! I will try to bare facts things here later to help everyone prepare~ as far as I know... we are doing radio both on the air 93.3 and online stream wqtyradio.net no video.

Game Day it is. Thankful indeed. A quick look at what I see tonight shows firstly... both teams graduated a ton of players. I think Linton was at 19, Southridge at 18. Both teams lost a majority of their skill players, yet retain their starting QB's from 2019.Both should be experienced as Goodman for Linton will be under center for this 3rd season, and Taylor---whose 1st game at QB was at Linton last year-- should be better acquanted... altho he missed a lot of the season as I understand it last year with an injury. Goodman threw for just over 1400 yards and 18 TDs an only 6 picks last year. Taylor threw for 789 and 11 TDS in 6 games, and his backup Niehaus for 452 and 2 scores in 8 games. That's a combined 1280 with 17 TDs against 8 picks. The problem for both QBs will be that they will be surrounded my mostly kids getting their first varsity starts. Gone are the top two rushers for both teams.. Calvert (1,154 yds 17 TDs) and B.Springer (578; 8). It's worse for Linton as they lost 3 of their top 4 (Lannan-758, 9; Dyer 907, 10; and Howard 406-7). Both QB;s have shown they can run. Both teams have set plays for the QB to keep the ball. Linton's Goodman was 3rd in rushing with 425 yards and scored 10 TDs. HOwever, Taylor is bruiser of a runner... certainly a Linebacker mentality. He had 58 against Linton last year, but 3 were on plays he made happen for big plays... Goodman had 17 official carries for 0 yards... but he also had a couple scrambles for 17 big yards. Taylor's numbers from 2019 are skewed with only playing 6 games, but still had 222 rushing yards. New faces will flood the field tonight for both teams in terms of skill spots. Linton looks to have changed the offense a bit... but still looks to be a rush orientated machine. Which is of course what Southridge is known for as well. Jr #2 Gabe Eslinger looks to take on the role of Luke Lannan from 2019 on both sides of the ball. He was a standout as a soph on the defensive side, but this year he will be counted on in the backfield. At 6'0 195 Eslinger will be a load. Joining him in the backfield this year is another kid who will deliver hits with a 6'2 215 frame in Jr #13 Drew Smith. Both saw minimal action offensively in 2019... Gabe just 4 carries, Drew with 9 in late games. There would appear to be several guys looking at the WB' position with #7 JR Kaulin Padgett (5;8 160) leading the pack. Padgett has speed, but last season was sidelined with ankle problems from week 2 on. Others I saw get action were #32 Jaydan Miller (Jr 5'8 150) & #12 Hunter Johns (So 5;8 170) while #14 Hunter Gennicks (So 5'10 175) ran the offense at QB as well as being in the mix at WB/RB. BUt again... it's very inexperienced when it comes to Friday Night Lights... other than Eslinger... and Miller was the punter last year, as well as the starting catcher in baseball. HOwever---these guys have been watching for a couple years and realize this is their time. Like LInton... Southridge has to replace a bulldog running in Calvert. I certainly believe Taylor will be a big part of the running game for the Raiders. #22 MAtt Springer (Sr 6'1 184) looks to be guy. Like Eslinger... he started on Defense for the Raiders, and now must do double duty. He had 11 carries for 55 yards in all of 2019. WBs are # Camdon Gasser (Sr 5'11 159) and #40 Parker Kippenbrock (Sr 6'1 182). Gasser was a starter on D last year so he will have varsity feel, and Kippenbrock saw time on defense so these won't be inexperienced players at all. Gasser had just 2 carries in 2019, Kippenbrock a bit more at 14 for 66 yards. Last year Gasser was a target of Taylor's passing on 5 occasions... so again... these guys were involved... it just this year they are the top of the depth chart. Southridge killed the Miners in the air last year. Anyone who was there could see that. The Miners did a solid job defending the run (82 yards on 36 carries)... but Taylor ripped the Miners for 267 yards on 8 of 19 passing. These were super huge plays in this 2019 game...none more so than the 63 yard strike hitting Brad Springer at the Miner 33 in stride and wide open to enable the Raiders to tie Linton at 20 with 5:53 left inthe game. a 37 yard pass on 3rd and 17 early to Voegerl put the Raiders at the Miner 3 on their opening drive only to have Calvert cough up the ball on the next play. The winning score at just 1:13 in the game game again on a 24 yard pass to Voegerl. Garrett Voegerl had a career night with 5 catches for 187 yards.. including a 76 yard TD at the end of the 1st quarter, that was again..pretty much wide open. I don't think anyone...well from Linton... expected Taylor to throw the ball so well. But Voegerl and B. Springer have graduated. But Gasser was the leader in receiving yards with 474 and 5 TDs. TE Aiden Jochem (#8 Jr 6'1 191) caught 1 pass in 2019. The starting SE this year listed is #2 Kaleb Wibbeler (Sr 6'2 182), and he also had one catch for yards in 2019. To me it looks like the Raiders will have more coming back in these skill spots that Linton. Linton's passing game was good because there were several options.. the main one being Devyn Robertson (34-549), but also Clayton Hauser (21-207), then you had the WB's Dyer and Howard with 26 catches for near 500. They are all graduated as well as TE Avery Puckett. Fact is... nobody on the Miner roster has caught a varsity pass at this point. It helps to have Goodman at QB in 3rd season, but we will definitely need to see who steps up. In the scrimmage we saw #24 Eli Poe (Jr 6'1 160) at SE for most reps. Eli was a special teams player last year. #45 Jackson Lynn (Jr 6'0 185) seemed to also get out there... but truthfully there just doesn't seem to be much depth at all... #44 Bracey Brenneman (Jr 5'11 185) lines up at TE and could be an option... but we;ll see plenty of the WB's and RBs get thrown to as well. Up front the Miners expected this to be their strong point. Returning what appeared to be 4 starters back. As it is we have 3 starters back...but it still is a solid experienced group led by twins Damien Sr #69 6'2 220) and Landon (Sr #57 6'2 230). Damien moves to Center this year with Landon at Right Tackle. Jr Dalton Carpenter (#77 5'10 215) is another kid who came in sectionals as a freshman to start. He had a leg injury last year and missed most the early part of the season...but came back strong. He is at Left Guard. IT looks like the Giles family will have 3 sons on the line as Soph Aiden Giles (#56 6'2 230) is one of the guys in the mix with Jr Donovan DeBruhl (#58 6;0 275) and Soph Wrigley Franklin (#51 6'2 220). I also saw Jr Cody Jackson (#62 5'10 180) in rotation. Southridge lost 4 of 5 OLine starters through graduation, but return LT Leyton Lauderdale (Sr #50 6'2 219). He will lead a line still featuring 4 seniors- #66 Quinn Barnett (5'8 162) at G, #55 Luke Lange (5;8 165) at G and #64 Erik Hernandez (6'2 242) at T. Hernandez started on DL last year but switches to OL in 2020. The lone junior is the center #74 Austin Hayes (6'1 214). I have no way of really knowing if any of these new starters saw much action in varsity or not.. With Linton, I know the younger Giles, Franklin and Jackson were mostly JV kids last year. Debruhl was a part time rotation guy at DT but this would be his first Offensive appearance. I will try to get to defensive info later... but... I may run out of time. Briefly.. Linton has to replace Luke Lannan.. leading tackler for2 years... but the surprise of 2019 was the emergence of Gabe Eslinger. He was actually leadning the tackled til he was hurt on the opening kickoff in the sectional semi with North Posey...and did not play that or the Mater Dei game. It looks like #13 Drew Smith will line up inside with him... 2 physical players. Can Smith be the surprise of 2020? The Defensive backfield is completely new. We had a starter coming back that decided not to play... so it's gonna be something to watch. Considering how Southridge found the skies friendly last year... they may look that way again. In defense of the Miners... it was week 1...and they did get better. But it's week 1 again with a whole new set of kids looking to win a spot. At this point I can't tell you who is gonna be starting. I know basically the same names show up on the DL... Damien and Landon Giles, Debruhl, Jackson, Carpenter, as well as #63 Jackson Fields (Jr 6'0 205) OLBs are another one I'm not sure... looked like several got looks. names I can throw out are Gennicks, Johns, Miller, Breneman, Padgett, Goodman, Poe, and Lynn.... I'll certainly know more watching pre-game workouts. I should also mentioned that we did have several kids on crutches at the scrimmage.. and some in street clothes. Most notable would be #52 Brayman Lannan (Sr 5'9 180). He came in play ILB when Eslinger was injured, and I know played offensive line here n there. As a senior I have to figure he would play a role if healthy. Southridge returns 4 starters from what I saw in our game last year. #22 Matt Spinger moves from DB to a key ILB spot. #8 Jochem moves from DE to a Safety position. then you have Gasser at CB with Lauderdale returning at DE. It's still a senior-laden unit with 9 starters being seniors. The top returning tacklers are Springer (4th with 78) Lauderdale (6th with 64) and Jochem (8th with 49). Up from they line up 3 with #73 Adam Jochem (Sr 6'1 211) #66 Quinn Barnett (Sr 5'8 162) and Luderdale (6'2 219). OLB's are #45 Ricky Pflanz (Sr 5'11 174) and #34 Gabe Wilkey (Sr, 5'11 181).. inside Springer (Sr 6'1 184) and #40 Kippenbrock (Sr r6'1 182). Corners Wibbeler and Gasser two more seniors, and safeties are 6'1 191 #8 Jochem and Soph Reid Schroeder #28 6'1 184. I know nothing about kicking game... Miller prolly punts for Linton... But who will kick PAT? We've had a string of very good kickers... but I have no idea. You can listen to the game on the air ..93.5 FM WQTY or online... at wqtyradio.com.

Football just sorta snuck up on me this year. I just sorta tried not to think about it because it really seemed that it would not happen...and I still don't really think it will last a full season... so I am going to soak it all up as much as possible this year... and what a way to do it: Linton at Southridge. Just love the facilities the Raiders have, and I have always been treated super by the coaches, staff, personnel and the fans themselves. I don't necessarily think the Miners have risen to a level or rivalry to the Raider Faithful, but I think it's a game they look forward too, and certainly Miner fans knew that Southridge would always without doubt bring top level powerhouse football to the table... and that's what Miner Fans wanted. Competition. And really other than one nasty embarrassing blow-out... it has been a competitive series... in fact it's been a heart pounding gut wrenching game a couple of times. We.. being Miner folks..wondered if we would still have the Raiders on our schedule with all the changes Southridge has encountered schedule wise with the PAC realignment etc. In my interview with Coach Buening pre game last year he assured me .. on air... that Linton was going nowhere on there forseeable future. He really paid compliments to Linton's football history and the dedication to the program that has been a trademark for many years in Linton.. and as well in Southridge. Linton fans have always like Raider Football. The renewed series kicked back in, on week 1 in LInton in 2017. LInton coming in after winning the 1A Title, but losing a huge bunch of seniors. The Raiders came off a 10-2 season with a Sec finale loss to Brownstown Central.. and themselves losing a lot of seniors. I believe Southridge was in 3A in 2016, and back down to 2A...just as Linton was kicked up to 2A. 2017 was a game that saw Linton up 10-7 and the half, yet down in total yards 134-58. LInton had taken their first possession from the Raider 45 to the 2, with a 1st and goal only miss a golden chance when QB Keaton Cox fumbled on a Kortland Hartke hit, with Tucker Schank on the recovery. Linton would wind up with 2 points a Ryan Figg tackled Colin Smith for a Safety. Southridge took the lead on their 3rd series as Schank rumbled 20 yards... and with under 30 seconds to go in 1... Raiders up 7-3. They would have 2 other decent drives, to the Miner 34 ending on downs, and to the 23 last in the half ending with Cash Howard interception Jayce Harter's pass. LInton couldn't do much offensively after that first drive, but the special teams put the Miners up with a Chance Howard punt block, picked up by Luke Lannan and returned 35 yards to paydirt at 7:37 of the 2nd... and a 2 point conversion leaving it 10-7 at half. 2nd half saw Jeovany Dubon tie the game on a 31 yard field goal on SR's 1st possession and stopping Linton's initial 2nd half possession. BUt it would be Keaton Cox busting lose on the first play after the kickoff, 77 yards to put Linton up 16-10. In a key moment however, the Miners failed a 2 point one. Things got exciting for Miner fans as 2 plays later Harter was picked again by Cash Howard from the Raider 31... but self implosion... in the form of unsportsman conduct, then a high snap over QB head put Linton back at their own 29, a failure to capitalize on a turnover. Southridge then showed why they would win the 2A state title my marching 14 plays, eating 7:22 on the clock, converting a 4th and 4 at Linton's 19... and Harter going in from the Miner 10 on 3rd and 9. Dubon's all important PAT put the Raider up 17-16 with 8:29 to do. Linton went 3 and punt, and another SOuthridge time consuming drive from their own 37 to the Miner 18 ended on a 4th down failed pass.. leaving Linton with merely 51 seconds to pull out a win. It was an all air attack as Cox threw 8 passes including a 15 yarder to Devyn RObertson that put Linton at the Raider 35... but a last play pass to Lance Dyer as picked by Grant Maxey. Stat wise.. Southridge was clearly the winner. 306 total offense, 280 of that on the ground to Linton's 169. Neither team did much damage in the air.. Linton with 66 yards on 7 of 14, Southridge 4 of 12 for 26... both with 2 picks. The Raiders about doubled Linton in TOP.. and those late time consuming drives were key. Harter, at QB, burned the Miners for 155 yards rushing, and Schank added another 99. Cole Calvert led defensively with 9 stops and others includng Chavez, Lammers and Carter. Linton's offense was pretty much Keaton Cox... 80 yards rushing on just 9 carries, and he threw for 66. Chance Howard had 12 tackles for lineon, Cox and Cash Howard with 10 each. Just a look back.. continued tomorrow...

Not last year!!! 18 seniors. Of those 18 who graduated 12 were starters most on both sides... add to that a couple kids aren't playing this year that were starters last year. LInton strengths will be the O line returning 3 starters... and having QB back for 3rd year as starter. But a lot of key multi year players to replace. Casual look at Southridge shows me 11 of 12 offensive starters are seniors.. And we are gonna have to tackle CHase Taylor. I suspect a lot of Taylor-Eslinger meetings... I do notice from my notes of last year...the Raiders graduated a lot as well.. 4 of 5 Olinemen, COle Calvert and BRad Springer at wings and Voegerl at SE..who killed us last year. In fact... from the LInton 2019 game Southridge graduated 8 starters from offense.. But I suspect they just reload!

Oh I am still alive LOL... just swamped... but I'm getting on it..!!

Oh man.... my gut hurts...and my head is spinning.... I have great fear there'll be no football on friday nights or any other night... I've been waiting for something to happen. I don't necessarily thing everyone will immediately shut things off. Smaller rural schools I feel will try to hang on to playing the season... but I just almost expect there to be a positive Covid test coming from one of these workouts...and when that happens... I know it's all gonna stop. Course.. I want everyone to be safe...I don't want to have football on Fridays and have a community get decimated by illness. If there is a season.. it's gonna have to be different that anything ever seen. Masks...distancing.. testing somehow to keep sick people from coming into the game... I can't imagine no MIner Football on Friday... not to mention what these kids who work so hard to play will go through.

Wow!!!!

Contraction... I am not for it. I can understand not fielding a team if you simply never have the numbers to compete. I like how in Illinois you have small schools within the same district combine in co-ops to be able to field a team, and give the kids who love to play the game... play. win or lose, they are playing a sport they love without have to change schools to do so. If we are talking teams that just lose and lose, and therefore should just drop football or contract into another bigger school... I know there have been runs for schools where they were perennial losers, and yet eventually have turned the tide. And I know there are team around today that are on tough times that were once powerhouses. My old man used to tell me Perry Central took a long time to get where they were a 1A power. North Central (Farmersburg) won 4 games in 5 years (3 of those against Union-Dugger) from '94-'98 but eventually started turning the tide with 8 and 9 win seasons, and last year reaching regionals for the 1st time. Obviously Eastern Greene won 11 games in their first 8 years before at least reaching .500 status and eventually a state runner up.

I wish the best of luck to the Alices.. but that schedule looks pretty daunting top to bottom... especially compared to recent Vincennes schedules. I mean.. there's been a resurgence locally in VL football no question about it with three 8+ win seasons, it took a strong run in Sectional 30 to offset a 1-4 start... and the usual victims Vincennes typically beats...be that 2-8 Bosse last year, a winless Washington, 2-9 Princeton... they did beat at solid 8-4 NK team in a tight contest, same with a 14-6 win over Mt. Carmel. Sullivan was poised to win that first sectional tilt in a barnburner, but other than that... beating 5-6 Brown County, and Princeton again isn't like facing Reitz, Castle, MD, Central, North or Memorial.. week in and out. My concern is that everyone talks about come Sectional time how VL will be better prepared.. certainly won't face the caliber in sectional that they will have all year... but if they are beaten up physically, and mentally from a 2 or 3 win season... will they be OK going into postseason. Everyone loves a winner.. and Vincennes certainly has shown how quick the public tide can turn, and support can fade... I hope that doesn't happen at all. I'd love to see the Alices be in most of the games.... get some surprise W's as well... but it's a big leap in my book.

Very Sorry to learn about Doug's passing..

I know it's possibly not something to make a topic of... but I know he was a member here are one point, prolly still was. He was an assistant for a while as well at Linton. But mainly he was a lifelong friend of mine, my partner in the radio booth for many years of Linton Football... including both those losses to Ritter in semi state... both his sons were Miner standouts.. Josh thru 2008 and Tyler thru 2016 winning the state in 1A. He was a fixture at all sporting events in Linton... but football was his love. He had been running the scoreboard at the Roy in Linton these last couple years. He himself was a terrific athlete at QB and RB thru 1983 taking the Miners to new levels that really set Linton into a football mentality. I know a lot of football coaches and former players in the area will know him... Unfortunately, he was found deceased in his cabin after not showing up for work. Apparently heart related. He loved his kids, loved Linton Football... Godspeed to you John Paul Meurer.

Well I think my MIners will be very compe…. what?.. oh... oops...

Woo Hoo we got a shootout now!!!!

Nice answer from the Saints...

There's the big plays LuHI needed-- 41 yard deep pass TD ,,, But they still need to show they can slow down LCC

LCC moving the ball with ease.... Lutheran NEEDS to answer or this will be a long day for the Saints..

Linton Coach Brian Oliver posted this on Facebook... In memory of Coach Bowsman, we will be joining schools across the state and turning our lights on at The Roy tomorrow through Saturday. This is to honor a great man who brought so much passion to High School football . Miner nation is sending their love and prayers to Coach Bowsman family & to the West Washington Community

Tremendous Idea. Coach Lowe you have my thoughts and prayers as well. Phillip was a great guy to talk football with, and I'm guessing was a great guy to have any conversation about actually! I only know him from conversations we had about Linton/West Washington and many other contests over the years in my research. Such a sad story all the way around. Watching the video of the game and seeing the other coaches talking the the Senator Players on the break before 2nd quarter.. heart-wrenching in the harshest form. I would hope schools, particularly those with ties to Coach Bowsman.. as well as those like ourselves in Linton.. who had some battles on the field but respect off it... would partake. I don't know though if this being Thanksgiving week.. anyone will be around the school to do it. I know there is great sadness is Linton over the terrible news.

I would wonder why team leadership itself in the locker room didn't seize this situation early on, and get that behavior stopped from the get-go.

Very classy.. and very special.

This is absolutely terrible news. Coach Bowsman always went out of this to talk to me the times Linton faced off with his Senators. And we had great discussions on social media about football and small school sports in general in past years. I was very happy for his success and know that he is very respected and liked by the whole community. I had send him a personal note just a couple weeks back as the Senators rolled thru their regional win. WW is in the middle of nowhere, but what a place it is to be on a high school football Friday night. I know this has to be so hard on his family, his team, and the whole WW area. My lasting memory was after Linton beat WW in one of the tourney games at Cambellsburg how we talked for 45 minutes in an endzone after everyone had left the field. JUst hate to hear this happening to someone so young and who gives so much back to his community. My prayers to all affected.