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Miner_Pride

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  1. exactly. I am not about to sit here and pretend my Miners would be 8-0 playing Mater Dei's schedule. We would have trouble with the constant size, speed and depth just as we do with MD every year. We have hung with them...but then they get up a couple and we fight uphill. Losses by 19, 24 and 17 last year. We cannot have the type of start we did at Reitz Bowl lol... and honestly the defense did a decent job in 2019... but down 30-0 in the 1st half... Interception return TD on play 1, punt return TD, blocked Punt Safety... eesh it was a nightmare. but the total yardage was 255 to 240 MD. Last year we just could not cover them...and again.. down 37-0. 2018 at least was 7-7 for awhile til the 'Cats ran off 31 straight points and Linton lost 40-21. Honestly, I don't think in any of the games we have managed to do much positive offensively. Most all of Linton's points come in the closing minutes against younger players. I do think this is Linton's best chance....if we can close out Tell City... but I also understand MD was young last year, and most of the same cast is back this year and better. Again, honestly... schedule wise.. who would Mater Dei expect to lose to on our Schedule? Indeed Southridge has been neck n neck with the Wildcats... and NO I haven't seen anyone other than the Raiders beat the Wildcats in Sect 40.. at least as long as MD has been in 2A I think starting 2009 going 33-3 in Sec 40 play. As for Linton or anyone else in Sect 40 playing MD's schedule? Well...I think Central, North and Reitz are down compared to normality... but even so these are pretty big tasks for small 2A. As for Castle, Memorial and Jasper... those would be monumental wins for my Miners to pull off. We have scrimmaged Bosse for several years, and hold our own but still have trouble with the speed factor, and I assume Harrison would be same issues. I mean... I know my Miners would not back down from any opponent, and I know they would go in believing they could win on any night. But i think week in and out against bigger and faster and more depth always catches up to the small school. And this doesn't just apply to Linton.. same thing with North Posey, Tell City, North Knox.... course I can't say that with Southridge...because they have shown they can beat MD. Not to get into the numbers game... but clearly Mater Dei will field double the players in many cases with the other S40 teams. When you watch their entire o-line being coached up while the defense is on the field, you can see the advantage of numbers, and one way players. You know there are guys who could start at any S40 team who are back-ups at MD. And many times it's just that play makers make the plays. Ryan Taylor last year made 2 leaping catches that we had defended well...and they were big plays in how the game turned out. But as has been said a bunch already... We, and anyone, just has to match that talent and play-making. It's 11 on 11 on any given play. We've had kids make plays all year, and should we see MD, we would be at home for the 3rd of our 4 meetings...so that excuse can't be used. You just can't let up for a single play or boom... 7 zip. and injuries too... that plays a big part come this time of year. But again.... Linton cannot be thinking past Tell City. And honestly right now it's South Putnam on the agenda... and this is going to be a really good challenge from what I see of the Eagles.
  2. My standard listen every game night on the road home... Bob Lovell.... I;d love to talk Miners with him post game but I can't hang on the phone on hold for so long!!
  3. Well one thing Linton can't forget about is Tell City. Last year the talk all year was about the Marksmen....and justifiably so. Was it Tell City that could knock off Mater Dei, because the Wildcats were still the favorite despite being 5-4 going into it. I don't think many folks down south thought Linton at 6-3 would go down and be in the game with the Marksmen. But some did, including myself. LInton was gelling pretty good since losing to N.Knox, and recall TC had lost 2 of their last 3 games going into that well. Course we all know that it was a monsoon, and we know that the Marksmen got the wickedness of quarantine that knocked out several of their regular starters. I'm certain that played into the final score of 34-0...but I'm equally certain that Linton could have won that game regardless. This year the Marksmen are 5-3 with losses to 6-2 Heritage Hills, 6-2 North Posey and 4-4 Southridge. i am sure they are a much different team having lost 13 key seniors, but I'm betting a lot of those underclassmen in the game last year have indeed hoped for another crack at the Miners. Linton cannot even think of Mater Dei before getting back from Tell City with a W. I think North Knox is in much the same scenario with people already looking ahead to a MD-NK sectional championship. The Vikiings have lost only twice this season--to 6-3 3A Heritage Hills, and last week to 3A 7-1 Mt. Vernon (posey). I know the comparison out there is their common opponent in Tecumseh (1-6).. NP won that 23-18 while NK blasted the braves 47-6. Actually the Warriors have to face 3-5 South Spencer which they should do, especially being at home, and NP should take out Crawford County... meaning the Warrior Viking clash would happen in Poseyville. We know Mater Dei will be advancing to 2nd round unless they collapse entirely against a much improved 3-5 Forest Park Ranger team. The Miners and Marksmen meeting in Tell City is certainly one the Miners will be favored in, but cannot be caught looking ahead at another clash with the Wildcats. And as for that game itself should it arrive...I will wait until that reality arrives. This is the best I've seen the Miners look since the state runs of 2015 and 2016... but Mater Dei simply hasn't lost to anyone in this 2A sectional not named Southridge since 2007. Until Linton proves they can compete at MD's level all the talk means nothing.
  4. For most Miner folks.... 1986 was before their time. I remember it only from my Dad sending me paper clippings, and of course I has 5-6 years older than these guys and have hear the laments of losing so late. I don't know about bad blood. it's been so long since we've played each other.
  5. it's the first meeting between the schools since the 14-6 Eagle win in Semistate 1986. The two schools met for 4 years from 1974 thru 1977 with Linton winning the 1st three meeting. So over-all it's a 3 Wins Linton 2 Wins South Putnam. It is always important in Linton to defend the Roy, and short of winning a state title that starts with a sectional win... going unbeaten is always a huge thing. I am 100% that the Eagles would love to travel to Linton and end their excellent year with a win at Linton.... and head into their own sectional tilt with a lot of positive energy and momentum. Head Coach Chuck Sorrell is very familiar to the Wabash Valley, and in 24-8 in his 3rd year at SP. Sorrell took over in 2019 and led the Eagles to a 5-6 season, then a big turn-around winning their first 12 games, including a 43-40 win over Parke Heritage to give the Eagles their first sectional trophy since 2018, and their 6th in the 2000’s. They lost to eventual 1A State Champion Covenant Christian 48-7 in the regional. South Putnam had been through a drought in postseason from 2003 thru 2010 where they were mostly one and done. The Eagles had a superb run from 1999 to 2002 under Coach Mark Wildman with 8 win seasons in 1999 and 2000, then a 10-4 2001 regional winning team that fell to Perry Central in Semistate. It was 2002 that saw the Eagles reach the state by beating the Commodores 40-21, but lost a close battle to Southwood 17-14. Of Course, The Miners and Eagles played a semi-state game as well in 1986 in a game much spoken about in Miner Land albeit a 14-6 loss. Linton had won 3 of 4 prior meetings from 1974 to 1977. Linton is at their best start since the 1A Championship run in 2016. The move up to 2A has meant running into Evansville Mater Dei in each of the last 3 years, and Southridge in 2017. LInton had won 9 sectionals in a span from 2007-2016 that included 6 Semi-State trips, and 2 appearances at Lucas Oil. Brian Oliver became head coach in 2013, a former Miner Quarterback and a long time assistant coach. He is 89-21 in this his 9th season. His first year was a 13-1 run that ended at Eastern Hancock. Linton had 10+ wins in his first 4 seasons at the helm. What say the masses??
  6. I hate this non-seeding crap. I lost count of how many times we (Linton) would be 9-0 or 8-1 or 7-2 and would draw Perry Central at either 9-0, 8-1 0r 7-2 in round 1 class a sect 40. and then the other dark horse.. usually N Daviess at 7-2 or 6-3 or 8-1 would be the other game in the same bracket... meanwhile the other bracket loaded with 1-8, 2-7, 3-6 and 0-9 team... Yeah I get that you gotta beat the best to get further, but in terms of the kids themselves they get rewarded for a great season (and yes I get that teams can schedule weakly aiming for a higher seed.... so no... I don't think Won-Loss necessarily means higher seed.. i.e.. .Mater Dei in Sect 40 2A)... but these kids can be eliminated in round 1 and sit while the weak teams delay themselves the inevitable meeting with the powerhouse... and yep..there is always a chance to pull the upset... but why not have that chance in round 1.... There can be no argument that in terms of gate... the ihsaa misses out where they blow these monster matchups in round 1 or round 2... I mean.. in our neck of the woods.. usually only 1 area team is still battling... and when you bring in a big sectional final it attracts everyone from every corner out to see it in person. Nobody cares if 11-1 North Smith County is facing 2-10 West Pancake County for a sectional crown... unless WPC has knocked off 9-2 perennial secional winner St. Robert Catholic in the prevous round.... i hate non seeding.. and I know it will have flaws but over all it is a better thing for the players and the fans and the ihsaa... Mater Dei will be the Sectional 40 2A Favorites no matter what anybody else does in that sectional may.. may be 9-0 going into it... (South Putnam is gonna be a big game next week)... I don't care if MD loses 4 or 5 regular season games... they will be favorite. So Sagarin number will change those feelings for most people. Linton does not play Evansville Central or North or Reitz, Memorial or Castle.... If we did.. we'd have lost many more games. It just is what it is. Sectional 40 would be a good example of the odd seeding because based on WL or Sagarin.. MD wouldn't be a top seed... but in reality they are the top seed. Maybe some years they wouldn't be... but clearly.. they are this year. How to work around that? I just hate to see the top two teams in any sectional...especially when they are clearly the top two.... get stuck in the opening round...
  7. 38-24 Miners... never have I seen 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns against Linton in a single game.. ... and both times it put the Warriors right back into the game. It was an electric atmosphere for sure. I think Linton's passing game was instrumental in the win. Momentum swung mightily to both sides all night. Holtman Doades broke a long TD run...and that was essentially all Linton gave up defensively. A wrong alignment on a punt opened up another huge Doades run inside the 5. But overall a good effort keeping Sheren in the barn, but I will say the backup kid had some great runs in the 4th as well. Linton had 3 backs with 80+ yards... I don't have the stats in front of me.. .but wanted to recognize both teamss in a hard fought effort..
  8. This Friday night will probably be pretty quiet in the streets of Linton, Bicknell, Sandborn, Oaktown, Freelandville, Westphalia, Bruceville and beyond. The Reason? It could be the game of the regular season for the two high schools these towns call their own. Sure, Linton has always had a big target on their back in terms with the success of the Miner Football program, and for many years the bully on the block to the bulk of area rivals. Linton has always had an intense rivalry with Sullivan, and over the years North Daviess, and certainly North Knox. The Warriors have a rich history in football with a state final appearance in 1974, and dominating team in the 70’s plus an undefeated 1968 team that went 10-0. This rivalry goes beyond North Knox of course and Linton and Bicknell as I see a score from 1906 of a Miner 65-0 win! Bicknell went 9-0 in their last year of existence 1962. The Miner-Warrior feud met about every year except periods from 1959 to 1965. Linton had dominated and won 19 of 21 meetings between ’36 and ’58. It appears to have started again in 1966 thru 1971 with North Knox winning 5 in a row. After a 2 year break the game resumed from ’74 to ’79 with NK winning 4 of those 6 games. The series again took a 3 year break picking back up for good in 1983. Linton had won 12 meetings in a row from ’97 to ’08, broken with a 15-7 Warrior win in 2009 at Warrior Field. Linton had big revenge though with a rematch in sectionals and a 44-0 win. Counting that win, Linton reeled off 14 straight wins most by large margins before last year’s 27-14 NK win at the Roy. Coach Josh Chambers brings in his Warriors at 5-1, having won their last 5 in a row. They had started 5-1 in 2019 in much the same manner then lost to Vincennes Lincoln 12-0 and Linton 28-13 finishing in the Sectional 40 championship losing to Mater Dei 35-6. That 8-4 record was their best since a 9 win 2014 season. They were 6-3 last year but those losses came to Sullivan, Renssel41 are Central and Mater Dei in the opening round last year. They were in a battle with the Wildcats despite the 30 to 19 result they were in the game late. Linton is off to a 6-0 start, their best start since the Championship run of 2016. Linton has rebounded from their only losing season since 1996 in 2018 (5-6) with a 9-2 2019 followed by last year’s 8-4 campaign. Both teams have been primarily known as rushing juggernauts. The Warriors certainly have maintained that reputation with 1,748 rushing yards, 291.2 p/g, 21 rush TD’s and a 6.8 per carry average. Sr Rhett Sheren has been the workhorse with 638 yards on 97 carries and 10 TDs. He torched the Miner D in ’20 with 262 yards on 26 carries and 3 TDs. In fact NK put up 407 rush yards on the Miners, the most since Sullivan ran up 462 yards in 2004. Sr Holtman Doades has been the playmaker at WB with 561 yards on 61 carries and 5 scores. He had 82 against Linton last year. Doades is also the leading receiving with 8 catches for 240 yards with half of those being TDs. Throwing the ball is 1st year QB is Jr Mason Lyons who has thrown 40 times hitting 16 for 449 yards with 7 TDs against 2 picks. Jr Devin Kent has caught 4 for 81 yards and a score. Lyons has 3 rushing TDs on 24 carries for 90 yards. Linton has rushed for 1,549 yards, 258.2 per game, 6.8 per carry and 26 rush TDs. Linton is led by Jr QB Hunter Gennicks with 614 yards on 78 carries with 5 TDs. Sr Gabe Eslinger has had big TD runs and has 399 yards on 41 catches and 6 scores. Sr Drew Smith adds the inside game with 205 yards and 3 scores. The Miners lost WB Hunter Johns, who had 204 yards and 6 rush TDs, to a shoulder injury against Boonville. The passing game in 2021 has been a major contributor with Gennicks hitting on 56% of his passing (42 of 75) for 730 yards, 13 TDs and just 1 interception. Sr Eli Poe (12-185-4) Sr Ayden Riggleman (4-55-1) and Jr Logan Webb (6-121-2) have given Gennicks a solid receiving corps, and Eslinger (10-172-3) as well as Sr’s Kaulin Padgett (2-48-1) and Jaydan Miller (2-31-1) all make plays out of the backfield. The real battle will be in the trenches where games are won and lost in reality. The Miner offensive line has settled into a steady group with Jr Center Nathan Watson (6’0 255), LG Jr Wrigley Franklin (6’3 225) LT Sr Cameron Goodman (6’3 200) RG Jr Aiden Giles (6’3 215) and RT SR Donovan DeBruhl (6’ 0 275). They will line up against DTs Sr Gunner Thompson (5’11 250) and Jr Dylan Bond (5’11 225) and NT Sr Beau Noland (6’2 225). Noland leads the team with 47 tackles. The LB corps of NK will see Sr Declan Alchin (Sr 5’10 200) and Soph Carter Lemberg (5’9 150) in the inside, with Jr Kale Jones (5’10 185) and Sr Rhett Sheren (6’0 195) on the outside. Lemberg has 46 tackles, Alchim 36. The Warrior Oline returns 4 of 5 starters from that dominating 2020 game with the only newcomer at Center with Robert Cross (Sr 6’1 165). Coming back on the left side is G Jr Dylan Bond (5’11 225) and T Jr Landyn Worstell (6’2 185) and on the right side Sr G Beau Noland (6’2 225) and SR T Gunner Thompson (5’1 250). Add to that Tight Ends Fr Brennan Messel (5’11 160) and Jr Devin Kent (6’0 220). You can add FB Jr Kale Jones (5’10 185) as NK lines up tight most of the night using manpower to overwhelm defenses. The Miners 3 man front starts with Sr Jackson Fields (6’0 205) at Nose Tackle, Jr’s Aiden Giles (6’3 215) and Wrigley Franklin (6’3 225) at DE’s. We’ve also seen Ty Boyd of late (Soph 6’1 190) and also Sr Cameron Goodman (6’3 200) at DE’s. Linton’s LB group has been led by leading tackler Sr Gabe Eslinger (6’0 205) along with Sr Bracey Brenneman (6’2 200) on the inside, with Sr’s Drew Smith (6’2 215) and Jackson Lynn (6’0 185) on the outside. Eslinger has been a force with double digit tackles in each game and a total of 68 with 9 TFL. Each team’s defensive backfield will clearly have to be aware of the pass and not be tempted to run support too early. Linton has a senior laden group with Kaulin Padgett and Eli Poe at Corner and Hunter Gennicks and Jaydan Miller at Safety. Miller made his return to the field last week after missing 3 games. Sr’s Ayden Riggleman and Logan Webb have both seen plenty of time in that group as well. NK returns Sr Holtman Doades as the primary cover corner and only returning starter, with Sr Will Sloan joining him. Jr Mason Lyons and Soph Caleb Bottum will man the safety spots, Bottum with 46 tackles tied for 2nd on team. This game should be maxed out on emotion and intensity. I would expect turnout Warrior Field to be standing room only. I know the NK fans will be out in full voice, and I will say Linton’s crowds have been very vocal and out in numbers to support the Miners in the last several games. I hope they bring they shut down the town and bring everyone to make this an incredible environment for these kids to witness. It has been since 1992 that North Knox defeated Linton back to back seasons, in fact they won 3 in a row 1990-92. The weather looks be perfect for Friday Night, the teams will hopefully be at 100% or close to it. We know Linton is without Hunter Johns on both sides of the ball, and Fr Hank Gennicks (a starter at Tackle in week 1) is improving week to week. By week 7 no football team is 100% healthy! I do believe it will be a game that you have to maximize possessions, and certainly cannot afford turnovers. We know that NK can burn time off the clock in huge chunks and if they have a lead and the ball they will be content on eating the clock. Linton has shown the ability to churn out long drives, but also big plays in both rush and pass games. Linton will undoubtedly use the pass more that NK has seen Linton do because there are more receivers who can make plays this year than we have seen in recent years. You can’t just cover one guy. On the flip side, Linton cannot play NK as a rush only 10 in the box defense because the Warriors have hit on big pass plays and have confidence in that part of their game. As always, I’ll be in the broadcast booth at Warrior Field Friday Night for Media Five Sports on WQTY on 93.3 FM… as well as online streaming at www.wqtyradio.com with my partner Kevin Rader.
  9. well.... they really rolled over us at Linton last year....it was truly embarrasing to see the MIner D get man handled. I think to an extent Linton under estimated NK last year going into the game.. but when they had such success running the ball.. it was obvious the Warriors had their offense gelling. NK definitely has skill guys back in Sheren & Doades, and because of their run prowess the pass has been successful... Lyons with 7 TDs.. and it looks like they've got sophs and freshmen who are stepping up. We all know Beau Noland is a beast on both sides... but they've got what they do down very very well. 3 seniors and 2 juniors on the line with a TE... they just over power and then eat a ton of time off the clock. If they get ahead...you have to score because you may not see the ball but 4 times a night. Linton is a better team this year on both sides of the ball. The linebackers-- Eslinger, Brenneman, Smith and now Lynn (With JOhns out)... are gonna be uber-counted on. The DB's are gonna have to be sure not to bite and give up the long ball.. the down linemen are gonna have to eat up space to cause the Olinemen trouble in pulling. So many things have to happen. Doades is a big play guy, Sheren the workhorse in the Warrior tradition. Linton offense is much more potent in 2021, and the passing much more evident. The Oline will have to give Gennicks time, but Gennicks is a heck of a play maker too.. containing him will be key for Warrior D. I don't think it's wrong to say that the Miners have had this one circled heading into this season. NK put 407 rushing yards on the sheet BUT ALSO held Linton to just 110 rushing. Don't forget that. LInton had just 195 total yards to 430 for NK. RHett Sheren ruled the night with 262 yards, 3 TDs on 26 carries. Holtman Doads added 82 on 13 touches. Linton's best was 38 yards from Gennicks. Linton was shut down offensively and could not stop NK defensively. NK lost Hammelman at QB, and Zach Boyles at HB, and both TE'S in Brocksmith and Long... but return 4 of 5 lineman up front in Thompson, Noland, Bond and Worstell. They also lost Boyd who had 16 tackles against Linton... The Miners lost 5 seniors from last year... but this is week 7... not week 1 or 2... so those new starters or young kids playing for the first time are experienced by now. This should be a slobber-knocker. If you do comparisons in opponents it's hard to ignore NK lone lose of the year.. .to Sullivan 35-6. Linton beat the Arrows the next week 34-21. But.... last year NK was also beaten by Sullivan in week 1 48-19.... while LInton had beaten SUllivan in Overtime.... and yet 27-14 over Linton... so... throw that out the window. A more reasonable comparison would be Boonville. NK won a dogfight 27-26 a couple weeks back, a week before Linton had a 35-14 dominating win over the Pioneers. Again.. I don't know that it means anything.... there will be a heated spark in the air at Warrior Field...There was a lot of celebration in handing the Miners that loss on homecoming at the Roy.. not just from the players but from the fans....and justly so....They had not beaten Linton in the last 14 meetings, and 26 of 27 since 1997. So... yeah it was big news and an upset in most eyes.
  10. I certainly respect Coach Fine. Long time readers of my posts know...my keyboard work produces terrible grammar and mispellings. This is obviously a case off hitting a B instead of a T and not proof-readings. Apologies to anyone offended... but locker room banter?? I hardly think. They had a lot more to worry about than me making a typing error!
  11. This game will be homecoming for the Miner Faithful, and certainly a game North Daviess has circled every year as a barometer for how ND Football is doing. The Cougars are 4-1 under 4th year Head Coach Brent Fine. He came in to replace long time coach Scotty Helms, and a program once one of the area's best 1A programs. however, they'd won only 4 games in 3 seasons when Fine was brought it. He toughed out a 2-8 1st year, and has had immediate impact as the Cougars went 7-4 his 2nd year. As mentioned they have come into week 6 against the Miners riding on a 4 game win streak.. .and have not allowed a point in their last 3 big wins. Linton comes in 5-0, and you gotta go back to 2010 for the last Cougar win in the series... and it was a doozie 73-33 shootout but the worst Miner defeat in a long time. Linton would score 81 the next year in revenge at the Roy. The scores have been pretty lop-sided in the past several meetings, and people who thought perhaps the 'trap' game was last week...might be better suited looking into this week's matchup. Is this Cougar team for real? Will the Miners be looking ahead at the warriors? I think with the senior leadership it won't happen.. but these are kids ya know... it's hard to look at recent history and not think...this should be another blow-out... but... you play the games. ND will have nothing to lose going into this...
  12. I definitely believe it had nothing to do with the competition level.. I think both teams liked facing each other in week 1. Coach Buening certainly stated that the Raiders hated that this was the last meeting. He went a long way in telling me that they always came of the game having learnt things they needed to address, and things to tighten up. Linton certainly did and I felt always did us better going into Sullivan week 2. I haven't had any real chance to discuss it with the coaches... or Charlie since he retired last year. I'm amazed that I had no prior knowledge of it being changed. Tell me how far out of the loop I have become, but I do live in Vincennes, and I don't get up there (Linton) like I have been able to in past years. Buening mentioned something about schedule for Linton.. and I thought he mentioned Sullivan... now I dont know if that meant we had to adjust our schedule to keep Sullivan on it... or that Southridge was looking at Sullivan as a week 1. Sullivan has been playing North Knox in week 1.... and I don't know why that would change for either team. And I wanna be sure and mention that Boonville... now at 0-4... is a good 0-4. I think it was a good game for Linton to play. Down again at the half 14-13, and again the defense blanked the Pioneers in the 2nd half. Linton had 2 second half 13 play drives both for scores that was nice to watch. I hate that Hunter Johns went down to an injury though. Gabe Eslinger was a monster in this game on both sides of the ball... but also Drew Smith with carries up the gut running over people. We still give up the pass plays though here and there. People talked of this being a trap game... I didn't think it would... but I would think the N.Daviess game coming up could be. With North Knox on the horizon... even though the Cougars are 4-1 and playing well.. they were 4-0 in each of the last two seasons as well... and finished 4-5 last year, 7-4 in 2020. THis is a huge game for them.... Linton needs to operate like a smooth machine and take care of business early. Hats off to Clay Conner, Reece Wilder, THomas Hall & Carter Wolfe who I thought stood out for the Pioneers.
  13. several things to add.. LOL... In my interview with Coach Buehning at Southridge.. he really expressed disappointment in losing Linton as season opener. I definitely am sorry to see it go. It's a great matchup for us to start the season... I like it better than what he had for years in destroying Eastern Greene by 50 every year. No we haven't faired well in our series with the Raiders... but it most certainly made us address issues, and it was a big environment to be a part of. Park Heritage is now the NVermillion we had faced in 2014,, 15 etc... They have great talent and an offense that was would test anyone. Whether they can sustain that talent in the years to come... nobody can tell. Small schools have good runs with particularly good classes... and you just hope the youngsters follow their example in working hard every day to be at the level. But I would have loved to have continued with Southridge, and I do think it was Linton's decision. I also know that it takes a bit to get games scheduled out...I would not think the current AD would have had anything to do with the schedule for 22 or maybe 23... But I never once heard anyone talking about dropping Southridge from the opening game.. ever. It was news to me when I did the Coach Buehning interview. He said something about Sullivan... I would like to see Linton's Defense against that P Heritage offense. We need to face these all out passing monsters because that's what we possibly will face down the road. Boonville--- we.... we've been in tussles with them in both games. Being 4A... they do have size and do have a big roster, and last year Mockobee was a challenge to anyone. We won the 1st meeting in Linton years ago... that saw Linton dominating and up 21-0 going into the 4th only to hang on 27-16... We had 2 kids with over 100 yards rushing (Lannan and Dyer). 2020's overtime game was truly one for the ages... back n forth, momentum swinging... just excitement every play. Linton appeared to have the game in hand after a punt return TD with 1:31 left put the Miners up 36-28... and even more when Phillips fired deep to freshman Ballard and the ball was well played by the Miner DB. in fact it was in his hand and everybody in that stadium groaned on the Boonville said because it WAS an interception... but Ballard somehow ripped the ball away...and grabbed in at the Miner 19... and with just 18 second Mockobeewent in from the 9... and also ran in the game typing 2 point play 38 all. OT saw both teams score easity... but Linton failed on a roll out pass/run on their 2 point attempt and lost 44-42. Miners outgained Boonville on the ground but we didn't have any pass game, and the Pioneers put up 128 in the air... Plus just before halftime a handoff snafu saw the pigskin hit the ground bounce right up in the full stride of Mockobee who galluped for a hand me a TD of 38 yards. For me the game does hold value for Linton. I know it's a haul... but that's about what we are looking at if we want to avoid going back to playing the other small 1A teams. I think scheduling Boonville was better than say washington and/or Pike Central or PRinceton. Southridge is on the the upper tier football teams in the south. Boonville has certainly won games and play a tough schedule as well. I suppose in our region we could look at Owen Valley or Edgewood... I know we played OV for many years many moons back. In my years we played Shenandoah and Indian Creek. I know there had been lots of talk with Vincennes Lincoln over the years.. and that would have been a good matchup.. but they already were playing North Knox and I don't think wanted the Schedule to contain too many smaller local schools. Believe me.. I'd of enjoyed the Miners coming to Vincennes. Northview? or up in the WCC... but you never know in a time span what is gonna be a good game. South Verm has had a couple solid years... Fountain Central at one time was THE team up there and we collided a couple times... winning a couple, losing another. Seeger? I do know this... today's world a small school like Linton.. public... isn't gonna be able to travel 2 hours to every away game... the costs are gonna be too much. I like the local rivalries... granted maybe they are so much rivalries in the W-L history... but yes there were years where NorthDaviess was the big dog.. and they certainly handed one of their worst losses during my time (22 years) radio. North Knox has had years where the Linton game was a huge local deal... and last year they physically handed us an embarrasing blast on our home turf. Eastern Greene has only beaten once... the year they were state runnerups in 1A. So once in a while these teams rise up and it is always a big deal to beat Linton. The Sullivan Rivalry continued to produce great games and always some drama. LInton has been playing a little short-handed as well... 3 injuries...and of course the Quarantine issue. But we get several of those back this week. Not the injured guys...but in each case they should be back before season's end. The good thing is the guys who stepped up to play the last two weeks have certainly shown their worth! Boonville by looking at their roster... really had a turnover of players this year. By my count 20 seniors and another 17 who did not come back. Now... most of those were players who didn't really contribute varsity wise. Loosing Mockobee was the big one. But they moved the returning QB to a WB and have Conner at QB. Return a couple of O linemen.. but a lot of these guys who didn't start last year, got a lot of playing time. I don't see Linton looking past them... we have a lot of seniors this year... and I know they are a focused bunch. I'm hoping that we can continue showing the pass as a weapon... 4 passing TD's last week.
  14. Miners Travel to Cayuga to face 1-2 North Vermillion Falcons Linton makes the long journey to Cayuga to face North Vermillion... a game that has been a regular meeting every week 4 since 2015, but also had met in post season games in 2015 and 2014. The Falcons won that 2014 Regional game 31-8 that later saw the Falcons run the table beating Pioneer in the 1A state title game and finishing 15-0 for the year. The Miners would win both meetings in 2015, the second game a semi-state 56-27 win sending Linton to their first state title game. They lost that game to LCC, but would return in 2016 to beat Pioneer for their 1A state trophy, beating NV 55-0 along the way. Linton has dominated the series winning all six regular season meetings. Last year at the Roy is was a 52-7, 38-20 in 2019, 34-7 in 2018, 54-18 (2017), 55-0 (2016) and 21-7 in 2015. They also met every year from 1975 to 1980 with the Falcons winning 5 of those 7 games. Overall in 14 meetings, the Miners have won 9 and lost 5. Linton comes in 3-0 with a win at previously unbeaten Monrovia 34-8. They have been a 2nd half team but only in terms of the offense. They trailed 13-0 to Southridge at the half but won 27-13 shutting out the Raiders in the 2nd half. Linton beat 2-1 Sullivan 34-21 in a game that was 7-7 at the half. The Miners trailed 8-6 last week then put up 28 in the 2nd half and blanking the Bulldogs as well. Linton has been led by Jr QB Hunter Gennicks (#14 6’0 195) with 377 rushing and 4 TDs, averaging 125.7 per game. But the offense is much more than just Gennicks as 173 yards comes from Sr WB #2 Gabe Eslinger (6’0 205) and another 165 from Jr WB Hunter Johns (#12 5’8 170) with 7 TDs between them. Add to that Sr RB Drew Smith (#13, 6’2 215) with physical inside runs. The Offensive Line has been impressive with Sr Cameron Goodman (#54 6’3 200) a converted tight end at Tackle, Jr Aiden Giles (#56 6’3 215) the other. Guards last week were Jr #51 Wrigley Franklin (6’3 225) and Sr #65 Jackson Lynn (6’0 185) another converted TE pushed there by an injury to 1st week starter Freshman #69 Hank Gennicks (6’2 235). Sr #58 Donovan DeBruhl (6’0 275) and Sr #62 Cody Jackson (5’10 195) both missed last week but has also been contributors on the OL. Defense has been a strongpoint thus far for Linton, holding opponent’s known for their rushing attack (Southridge, Monrovia and Sullivan) to just 2.2 yards per carry. From the veteran line backing corps of Eslinger (leads the team with 38 stops, 4 TFL) and sr #44 Bracey Breneman (6’2 200); Johns (14 Tackles, 3 sacks, 3.5 TFL) and Smith (18 tackles 4.5 for loss). Franklin has 16 tackles, 4.5 for loss at DE, who along with Giles, Goodman, DeBruhl and sr #63 Jackson Fields (6’0 205) have shown speed and quickness to the ball. Pressure on QB’s has been impressive with Johns credited with 8 hurries, Franklin with 6. An experienced group of DBs has also been solid with 3 picks, 2 of those from Poe at CB whom along with Sr #7 Kaulin Padgett (5’8 190), Gennicks and Sr #32 Jaydan Miller (5’8 150). As well as Webb and RIggleman. North Vermillion has put up big offense...averaging 36.7 ppg. They opened up beating North Central 34-28 in overtime to open the season but have dropped 2 in a row including a high scoring 60-40 loss to 2-1 Covington last week. They also were on the wrong end of 50-36 tally against rival South Vermillion (1-2) in week 2. Soph QB Jerome White (#12, 6’1 205) has elusive moves in open field but is also a physical runner. He threw for 250 yards and ran for 78 is last week’s loss to Covington. The backfield consists of RB #34 Jon Martin (6’0 170) and FB #44 Carter Edney (Sr 5’10 205). #24 Landon Naylor, #32 Dalton Taylor, both seniors) and soph Cody Tryon are the receivers. Up front it was been #65 Aiden Hinchee (soph 6’2 185), and #72 Atticus Blank (Jr 6’2 265) on one side, #58 Brayden Schrader (Se 5’9 170) and #75 Weston Rowe (Sr 6’3 210) on the other with center #56 Evan Galloway (Jr 5’7 200). Schrader and Hinchee were both moved to the Offensive line from skill positions last year. Players to watch on the defensive side include Edney at ILB and Rowe on the defensive line. Other names on the defense are LB Landon Baker (soph 5’10 165) and DL Elijah Appel (Sr 6’1 275). Gennicks has hit 47% of his passes (20 -42-287 yards) with 2 TDs and 1 pick. Eslinger leads in receptions with 7 for 91, but have weapons with Se #24 Eli Poe (4-42), Sr Logan Webb (3-33) and Sr Aiden Riggleman (2-30) as well as Johns with 3 for 81. Coach Brian Crabtree and Coach Brian Oliver are very familiar with each other as Coach Crabtree's coaching years at North Central were a yearly opponent with the Miners.
  15. I always admire the Falcons work ethic... and boy those first few miner-falcon games were battles I agree. Linton can't come in and just go through the motions. Plus... in this day and age... you never know who will be on the field week in and out. A few key players can change the game quick. I agree that Linton should be the heavy fave here but NV has put up big offensive numbers. White had an impressive game last year for a soph QB. If there is any kink in the miner D at all.. it has been in giving up some big pass plays... but that has not been nearly as evident in 2021 and with the pass rush much more prominent...Linton has vastly improved that aspect. Now...I can't imagine NV putting up 32 points on LInton unless the JV defense is out there for a quarter. They've only given up 42 in 3 games against the likes of Southridge, Sullivan and Monrovia. I sure look forward to going to NV..always a friendly rockin' environment..and Martin and Brian are always is fun to talk with!
  16. One thing for sure... Linton can't go up to Cayuga thinking they have a W in hand. It would be nice to see the offense come out strong. I will be interested in how we contain the NV QB... he had 250 passing and 178 rushing.... we have a tendency to give up the big pass now and then.
  17. Linton makes the long journey to Cayuga to face North Vermillion... a game that has been a regular meeting every week 4 since 2015, but also had met in post season games in 2015 and 2014. The Falcons won that 2014 Regional game 31-8 that later saw the Falcons run the table beating Pioneer in the 1A state title game and finishing 15-0 for the year. The MIners would win both meetings in 2015, the second game a semi-state 56-27 win sending Linton to their first state title game. They lost that game to LCC, but would return in 2016 to beat Pioneer for their 1A state trophy, beating NV 55-0 along the way. Linton has dominated the series winning all six regular season meetings. LAst year at the Roy is was a 52-7, 38-20 in 2019, 34-7 in 2018, 54-18 (2017), 55-0 (2016) and 21-7 in 2015. LInton comes in 3-0 with a win at previously unbeaten Monrovia 34-8. They have been a 2nd half team but only in terms of the offense. They trailed 13-0 to Southridge at the half but won 27-13 shutting out the Raiders in the 2nd half. Linton beat 2-1 Sullivan 34-21 in a game that was 7-7 at the half. THe MIners trailed 8-6 last week then put up 28 in the 2nd half and blanking the Bulldogs as well. North Vermillion has put up big offense...averaging 36.7 ppg. THey opened up beating North Central 34-28 in overtime to open the season but have dropped 2 in a row including a high scoring 60-40 loss to 2-1 Covington last week. THey also were on the wrong end of 50-36 tally against rival South Vermillion (1-2) in week 2. Coach Brian Crabtree and Coach Brian Oliver are very familiar with each other as Coach Crabtree's coaching years at North Central were a yearly opponent with the Miners. Short Handed Miners Knock Monrovia From Unbeaten Status It was a perfect night for high school football with a perfect atmosphere in Monrovia where the green clad Bulldogs were off to a 2-0 start and looking to end Linton’s 2 year run of victories over them. Last year Linton and Monrovia battled to the final horn in a 42-36 Miner win. The Bulldog community was out in full force with a light spattering of rain falling early on, but no sign of the extreme heat we’ve had the past two Fridays. As the Miners took the field it was immediately noticeable the numbers were less in terms of players dressed in Miner Red White & Blue. Linton was already down a starting lineman as Freshman Hank Gennicks tries to get healthy, as well as Sophomore Ty Boyd (TE/ILB) does the same. Both hope to be back before season’s end. Joining that list was 2 year starter Senior Jaydan Miller who was a vital player at Free Safety. Jaydan is also the punter, and place kicker. Then you have the Covid Quarantine issue that has reared its ugly head once again affecting many if not all high school football teams (as well as everyone in general). I can’t tell you specifics on any of it, but I know that we were without starting OL/NT Senior Donovan DeBruhl, and starting WR Ayden Riggleman, and last week’s starting RG Senior Cody Jackson. I have no idea how many players were affected and not on the sideline, but it was more than a few. The Miners have proven to be a 2nd half team in both wins this season thus far. With the health news coming late in the week, I could feel a Miner team in pre-game preps in some degree of concern. There is always a “Next Man Up” attitude in Miner Land, and Coach Oliver and his staff always work kids at different positions, and give plenty of practice reps to 2nd teamers for just this reason. However, a long bus ride, this being the 1st road game and various players not playing; this set the stage for a possible let-down against a 2-0 team on their field for the 3rd week in a row. All that said, Linton’s defense came out precisely as they had all season. Back to Back runs from by the Bulldogs netted negative 6 yards rushing setting up a 3rd and 16. Monrovia had only thrown 3 passes in their opening two wins, but still junior QB Eli Wagner hit a wide open junior TE Corbin Byrnes at midfield, gaining a total 36 yards to the Miner 29, only kept out of the end zone by Hunter Gennicks tackle. Four consecutive dives from sophomore FB Brayton Belcher culminated in a 15 yard TD run at 7:57. Belcher tagged 2 more points on a run to make it 8-0. A 7-play 4:03 minute opening drive score that had Monrovia fans in cheers. Linton lost 4 on their first play from scrimmage, but nearly salvaged the series on a 10 yard screen play to senior RB Drew Smith. Junior Logan Webb, pressed into duty as both punter & kicker with MIller’s injury, to the Bulldog 41. Linton’s defense immediately gave the Miners a lift was sophomore DE Wrigley Franklin slammed into the Bulldog backfield causing Wagner’s hand-off to Belcher to jar loose. Actually several Miners were there as senior ILB Gabe Eslinger slammed Belcher to the ground, and senior OLB Jackson Lynn jumped on the loose ball at the Bulldog 42. Junior QB Hunter Gennicks looked to capitalize immediately with a long sideline aerial to senior WR Eli Poe. Poe had gotten behind DB Gavin Followell inside the 20 and the pass was on the nose at the 11 for at minimum a big gain, but possibly a TD had he kept his balance. But the football isn’t just a round ball, it has a unique shape indeed, and perhaps Poe was thinking about staying in bounds or maybe took his eyes off the ball for an instant and the ball bounded off his hands. We’ve all seen Eli make catches; and interceptions as we will again later in the game. Junior WB Hunter Johns did run for 12 for a First Down at the Bulldog 30 on 2nd and 10. However that’s where the Miners stalled out after an incompletion, a loss of four, and a small game set up 4th and 9. Gennicks tried a keeper but was met by senior LB’s Lennox Tkachuk and Alex Scdoris well short of needed gain at the Monrovia 25. It was a punt fest for the next 3 possessions, Linton once and the Bulldogs twice. Linton too over with 10:16 in the 2nd quarter at the Miner 35, and gained 9 on First Down with a strike from Gennicks to Webb (seeing his 1st action at WR with Riggleman out). Drew Smith then pounded ahead for 12 and a first down, and another perfect strike from Gennicks to Poe on an out pattern gained 17. The passing success led to more inside room, and Smith ahead for another physical run of 11 for a 1st Down at the Bulldog 21. After a 1 yard Gennicks keep, it was a pitch to the right to Eslinger who broke five tackles enroute to a 20 yard TD run that put Linton on the board at 7:24 of the 2nd. With Miller out as PAT kicker, Gennicks roll out pass/option was bottled up, and his pass for Breneman was knocked down. It looked to be a defensive slobber knocker as the scoreboard read 8 to 6 in favor of the hometown Bulldogs. Monrovia went back to ground and pound with Belcher on six of their next seven plays. Belcher converted a 4th a 1 on a Wagner keeper behind his center Adam Bales to their own 39, but Eslinger was in on four tackles in the series the last being with Johns to stuff Belcher short of the 1st down marker. Monrovia got a procedure call on 4th and 3, and thus Belcher punter, however it was a shank that would up at the Miner 37. Linton lost 5 on a pitch left to Johns perfectly played by Byrnes. Facing 3rd and 15 Gennicks tucked the ball and ran off tackle to the left, and literally ran over a Bulldog before Adam Bales and Hunter Leeds could twist his down at the Monrovia 33 yard line with a gain of 35. Gennicks was forced to scramble on the next play, and shot themselves in the foot with a holding penalty spot foul that pushed the ball all the way back to the Miner 43. With time a factor, Gennicks hit Webb again for a catch and run to the Bulldog 38. Hunter Johns put another 11 yards in the books with a counter to the 2 but still needing 4 yards to move the chains. Gennicks tried to hit Poe but Tkachuk put big hit on the Miner QB forcing and over throw, and a turnover on downs at the Bulldog 27. Monrovia QB Wagner took a knee to end the half with the Miners trailing 8 to 6. The halftime stats were heavy in Linton’s favor with a 171 to 87 total yard advantage. The 2nd quarter alone was 130 to 23. Of that 87 total was the one completed pass for 36 yards in the first possession of the game. They had rushed for 51 yards on 20 carries, just 2.6 per touch. Linton had run for 119 yards on 16 carries (7.4 per carry) and Gennicks was 4 of 10 for 52 yards passing. 3rd downs had not been pretty as Linton was 1 of 5, and unsuccessful twice on 4th down. Monrovia was 2 of 6 on 3rd and 1 of 1 on 4th. Gennicks had run for 64 yards on 6 carries for Linton, Belcher the workhorse for Monrovia with 53 on 13 carries, 36 of that in the opening quarter. But for the 3rd consecutive game the Miners were behind or tied at the half, twice on the low side of the score. Unlike Sullivan the week before, the Miner offense had moved the ball, and had seven first downs, but just six points on the board. Linton started quarter three with a 3 yard loss, but followed with a leaping grab by Webb that set up 3rd and 5 at Linton 42. Hunter Gennicks then took the shotgun snap, tucked the ball, paused, and ran behind the blocks of Nathan Watson, Cameron Goodman, and Wrigley Franklin for a run down the Miner sideline of 36 yards. The play’s success also saw the downfield blocking of Webb, and the physicality of Gennicks refusing to go down. Gennicks then hit Eslinger across the middle for a catch and run of 17 more to the Bulldog 5. One play later Drew Smith pile drove into the Endzone for the Miner’s first lead of the game. It marked the 3rd game in as many games that Linton scored on their 1st possession of the 2nd half. The 2 point run was good but nullified on a penalty. The replay was an incomplete pass, but Linton now lead 12-8. Monrovia came out with runs by Camic and Kostrzewski to get to their own 45 with a 1st down. Facing 3rd and 7, Wrigley Franklin got his hands on the pass from Wagner to Kostrzewski knocking it away, and forcing a Belcher punt. From their own 31 would move 3 yards and face a 3rd and 7. Once more it was Gennicks with a keeper on the left side battling through tacklers Eli Welch and Trenton Hale to get just enough to move the chains. He would gain 8 more yards a couple plays later leaving a 3rd and 2 at the Bulldog 49. If not for a nice play by Cole Petty knocking down a screen pass intended for Smith, Linton would have easily converted. Instead, Coach Oliver played field position and Logan Webb punted to the Bulldog 22 with 5:19 left in the 3rd. The Miner defense continued their solid play with 3 plays going nowhere for Monrovia on tackles by Eslinger, Gennicks, Breneman and Franklin. Then Monrovia suffered the play special teams coaches fear; the bad snap. Belcher tried to field the snap that had bounced half way back to him, but it went through his legs back to the Bulldog 8. He was mauled by Eslinger and Franklin at the 15 giving he Miners a huge chance to up their lead. They almost got in on a pass from Gennicks to Poe that got to the 3 yards line, then it was Hunter Johns untouched into the endzone for an 18-8 lead at 2:36 of the 3rd quarter. It would stay that margin on yet another failed 2 point conversion pass thru the air. Due to a personal foul call against Linton on the PAT, Webb’s kickoff was from Linton’s own 25, and a great return by Gavin Followell got to the Miner 18. However a yellow flag at the Linton 41 pushed the Bulldogs back their own 44. Linton would then pin their ears back and come after QB Eli Wagner. First Johns blitzed from the back side and dragged Wagner down for a loss of 6, then Smith fought off blockers and dropped WB Kostrzewki for another 6 yards. 3rd and 22 saw Wagner again under pressure, Aiden Giles being one of them, and his pass across the middle was picked clean by Eli Poe near midfield, his 2nd of the year. This put Linton at the Bulldog 45, which became the 24 after Johns took a counter left with great blocks from Lynn and Giles. From there Linton would grind down to the 12 but face a 4th and 10 in their early minutes of the 4th quarter. Gennicks would look to pass but be forced to scramble, and in doing so broke five tackles on some side steps and jukes to make Tyler Meurer be proud. He finished off the drive with a 1 yard dive, and connected with Eslinger in the back of the endzone for the 2 point conversion putting Linton up 26 to 8 with 9:40 left in the game. Down 18 points and time the enemy Monrovia was forced into a passing game they had not used thus far in 2021. Wagner did his Gennicks impersonation with a keeper for 6, and then scrambled away from another Johns’ blitz for get 8 more and another 1st down at the Bulldog 36. Facing 2nd and 10 it was Hunter Johns again with heavy pressure forcing Wagner out of the pocket, and with Wrigley Franklin in tow Wagner was dropped for a 9 yard loss. Bracey Breneman got in the blitz act on 3rd and Indianapolis with pressure on Wagner, with senior CB Kaulin Padgett swatting down a long sideline pass for Followell. Belcher would then punt to the Miner 38. Gennicks would use all of the play clock waiting to snap with 2 or 3 seconds left per play. The Miners kept things on the ground with runs of 5 from Johns, 4 from Smith, and then a break-away to the right side from Gabe Eslinger that gained 34 yards to the Bulldog 15. Once more the blocking of Jackson Lynn, Cameron Goodman and Wrigley Franklin made the play happen. Hunter Johns scored his 2nd TD of the night from 14 yards out and again he was untouched on the counter left. Eslinger bulled in for the 2pt play and Linton was on their way to win #3 with a 34-8 margin. The remaining 3:58 consisted of a 3 and out that concluded with senior NT Jackson Fields sack of Wagner for 8 yards. Linton would take three kneel downs to run out the clock. Linton dominated the stat lines, starting with a 368 to 82 advantage in offensive production. The 2nd half was bleak for Monrovia with the QB sack yardage while Linton rolled up 197 yards to (-5) for the Bulldogs. Hunter Gennicks had this 3rd 100+ yard rushing game with 132 on 13 carries and a TD. He accounted for nearly half of Linton’s 280 on the ground, but it was a solid night for Gabe Eslinger with 55 yards on 7 touches with a TD, Drew Smith 11 for 50 and a TD, and Hunter Johns 43 on 8 and 2 TDs. The passing game hit for 88 yards on 7 of 17 passing from Gennicks. 3 of those went to Logan Webb for 33 yards, 2 to Eli Poe for 28 and 1 each to Drew Smith (10 yards) and Gabe Eslinger (17 yards). Monrovia got 59 of their total 82 yards earned on their initial and only scoring drive of the night. Soph Brayton Belcher carried the brunt of the work with 17 carries and 49 yards with a TD. Todd Camic had 5 carries and 4 yards, Dustin Kostrzewski had -3 yards on 4 carries. Eli Wagner finished off with -8 yards on 8 carries which included -23 yards on 3 sacks. Total rushing for the Bulldogs was 42 on 34 carries, a 1.24 per carry average. Wagner hit just twice on 9 pass attempts, 1 for 36 yards to Corbin Byrnes, and 1 for 4 yards to Hunter Leeds. It was the best defensive effort to date in a season of great defense already. Linton has been stern against the run allowing just 2.2 per carry in these first three contests on 107 attempts and 235 rush yards. ILB Gabe Eslinger had a season high 16 tackles, 5 of these solo and most all first hits. He was in on 4 TFL (2.5). DE junior Aiden Giles had 8 tackles (1 TFL). Wrigley Franklin had 5 tackles, and was in on a sack of Wagner. He also had a tipped pass, as well as a knocked down pass. Hunter Johns had 4 stops, 2 sacks, 3 QB Pressures. Also with 4 tackles were Jackson Fields (1 sack), Jackson Lynn and Hunter Gennicks. For the Bulldogs it was OLB’s Trenton Hale with12 tackles and Alex Scdoris with 11 to lead the way. ILB Lennon Tkachuk harassed Gennicks with 4 hurries, and finished with 5 tackles and 1 TFL. LB Nick Arnold with 7, and 6 from DT Adam Bales. Webb filled in for the injured Jaydan Miller with 3 punts for 31.0 average, and handled kick-off duties with 5 for 41.0 avg. Linton racked up 17 first downs to just 6 for Monrovia (3 of those on their initial possession). Linton was hit with 6 penalties for 64 yards Monrovia 5 for 59. Miner were 41.7% on 3rd down (5-12) Bulldogs just 18.2% (2-11). Linton 1-3 on 4th down, Monrovia 1-2. Both teams were perfect in red zone (Linton 5-5, Monrovia 1-1). Linton has scored on 10 of 12 Red Zone appearances for the year. Time of Possession about even: 24:59 to 23:01 for Linton. 39 of the Bulldogs 43 plays were snapped in their own territory. 6 of Monrovia’s 11 possessions were 3 and out, while Linton scored on 5 of their 11, and only had two three and outs. If there is one thing that is highly evident through three weeks, it is that this Miner defense is one of the better versions of recent years. It is also evident that the success of the pass game, not necessarily making it a huge part of the game, but having the threat that makes defenses have to respect it…is another plus. This team has big play ability with not only Hunter Gennicks, but with Johns and Eslinger at weeks both have big runs. There have been 16 plays of 20+ Yards for the Miners, while giving up just 4. There is quickness and speed, but also physicality with the strength of Drew Smith at FB, but also as seen with Eslinger and Gennicks, as well as Johns. The offensive line has shone this season even while absorbing injury as well as quarantine issues. Much of the success has to be attributed to the names Watson, Franklin, Lynn, Giles and Goodman in this game, but also DeBruhl, Gennicks (Hank) and Jackson. Defensively the experience of the defensive backfield (Miller, Poe, Padgett, Riggleman, Gennicks and Webb) with a very good Linebacker corps (Eslinger, Breneman, Johns, Lynn, and Smith) with a talented quick group of down linemen (Giles, DeBruhl, Fields, and Franklin & Goodman) have the Miners confident. If we can just hold down the injury bug and keep away from Covid issues, this is shaping up to be a standout season for the red and blue.
  18. Linton makes the long journey to Cayuga to face North Vermillion... a game that has been a regular meeting every week 4 since 2015, but also had met in post season games in 2015 and 2014. The Falcons won that 2014 Regional game 31-8 that later saw the Falcons run the table beating Pioneer in the 1A state title game and finishing 15-0 for the year. The MIners would win both meetings in 2015, the second game a semi-state 56-27 win sending Linton to their first state title game. They lost that game to LCC, but would return in 2016 to beat Pioneer for their 1A state trophy, beating NV 55-0 along the way. Linton has dominated the series winning all six regular season meetings. LAst year at the Roy is was a 52-7, 38-20 in 2019, 34-7 in 2018, 54-18 (2017), 55-0 (2016) and 21-7 in 2015. LInton comes in 3-0 with a win at previously unbeaten Monrovia 34-8. They have been a 2nd half team but only in terms of the offense. They trailed 13-0 to Southridge at the half but won 27-13 shutting out the Raiders in the 2nd half. Linton beat 2-1 Sullivan 34-21 in a game that was 7-7 at the half. THe MIners trailed 8-6 last week then put up 28 in the 2nd half and blanking the Bulldogs as well. North Vermillion has put up big offense...averaging 36.7 ppg. THey opened up beating North Central 34-28 in overtime to open the season but have dropped 2 in a row including a high scoring 60-40 loss to 2-1 Covington last week. THey also were on the wrong end of 50-36 tally against rival South Vermillion (1-2) in week 2. Coach Brian Crabtree and Coach Brian Oliver are very familiar with each other as Coach Crabtree's coaching years at North Central were a yearly opponent with the Miners.
  19. there's been a high level of respect and kinship really with the North Vermillion coaches and players and even fanbases since the teams have been scheduled.. but it really got set in stone when Breaden Hollowell was killed in terrible auto accident. Linton's team went to the viewing as a team.. as did others from nearby schools... but I think that made the teams bond. Now I realize that nobody on the field this week other than the coaches themselves will have that bond.. altho I know NV will always remember #47... but that respect has been handed down it seems. Always a physical game on the field tho.
  20. Other than the 36 yard 3rd and 16 conversion pass... Linton D stopped Monrovia all night. That play must have stunned us because Belcher (who is defnitely gonna be another in a long line of tough Bulldog fullbacks!) was able to find just enough room to put the only Bulldog TD on the scoreboard... but after that, they didn't threaten. But the Bulldog defense ..especially #1 at LB were doing solid as well. We had a long pass dropped inside the 20..and another time wasted a long Gennicks run into Monrovia territory that a huge holding penalty made a 1st and 10...s 2nd and 35! 2nd half certainly started well for Linton driving down and scoring... another big play was the snap on a punt bouncing back to Belcher..then between his legs.. which set Linton up at their 15. Gennicks keepers (two 30+ runs) and well as big runs from Eslinger and Johns just started taking their toll on the BUlldogs. It was great to meet Coach Olson again.. and the friends I've made in the years we've been playing the Bulldogs!!! Not to mention Warren05!!
  21. Linton Defense is best its been in a while... but I'll wait til we see an all out passing team how we do. Still seem to give up a big pass play or two per game... 36 of Monrovia's 81 total yrds were on one pass play early on. But I will say... the defense is different this year... and the pressure on the QB is much more apparent. But Monrovia isn't a pass orientated offense... and they could not run so it put them in a bad predicament once our offense got afjusted and scored. Linton's offense is good too, but it seems like it takes a half then adjustments made and they come out and unload in 2nd half. We got to be able to count on the pass weekly. Week 2's win over Sullivan was due to the the passing success. It wasn't as sharp against Monrovia...but the run game with Hunter Gennicks keepers at QB had success. Gennicks has started the year with three 100+ rushing efforts..but Eslinger and Johns have both provided big runs and solid inside threat from Smith is always there. Linton definitely was affected by quanrantine last week.. I don't have numbers other than they said we had like 29 players dressed as of Thursday. maybe like 21 out. That included 3 kids that started against Sullivan... and we had a new injury as well and were out two others from injuries. So some guys swithed positions, and a couple others stepped in and made good on their chance to shine... but we just can't handle injuries in small school... and these quarantines due to contact exposure possibilieis really hurt... cause its something like 10 days then you gotta get so many prax in.. so a senior kid might miss 3 games and never have covid at all. As for LInton presence here on the Digest......there are a few reasons I think. first...a lot of people back in those "glory" years had viable interests.. their kids or relatives were players...plus I think it was the thrill of the ride of the climb in 1A. Linton was also playing a much lighter schedule...and was king of the hill in our region. As much as I love the Linton fan base there was definitely there have always been those over the top.. and those...simply unknowledgeable... I never like largesse in anything. But it all cuminated in 2016's 1A title... the push up to 2A and the schedule changing to add the likes of Southridge, Boonville, Monrovia, Ritter, etc and a sectional with Mater Dei as the dominant team... had not necessarily cause people to jump off the bandwagon... but tempered the fuel level. I am aggravated that our home crowds have been way down since the prominence of live video streaming.. people stay home or go watch from clubs or bars instead of being at the game. That disturbs me alot. I've not seen a vintage Miner crowd at the ROY in quite a while.. and that includes pre-Covid. I have to admit that I am not nearly as active on the Digest myself... and it's not that I made a decision to do it less.. I just have no time it feels like. 2020 in general was a bad time... and the fact we got all our games in last year was the lone bright thing of the year. WIth out schedule being much improved...the odds of seeing the Miners go 9-0 every year are much smaller... and being in a 2A sectional with Mater Dei.. sometime and probably again with Southridge... and every year there's someone else such as Tell City last year... well we aren't looking at a time where we are gonna repeat the years in 1A as won 6 sectionals in a row and 9 of 10. As you have heard me say earlier in another post... this really looks like the best over-all Miner team I've seen since the 2016 run. But we are still small in a 2A terms...and injuries will play a part in rhe long term... then add this quarantine situation and it the end result my not reflect the real talent level should have been on the field. I hope for the kids who have put in the effort and time that they don't lose games just by being in a room with someone who was in a room with someone who might have been in contact with someone with Covid. I realize it's more complicated than that... but dang. A kid being forced to sit out 3 games of his senior season when it's most likely not going to be Covid is just sad for the kid... it honestly seems to me that if someone comes down with Covid in a sport like Football... with the sweat, the actual contact... and in smaller schools... the small locker rooms... how does it not quarantine everyone?? Anyway... Iike Tut said... I've posted a few things in a MIner thread and it seems like i'm posting it to just the other 3 or 4 Lintonites in the room. I try to have a buildup to the game and cover the other team as much as I can. WIth North Vermillion next up.. I figure a LInton NV thread will have a few more hits with the WRC thread always busy it seems. I also figure the NK Linton game with be intense buildup as the Warriors put it to us at the ROY last year....
  22. well.. 100+ meetings... 15 miles apart... 22-16 OT win last year... bad blood always... 1-0 Linton hosts 1-0 Sullivan.... always worthy of big game status in these parts.
  23. 2ND Half Domination leads to Miners 1st victory If you waited until halftime to come to the Roy, or tune in the broadcast; well you might have thought how could the Miners be down 13-0 coming out of the locker room?! Perhaps the Miners came out with opening game jitters, but the Miner defense had kept it from being worse. Halftime adjustments and perhaps a bit of old time re-focus paid dividends immediately that led to a 27-0 2nd half performance and the Miners first win over Southridge in 8 meetings. Actually, the offense looked sharp on their opening series with a short pass from Junior QB Hunter Gennicks to Senior Wideout Eli Poe gaining 8 yards, followed by a straight ahead churn of 5 yards from Senior Fullback Drew Smith. Then disaster struck as Gennicks tried to make a last minute pitch in the midst of several Raiders draped over him, and the ball was knocked free by Linebacker Caleb Kramer, with Aiden Jochem falling on the ball at the Miner 27 yard line. However this experience Miner Defense had no plans to let Southridge take advantage, and stuffed the vaunted Raider running game down in 2 plays, then QB Levi Neukam saw the ball ever so slightly slip out of grasp, perhaps courtesy of Miner Senior ILB Gabe Eslinger. It squired forward to the Miner 18 where Senior Free Safety Jayden Miller landed on it. Series two ended with Gennicks 9 yard run just short of the needed yardage, and Miller punted 32 yards to Jochem, and again the Raiders started in Miner territory. But the Defense for the 2nd time shut down Southridge in 3 plays resulting in a Jochem punt into the endzone with 5:06 in the first. The Miners showed offensive life with a 10 yard run from Junior WB Hunter Johns, followed by a 22 yard Raider-dragging run from Gennicks that set Linton up at the Raider 49, but Southridge rose up to make 3 stops, and Miller pinned the Raiders at their own 9 on a perfect punt fair caught by Kaden Neukam. Linton had a chance to play the field position game with a stop, and had a great chance on a 3rd and 7 at the Raider 12 when Kaden Neukam got free space on an excellent fake to Jochem, and rambled 16 yards to the 28 before Johns and Miller made the tackle. Another 3rd down apparent stop went aside when Junior DE Wrigley Franklin was tagged with a facemask call just after dropping the Raider QB at the line of scrimmage. The Raiders would get their 3rd first down of the drive and reach the Miner 40 but a holding call pushed them back to their own side of the 50. After Smith nearly picked off an attempted screen, Neukam nearly hit a wide open Carter Whitehead on the hash marks but Senior DB Kaulin Padgett cause just enough disturbance for an incompletion. Jochem’s ensuing punt rolled dead at the Miner 4. Then…Disaster #2. Eslinger burst through the line to the 10 looking for more but Jochem wrangled the ball out of Gabe’s arm at the Miner 9. The Miner Defense made the Raiders earn it, but Jochem out ran them to the right corner for the game’s initial score at 6:22. Max Jessee nailed the PAT kick for a 7-0 Raider lead. Linton’s offense was stymied leading to a 3 and out and another Miller Punt. All through 2020 Jayden had been an effective weapon punting the ball, as he had all game long, but something I hadn’t seen in many a year would lead to disaster #3… and unless my eyes deceived me, it appeared his punt went off the back of one of the three protector big men in the punt formation. Carter Harris would jump on the ball at the Miner 24 with 4:53 in the half. The Miner Defense once more refused to crumble and had a 3rd and 17 after back to back negative plays made by Smith (-5) and both Franklin and Sr DE Cameron Goodman (-2). But the pass play missed earlier made a reappearance, this time with Whitehead making the catch at the Miner 9. Still it came down to under a minute with 4th down at the1 yard line. It looked like the Miners might make the stop, but Jochem was able to stretch out the defense and just get in on the outside of the end zone. However, Jessee’s PAT kick was missed to the left, leaving the score 13-0 Raiders with just 48 seconds to wind down to the half. The Roy was a little shell shocked to be honest as the teams headed to the locker rooms. My feeling was that it could have been a bigger margin deficit, and that the Linton defense had kept the Miners in the game, and that if the offense could eliminate their self-destruction; well there was 24 minutes left of football to be played. Neither offense had looked good & both were under 100 yards of total yardage, and little to no passing game on either side (a collective 3 of 14). Turnovers had been the big number for both teams not just Linton. 2 Miner fumbles and a punt implosion had put the Raiders put Southridge on the Miner doorstep three times while the lone Raider fumble took away a scoring opportunity. Linton had more rushing (18 for 75, 4.17 per carry) while the Raiders could only muster 2.9 per carry (22 for 64). The one Raider pass completion accounted for 22 yards giving Southridge the edge in yardage 86 to 84. Everybody knows the 1st series of a 2nd half is a key moment for both sides in a close contest. It took two plays for that momentum to change. After an opening 2 yard loss on a stop by Johns and Eslinger, QB Neukam lost the exchange with his RB and Drew Smith fell on the ball at the Raider 32. Still, the Miner offense struggled as DE Matt Altmeyer, & ILB Hunter Eckert made defensive plays to force a 4th down and 6 at the Southridge 29. It would be the strength of Gabe Eslinger who broke a couple tackles and eeked out the 1st down yardage by a yard. With numerous Raiders going down with cramp issue multiple plays in a row, it was Hunter Johns taking the inside counter and with a large hole created by the offensive line cruised to a 19 yard score. That line consisted of Tackles Senior Cameron Goodman and Freshman Hank Gennicks; Guards Wrigley Franklin and Aiden Giles (both juniors) and junior Center Nathan Watson. The 2nd half also saw Sr Donovan DeBruhl was essentially an extra lineman at a Tight End position giving the Miners extra girth that seemed to spur the rushing game. Jayden Miller hit the PAT and a 13-7 score at 8:56 of the 3rd Quarter. We spoke of disasters for Linton in the 1st half, Southridge faced their 2nd such disaster on the 1st play after the kick-off. As Neukam rolled out to pass, Franklin applied pressure and the pass attempt went to Whitehead across the middle. This time there were three Miners surrounding Whitehead, and Eslinger got a hand on the ball, tipping in air bound, then juggling, then making the interception then running 25 yards to the Raider 25. A block in the back started the possession at the Raider 35. But again, like the Miner D, the Southridge D refused to roll over particularly Jr ILB Caleb Kramer was involved in five consecutive stops. Another 4th down and 6 faced Linton at the Raider 31, and this time it was Hunter Gennicks making a play with his feet for an 8 yard gain. Linton pushed inside the 10 to the 6, and on 3rd down Gennicks would push through off tackle to tie the score at 13 with 4:33 left in the 3rd. Miller would give the Miners the edge 14-13 with a solid PAT. Southridge seemed to dig deep realizing they needed to stop the bleeding. Jochem opened with back to back runs for a 1st down and their own 37. Kaulin Padgett made perhaps the play of the game on a 2nd and 7, as the Raiders popped out the pass play down the seam that had been open before, and appeared to be wide open again. Neukam’s pass looked to be on the mark which looked to be a certain touchdown in the making. At the last second Padgett, coming over from cornerback, leaped and knocked down the pass. Jochem was stuffed by Sr NT Jackson Fields, and Sr ILB Bracey Breneman on 3rd down forcing a punt, but also pinning the Miners at their own 11. It was Johns again with a 16 yard counter that moved the ball out to the 37, out of the shade of their own end zone. The Raider D stiffened with Eckert and safety Caleb Neukam making stops. Miller once more pinned the Raiders inside the 20 and the 4th quarter began. Bracey Breneman brought the Miner faithful to their feet with a big hit on Neukam dropping the Raider QB to their own 10 on 1st down. A 3rd down pass for Jochem on the sidelines was beautifully caught but solid defense from Eli Poe using the sideline barrier made it incomplete. The Raiders were forced to punt facing a 4th and 11. The explosion factor that has always been Miner Football chose this time to return to the forefront. Gennicks kept the ball on the opening play from the Raider 46, and busted through tacklers and streaked down the middle of the field to pay dirt to push Linton to a 20-13 lead. But the door was left just open as the PAT sailed left leaving the margin at 7 with 9:46 left. Things got more nerve wracking as soph Yamil Arroyo returned the Drew Smith kick-off to the mid field stripe. However the Miner defense had been on point all night, and maintained that in this key possession. Goodman, then Eslinger made 1 yard stops on Neukam, then Johns read the swing pass to Jochem setting up a 4th and two at the Miner 42. Electing to go for it, Southridge looked to have drawn multiple Miners offside; but, the official call was Procedure on the Raiders and that changed the decision to punting the ball. Jochem did his job with a high punt that Miller fielded with a fair catch at the Miner 7. One more it was the legs of Hunter Johns with the big play, again on a counter catching the Raiders following Gennicks. Johns busted free for a 27 yard gain which just about cut out the lights on the game but not quite yet. From the Miner 38, Gabe Eslinger powered through the Raider D with impressive strength and reached midfield on a game of 12, but Whitehead punched the ball loose with Carter Harris leaping on the pigskin at midfield. With 4:02 left in the contest, Southridge had an opportunity down a score and PAT, and a lead with a 2 point conversion. The Miners had not had good results in these type of endings against the Raiders to date. With both fan bases on their feet, Neukam went deep on a wheel route Jochem with almost identical results to the early play. Jochem leaped and caught the ball, but Poe’s hit put him out of bounds and incomplete. After Drew Smith stuffed Jochem at the Miner 48, a 3rd and 8 pass for Whitehead was over thrown possibly affected from Wrigley Franklin’s pressure. On 4th down, more pressure in the form of Johns from OLB forced Neukam to scramble. He made a great effort refusing to go down, and appeared to be lunging for the necessary yards went Hunter Gennicks stepped in to bring him down just a yard shy. Linton ball. It was quite the night for Gabe Eslinger, and knowing him I’m sure he beat himself up for the two fumbles. Besides a key interception that led to the Miner go ahead score, he would drive the nails in with a 55 yard run. It showed speed I didn’t think he had as he reached the second level and darted to the Raider sideline about their 40 and turned on the jets keeping a mere inches in bounds and out running the defense to the delight of the South End Zone Miner Fans. Miller drilled the PAT despite being hit after the kick but the celebration had begun as Linton took a 27-13 lead with 2:24 remaining. Southridge would not surrender, and Neukam was forced to the air 8 times in a row. Once he gained 11 on a scramble after pressure from Giles, but the passes didn’t provide the big play needed. Neukam’s pass to Myles Kerkhoff bounced into his arms on 4th and 4 incomplete, and Linton would take a knee from their own 42 to achieve the win. The 2nd half numbers were vastly different from the opening half. Particularly for the Miners. Of Linton’s 320 total yards, 236 came in the 2nd half; All of that on the ground. Southridge could only manage 136 total yards, and only gained 50 in the 2nd half. Neither team was a threat in the air, Linton just 2 of 9 for 9 yards, and Southridge hitting just 4 of 20 for 35 yards. The Miners tallied 311 rushing yards led by Hunter Gennicks’ 125 on 20 touches with 2 TDs. Hunter Johns (7-84 TD) and Gabe Eslinger (9-80 TD) along with some bruising inside runs from Drew Smith (9-20) all made contributions. Eli Poe had one catch for 8 yards, Eslinger the other for 1 yard. Southridge combined for 101 rush yards on 36 carries, just 2.8 per carry. Aiden Jochem let with 40 yards on 13 carries and 2 scores; Levi Neukam with 36 on 12 carries and Kaden Neukam 4 for 21. Levi was 4 of 20 passing with an interception thrown. Jochem, Neukam (Kaden), Whitehead and Keaton Allen each had a catch. Eslinger led defensively with 8 total tackles, 2 assisted TFL’s, and a big interception. Franklin was in on 3 TFL’s and 7 tackles (5 solo). Hunter Gennicks with 7, Johns added 6 tackles, Smith 5, Miller 4. Padgett was busy defending 5 passes, Johns with 4. Smith and Miller each had Fumble Recoveries. Caleb Kramer had a big night for the Raiders defensively with 15 total tackles, Hunter Ecker with 11. Yamil Arroyo and Aiden Jochem both with 8 and 6 each from Matt Altmeyer and Kaden Neukam. JOchem recovered 2 fumbles, Carter Harris the other. Jayden Miller punted 5 times with a 31.8 average, inside the Raider 20 on 3 of those. He was 3 of 4 in PAT kicks. Drew Smith kicked off 4 times mostly squibs up the middle with a 27.4 average. Jochem punted 5 times for a 46.2 average, 3 inside the 20 including a touchback. Max Jessee was 1 of 2 on PATs and had 3 kickoffs with a 44.67 average. The Miners had 14 first downs to Southridge’s 6. The Raiders had 8 penalties for 57 yards compared to Linton’s 5 for 45 yards. Each team with 3 turnovers. Linton 3-11 on 3rd downs, 2-2 on 4th Downs, with the Raiders 4-15 on 3rd and 2-5 on 4th. Both teams were perfect in the red zone (each 2 for 2). Time of Possession was Linton at 25:30, Southridge at 22:30 with total play count about even at 56 for SOuthridge, 53 for Linton. Linton had 4 explosive plays (20+ yards) versus just one for SOuthridge. Linton’s Defense had 6 TFL for 17 yards included and 8 yard sack, while Southridge had 5 TFL for just 6 yards. Week 2 brings the 100+ meeting between Sullivan and Linton. The Golden Arrows will bring a 1-0 record and a high scoring offense to the Roy after a 35-6 win over North Knox last week. Linton won last year in an exciting 22 to 16 overtime battle at Sportland Field, and have won 2 in a row, and 5 of the last 6 meetings. Southridge will host Boonville (0-0) in Huntingburg. This was the last meeting in the regular season between Raiders and the Miners as Parke-Heritage will be in that slot in 2022. I would expect a huge turnout next Friday as Sullivan is bound to bring a large entourage, and I would certainly more than expect Lintonians in full turnout. It should be quite the setting albeit hot and a highlight of the season.
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