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North Knox (3-3) at Linton (6-0)


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Miners and Warriors to Tangle at the Roy on Homecoming Night.

 

North Knox and Linton is another long term rivalry for Linton that dates back to the Bicknell Bulldogs days of battles on the gridiron.  I only have records to 1930, but Linton seemed to get the best of that series from 1930 to 1958 winning 21 of 27 meetings with 2 of those ties.  Oaktown, Bicknell, Freelandville and Vigo consolidated to North Knox in 1963.  It became Miners vs Warriors in 1966 with newly christened North Knox winning the first 7 of 8, and 9 of the first 12.  For whatever reason these two teams, separated by 30 miles of farmlands, did not meet in 1972 nor ’73, then again not in 1980-81-82.  But they’ve met every year since 1983, sometimes twice a year which I have totaled up as 58 times with the Miners winning 42 of those, and including those 1930-58 Bicknell years Linton leads 63-20-2.  Linton has dominated on the gridiron but North Knox won three in a row from 1990 to 1992.  The Miners then won 32 of the next 36.  The Warriors last win was a dominant one in 2020 at Roy Williams Field in Linton that shocked Miner Fans, 27-14.  Linton had won 14 in a row coming into that game.  That loss, and another in 2009 (15-7) are the only two losses Linton has had to the Warriors from 2000 onward.  Linton got revenge on the 2009 loss by blasting NK 44-0 in the sectional rematch, but had to wait a year for the big loss in 2020.  That would be last year’s 38-24 win at Warrior Field.   The Miners and Warriors have met in post-season 7 times, when they’ve been in the class and sectional, with Linton winning all 7.  Being that both schools are in Sectional 37, it could happen again.

 

Josh Chambers in the head coach of North Knox, this being his 8th season at the helm.  They went 8-3 last year, matching his 8-4 2019 season in wins but both seasons ended with losses in sectional play.  Since the new post season system came into place in 1985 I don’t show the Warriors with a sectional title, but I know they had a rich tradition in the early 70’s.  The best season in the 2000’s came with Shawn McDowell at the helm, in 2014 finishing 9-3 where they lost to Linton 41-0 in sectional championship. With Chambers NK has had winning campaigns in each of the last 3 years.

 

 Having to replace some big names in the North Knox program due to graduation certainly a big thing to do.  Rhett Sheren rumbled for 262 yards in the 2020 win, and had 67 in 2021.  Holtman Doades had 205 rushing against the Miners in the 2021 loss.  They do return QB Mason Lyons, FB Kale Jones and both Tight Ends, or as they call them (Y & Z) in Brennan Messel and Devan Kent.  Up front 3 year starters Dylan Bond (5’11 225) and Landyn Worstell (6;2 185) return to lead newcomers Logan Foster (5’10 190), Jacob Etmeier (5’9 250) both seniors, and sophomore Garret McGuire (5’11 170).  I’ve also seen Blake Goodwin in there at 5’11 335.  Junior RB Carter Lemberg is in Sheren’s familiar role, as the offense has not change in any way.  Lamberg averages 6.8 per carry and has 693 yards on 102 carries, but is not the leading rusher of the Warriors; That person is WB Caleb Bottum, another junior.  Bottum, a starter at safety last year as a sophomore, has an impressive 961 yards on a team high 104 carries with 9 rush TDs.  QB Lyons adds 131 yards on 37 keeps and those three have all but 28 of NK’s 271 rush attempts, and all but 178 of their rushing team total of 1963.  Passing has never been a Warrior commodity but they always seem to complete a couple big passes in past Miner meetings.  Lyons has only put the ball up 37 times, hitting just 32.% of them (12) for 191 yards with 1 score and 3 interceptions thrown.  I would also point out that in the 2020 loss to NK, then QB Reese Hammelman threw only 8 times, hitting 4 for just 23 yards.  Everyone and their brother in law know what you will get when NK lines up across from you. It’s mano a mano, and if you can stop them running the ball successfully, you have a good chance at a win.  NK has put up over 400 rush yards twice this year (489 vs Eastern Greene, 358 last week against Pike Central), and 306 against Sullivan in week 1.  Messel had the most catches with 4 (61 yards), with 3 from Kent (49 yard and the lone air TD).  As is always the case, opponents will load the box on the warriors and both squads will fight hand to hand helmet to helmet in a huge scrum play after play.  Miner fans will hope that Lamberg, Lyons or Bottum will not pop thru that scrum into the secondary for big plays, but also that the defense isn’t lulled to sleep by anticipating the run only to see Warrior receivers 20 yards behind them wide open for huge plays. 

The Miner D came out with some changes last week in Elnora, and it looked to inspire the team, as well as supply depth at positions and put players were they seemed to be perfect fits.  I know there will still be things to work on and mistakes made but it looked like a most cohesive group, and as it’s said completion breeds excellence.  There is a lot of rotation at positions which not only gives guys a rest who play both sides, but allow time to watch and see what’s happening which can occasionally be a help.  Russell Goodman at ILB even as a freshman, has been more and more involved and is 2nd in tackles with 42 with 4.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks.    Bradyn Cox, 3rd in tackles with 39 and 1.5 TFL, as well as Christian Shonk who moved to ILB from the nose tackle spot previous.  Shonk has 4 TFL 1 sack and 9 Hurries.  These three man in ILB spot, with Paul Oliver and Wrigley Franklin at OLB.  Between Oliver and Franklin, both at 6’3” and leapers, they have 19 pressures on opposing QB’s, 13 TFL and 4 Sacks.  In addition, Oliver, just a freshman, has 2 picks (1 returned for a TD).and a fumble recovery, plus 2 blocked punts. Up front Shonk still saw action at NT, but it was a rotation with Soph Hank Gennicks and Jr Ty Boyd.  Boyd has 18 stops 3.5 for loss and .5 sacks.  He also was in the mix at DE along with Senior Aiden Giles and Junior Ashton White.  Giles had been at DE in 2021 but at ILB these first 5 games.  He has 37.5 stops 3 for loss and half a sack.  White has gone from mainly special team’s duty early in the year to time at ILB and more snaps at DE the last couple games.  White makes plays, and it was evident immediately against North Daviess.  He leads the team in total tackles with 43, with 5 TFL 1.5 Sacks and 5 Hurries.  All of this means you can have an assortment of talent on the field at any time.  Giles, Boyd, Gennicks, Shonk, White at any of the front 3 spots and feel good in any situation. 

 

The Defensive Backfield has seen good and back in 2022 giving up 16 pass plays of over 20+ yards but held a successful pass heavy 4-2 North Daviess squad with 1000-yard passer to just 6 of 15 for a mere 53 yards last week.  Miner Coaching staff made a couple changes with Hunter Johns moving to CB from Free Safety.  He has started at OLB in 2021, and the move put his speed and reaction time to the fore-front.  In non-passing plays he is an asset to containing the outside run pushing it to the inside, not to mention he is a great tackler as well. Braden Walters moved to Free Safety where I feel his 6’5” height plays a bigger role.  He’s already provided some big hits to break up would-be receptions.  Soph Jesse Voigtschild was at the other corner, with mainstay Hunter Gennicks at Strong Safety.  Gennicks speed makes it difficult for anyone to outrun him on a break-away, and his closing speed in a huge plus on any busted plays.  Gennicks is always solid on run support with 38 tackles, 23 of those solo, 2 TFL and 2 picks. Both picks would have been TDs but one was called back via a questionable flag.  You also have 6’5 Logan Webb with a lot of experience at CB, and add 6’1” sophomore Hayden Feltner in that mix.  Feltner is another special teams’ mogul with 20 tackles to his credit. 

 

The Miner offense has been a juggernaut in 2022.  Averaging 440.8 of total offense per game.  Remember that three games have had running clocks the entire second halves which means the bulk of those yards came in Quarters 1 and 2.  The most damage has come in the 2nd quarter with 135 of their total 304 being scored then.  The Miners have found themselves up at the half by scores of 50-0, 56-7, 34-13 and 36-0.  Only against Boonville have the Miners been behind at any time.  They have shown the ability to face adversity with important scoring drives at big moments against Monrovia, Sullivan and many times against Boonville.  The ability to churn out long time consuming drives as well as big play soul breakers, as evidenced by 38 plays of over 20+ yards.  Linton has also been successful in scoring 62.5% of their possessions (40 of 64), which is you look at varsity time it jumps up to 69.6% (39 of 56).  Linton has rushed for 1,853 yards with 30 rush TDs, averaging 308.8 per game.  Credit must be given to Center Nathan Watson, Guards Aiden Giles and Wrigley Franklin, and Tackles Jacob Breedlove and sand Hank Gennicks. They have been consistent from week one.  They love to compare Pancake Block tallies, but honestly a good block that springs a back for a big play or crucial first down and merely be a shove to be as effective.  But for them I’ll say Franklin leads with by my tally 22, Gennicks and Giles with 15 each.  Hunter Gennicks leads in touches (66) yards (788) and Tds (13) with an amazing 11.9 per carry average.  His partner in “the Firm” in the backfield is fellow senior Hunter Johns, who has 510 yards on 53 totes, 10 TDs and himself a 9.6 average doing the in between the tackles work.  Once more I bring out the fact these guys have essentially not played in at least 5 if not 6 quarters of games well at hand.  Voigtschild has broken a few long runs and adds 204 yards on 27 carries, Walters as well with 139 on 22 carries.  Capable back-ups are there with sophomore Eli Scott who started week 1, Russell Goodman, Ashton White, Bradyn Cox, Cody Pigg, and Tyson Walker all having their moments. 

A big plus to 2022 has been the array of receivers with size to this year’s edition.  Logan Webb came out to play football his junior year, and by week 3 he was very involved in the pass game.  At 6’4 he has proven to be Gennicks most targeted at 33 passes, and has made good on 18 of those for 195 yards and 2 TDs.  But the addition of two newcomers has bolstered the passing game to new heights.  The Air attack now accounts for 132.0 yards per game, with Gennicks on target 63% of his passes (57-90) for 785 yards with 10 TDs and just 1 interception thrown.  Hunter has had 1,000 yard passing seasons in both his shop and junior years, not to mention 916 rushing as a sophomore and 1,195 last years.  He is well within reason to eclipse both those again this year.  The addition of 6’5 junior Braden Walters, who like Webb, came out his junior year and as stand-out for the Miner Basketball program.  His 1st game was week 2, and he has had immediate impact with 18 catches for 286 yards and 4 scores.  Freshman Paul Oliver at 6’3” had 11 catches, 3 of those scores with 169 yards.  Voigtschild and Johns have 7 catches between them and 12 yards and a score.  It’s been awhile since the Miners have had this many viable receivers each with the ability to make the big play.

 

The Warrior defense will have their hands full, but it won’t be anything they haven’t seen and faced what Linton does.  They faced the same Boonville Pioneer offense Linton did and held them to 7 points in regulation before losing in OT 13-7.  Boonville put 40 on Linton.  While NK held Boonville’s QB Conner to a 1 of 11 passing night producing 23 yards and a pick, the same QB out 218 yards, 3 touchdowns on 12 of 21 passing.  So it’s to be seen how the Warriors fare.  Sullivan ran for 161 yards and 4 scores while passing for 136 and another score in week 1’s Arrow win 31-12.  By comparison Sullivan has 121 rushing and 224 passing against Linton in week 4.   NK is led in tackles by ILB junior Kaleb Archer with 69, 7 TFL and a Sack.  OLB Brennan Messel, a sophomore, is next up with 39, with the other ILB senior Logan Foster at 37 with 2 TFL.  Junior Caleb Bottum also has notched 37 stops from Free Safety. OLB Devan Kent had 3.5 TFL from OLB with 31 stops, with Corner back Lane Adams, another soph adding 30.  Nose Tackle Jean Pierre gets in the action with 25 tackles and 1 each of a TFL, Sack and Interception.   NK only returns 4 starters from the Linton game of 2021- Kale Jones at OLB, Dylan Bond at DT, Mason Lyons at CB and Bottum at Free Safety. 

 

NK comes to the Roy with an eye on upsetting the Miners on Homecoming.  As always the Miners have the target on their back, but even more so with a #1 ranking in 2A in the State.  The Warriors coming in after back to back wins over 1A North Central 35-0 and 3A Pike Central 35-14. Their other win came in week two 45-14 over 1A Eastern Greene.  Those wins come against a collective opponent Won-Loss of 2-15.  Their losses come to Sullivan (3-3) 31-17, 1A 6-0 Tecumseh 35-14 and to 4-2 A Boonville 13-7 in OT.  You can bet Coach Brian Oliver in year 10 at the helm of his Alma Mater will have his Miners primed with enthusiasm and intensity.  Coach Oliver is 45-17 since taking over for Steve Weber staring in 2013 and led Linton to the promised land of Lucas Oil in back to back years (2015 and 2016) with the trophy coming to Linton in 2016.  The bad taste of losing to North Knox in the Warriors last trip to Roy Williams (2020) still fresh in the mind, a game that saw Linton out done in physicality and embarrassed on their home turf.  Many of these current seniors were sophomores: Hunter Gennicks, Aiden Giles, Wrigley Franklin, Hunter Johns certainly remember that game.

Once more I can’t impress on Linton fans how important it is to fill the Roy with full voice and support for your Miners.  They have put on quite the show in 2022, as well as in 2021 and should be taking the field to a packed house of Miner Red and Blue.  Again we have been blessed by weather as it looks to be a perfect fall night for football.  You can bet North Knox will show up in full voice.  Beating Linton is always something huge locally, but beating Linton at Linton, on Linton’s Homecoming, when Linton is ranked #1 in the State would be talked about forever.  The crowd support has been stellar thus far, and was very impressive in the last home game with Sullivan.  This was noted by Coach Oliver and by the players themselves as helping them in many ways.  You can’t know how it feels unless you have been on that field and experienced it.   Let’s keep that happening for these guys. 

 

You can carry our radio broadcast online on your phone while at the game by going to www.wqtyradio.com.  Listen as the game plays out to hear all the pertinent info, and maybe a little more than you necessarily want to hear!  All the stats as they happen, and experienced play by play from Kevin Rader, and all the color you’d even need from my 23 years of coverage as well as my great memories of playing Linton Miner Football.

 

Go Miners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linton NK Pre Game Stats.docx

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1 hour ago, Miner_Pride said:

 

Miners and Warriors to Tangle at the Roy on Homecoming Night.

 

North Knox and Linton is another long term rivalry for Linton that dates back to the Bicknell Bulldogs days of battles on the gridiron.  I only have records to 1930, but Linton seemed to get the best of that series from 1930 to 1958 winning 21 of 27 meetings with 2 of those ties.  Oaktown, Bicknell, Freelandville and Vigo consolidated to North Knox in 1963.  It became Miners vs Warriors in 1966 with newly christened North Knox winning the first 7 of 8, and 9 of the first 12.  For whatever reason these two teams, separated by 30 miles of farmlands, did not meet in 1972 nor ’73, then again not in 1980-81-82.  But they’ve met every year since 1983, sometimes twice a year which I have totaled up as 58 times with the Miners winning 42 of those, and including those 1930-58 Bicknell years Linton leads 63-20-2.  Linton has dominated on the gridiron but North Knox won three in a row from 1990 to 1992.  The Miners then won 32 of the next 36.  The Warriors last win was a dominant one in 2020 at Roy Williams Field in Linton that shocked Miner Fans, 27-14.  Linton had won 14 in a row coming into that game.  That loss, and another in 2009 (15-7) are the only two losses Linton has had to the Warriors from 2000 onward.  Linton got revenge on the 2009 loss by blasting NK 44-0 in the sectional rematch, but had to wait a year for the big loss in 2020.  That would be last year’s 38-24 win at Warrior Field.   The Miners and Warriors have met in post-season 7 times, when they’ve been in the class and sectional, with Linton winning all 7.  Being that both schools are in Sectional 37, it could happen again.

 

Josh Chambers in the head coach of North Knox, this being his 8th season at the helm.  They went 8-3 last year, matching his 8-4 2019 season in wins but both seasons ended with losses in sectional play.  Since the new post season system came into place in 1985 I don’t show the Warriors with a sectional title, but I know they had a rich tradition in the early 70’s.  The best season in the 2000’s came with Shawn McDowell at the helm, in 2014 finishing 9-3 where they lost to Linton 41-0 in sectional championship. With Chambers NK has had winning campaigns in each of the last 3 years.

 

 Having to replace some big names in the North Knox program due to graduation certainly a big thing to do.  Rhett Sheren rumbled for 262 yards in the 2020 win, and had 67 in 2021.  Holtman Doades had 205 rushing against the Miners in the 2021 loss.  They do return QB Mason Lyons, FB Kale Jones and both Tight Ends, or as they call them (Y & Z) in Brennan Messel and Devan Kent.  Up front 3 year starters Dylan Bond (5’11 225) and Landyn Worstell (6;2 185) return to lead newcomers Logan Foster (5’10 190), Jacob Etmeier (5’9 250) both seniors, and sophomore Garret McGuire (5’11 170).  I’ve also seen Blake Goodwin in there at 5’11 335.  Junior RB Carter Lemberg is in Sheren’s familiar role, as the offense has not change in any way.  Lamberg averages 6.8 per carry and has 693 yards on 102 carries, but is not the leading rusher of the Warriors; That person is WB Caleb Bottum, another junior.  Bottum, a starter at safety last year as a sophomore, has an impressive 961 yards on a team high 104 carries with 9 rush TDs.  QB Lyons adds 131 yards on 37 keeps and those three have all but 28 of NK’s 271 rush attempts, and all but 178 of their rushing team total of 1963.  Passing has never been a Warrior commodity but they always seem to complete a couple big passes in past Miner meetings.  Lyons has only put the ball up 37 times, hitting just 32.% of them (12) for 191 yards with 1 score and 3 interceptions thrown.  I would also point out that in the 2020 loss to NK, then QB Reese Hammelman threw only 8 times, hitting 4 for just 23 yards.  Everyone and their brother in law know what you will get when NK lines up across from you. It’s mano a mano, and if you can stop them running the ball successfully, you have a good chance at a win.  NK has put up over 400 rush yards twice this year (489 vs Eastern Greene, 358 last week against Pike Central), and 306 against Sullivan in week 1.  Messel had the most catches with 4 (61 yards), with 3 from Kent (49 yard and the lone air TD).  As is always the case, opponents will load the box on the warriors and both squads will fight hand to hand helmet to helmet in a huge scrum play after play.  Miner fans will hope that Lamberg, Lyons or Bottum will not pop thru that scrum into the secondary for big plays, but also that the defense isn’t lulled to sleep by anticipating the run only to see Warrior receivers 20 yards behind them wide open for huge plays. 

The Miner D came out with some changes last week in Elnora, and it looked to inspire the team, as well as supply depth at positions and put players were they seemed to be perfect fits.  I know there will still be things to work on and mistakes made but it looked like a most cohesive group, and as it’s said completion breeds excellence.  There is a lot of rotation at positions which not only gives guys a rest who play both sides, but allow time to watch and see what’s happening which can occasionally be a help.  Russell Goodman at ILB even as a freshman, has been more and more involved and is 2nd in tackles with 42 with 4.5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks.    Bradyn Cox, 3rd in tackles with 39 and 1.5 TFL, as well as Christian Shonk who moved to ILB from the nose tackle spot previous.  Shonk has 4 TFL 1 sack and 9 Hurries.  These three man in ILB spot, with Paul Oliver and Wrigley Franklin at OLB.  Between Oliver and Franklin, both at 6’3” and leapers, they have 19 pressures on opposing QB’s, 13 TFL and 4 Sacks.  In addition, Oliver, just a freshman, has 2 picks (1 returned for a TD).and a fumble recovery, plus 2 blocked punts. Up front Shonk still saw action at NT, but it was a rotation with Soph Hank Gennicks and Jr Ty Boyd.  Boyd has 18 stops 3.5 for loss and .5 sacks.  He also was in the mix at DE along with Senior Aiden Giles and Junior Ashton White.  Giles had been at DE in 2021 but at ILB these first 5 games.  He has 37.5 stops 3 for loss and half a sack.  White has gone from mainly special team’s duty early in the year to time at ILB and more snaps at DE the last couple games.  White makes plays, and it was evident immediately against North Daviess.  He leads the team in total tackles with 43, with 5 TFL 1.5 Sacks and 5 Hurries.  All of this means you can have an assortment of talent on the field at any time.  Giles, Boyd, Gennicks, Shonk, White at any of the front 3 spots and feel good in any situation. 

 

The Defensive Backfield has seen good and back in 2022 giving up 16 pass plays of over 20+ yards but held a successful pass heavy 4-2 North Daviess squad with 1000-yard passer to just 6 of 15 for a mere 53 yards last week.  Miner Coaching staff made a couple changes with Hunter Johns moving to CB from Free Safety.  He has started at OLB in 2021, and the move put his speed and reaction time to the fore-front.  In non-passing plays he is an asset to containing the outside run pushing it to the inside, not to mention he is a great tackler as well. Braden Walters moved to Free Safety where I feel his 6’5” height plays a bigger role.  He’s already provided some big hits to break up would-be receptions.  Soph Jesse Voigtschild was at the other corner, with mainstay Hunter Gennicks at Strong Safety.  Gennicks speed makes it difficult for anyone to outrun him on a break-away, and his closing speed in a huge plus on any busted plays.  Gennicks is always solid on run support with 38 tackles, 23 of those solo, 2 TFL and 2 picks. Both picks would have been TDs but one was called back via a questionable flag.  You also have 6’5 Logan Webb with a lot of experience at CB, and add 6’1” sophomore Hayden Feltner in that mix.  Feltner is another special teams’ mogul with 20 tackles to his credit. 

 

The Miner offense has been a juggernaut in 2022.  Averaging 440.8 of total offense per game.  Remember that three games have had running clocks the entire second halves which means the bulk of those yards came in Quarters 1 and 2.  The most damage has come in the 2nd quarter with 135 of their total 304 being scored then.  The Miners have found themselves up at the half by scores of 50-0, 56-7, 34-13 and 36-0.  Only against Boonville have the Miners been behind at any time.  They have shown the ability to face adversity with important scoring drives at big moments against Monrovia, Sullivan and many times against Boonville.  The ability to churn out long time consuming drives as well as big play soul breakers, as evidenced by 38 plays of over 20+ yards.  Linton has also been successful in scoring 62.5% of their possessions (40 of 64), which is you look at varsity time it jumps up to 69.6% (39 of 56).  Linton has rushed for 1,853 yards with 30 rush TDs, averaging 308.8 per game.  Credit must be given to Center Nathan Watson, Guards Aiden Giles and Wrigley Franklin, and Tackles Jacob Breedlove and sand Hank Gennicks. They have been consistent from week one.  They love to compare Pancake Block tallies, but honestly a good block that springs a back for a big play or crucial first down and merely be a shove to be as effective.  But for them I’ll say Franklin leads with by my tally 22, Gennicks and Giles with 15 each.  Hunter Gennicks leads in touches (66) yards (788) and Tds (13) with an amazing 11.9 per carry average.  His partner in “the Firm” in the backfield is fellow senior Hunter Johns, who has 510 yards on 53 totes, 10 TDs and himself a 9.6 average doing the in between the tackles work.  Once more I bring out the fact these guys have essentially not played in at least 5 if not 6 quarters of games well at hand.  Voigtschild has broken a few long runs and adds 204 yards on 27 carries, Walters as well with 139 on 22 carries.  Capable back-ups are there with sophomore Eli Scott who started week 1, Russell Goodman, Ashton White, Bradyn Cox, Cody Pigg, and Tyson Walker all having their moments. 

A big plus to 2022 has been the array of receivers with size to this year’s edition.  Logan Webb came out to play football his junior year, and by week 3 he was very involved in the pass game.  At 6’4 he has proven to be Gennicks most targeted at 33 passes, and has made good on 18 of those for 195 yards and 2 TDs.  But the addition of two newcomers has bolstered the passing game to new heights.  The Air attack now accounts for 132.0 yards per game, with Gennicks on target 63% of his passes (57-90) for 785 yards with 10 TDs and just 1 interception thrown.  Hunter has had 1,000 yard passing seasons in both his shop and junior years, not to mention 916 rushing as a sophomore and 1,195 last years.  He is well within reason to eclipse both those again this year.  The addition of 6’5 junior Braden Walters, who like Webb, came out his junior year and as stand-out for the Miner Basketball program.  His 1st game was week 2, and he has had immediate impact with 18 catches for 286 yards and 4 scores.  Freshman Paul Oliver at 6’3” had 11 catches, 3 of those scores with 169 yards.  Voigtschild and Johns have 7 catches between them and 12 yards and a score.  It’s been awhile since the Miners have had this many viable receivers each with the ability to make the big play.

 

The Warrior defense will have their hands full, but it won’t be anything they haven’t seen and faced what Linton does.  They faced the same Boonville Pioneer offense Linton did and held them to 7 points in regulation before losing in OT 13-7.  Boonville put 40 on Linton.  While NK held Boonville’s QB Conner to a 1 of 11 passing night producing 23 yards and a pick, the same QB out 218 yards, 3 touchdowns on 12 of 21 passing.  So it’s to be seen how the Warriors fare.  Sullivan ran for 161 yards and 4 scores while passing for 136 and another score in week 1’s Arrow win 31-12.  By comparison Sullivan has 121 rushing and 224 passing against Linton in week 4.   NK is led in tackles by ILB junior Kaleb Archer with 69, 7 TFL and a Sack.  OLB Brennan Messel, a sophomore, is next up with 39, with the other ILB senior Logan Foster at 37 with 2 TFL.  Junior Caleb Bottum also has notched 37 stops from Free Safety. OLB Devan Kent had 3.5 TFL from OLB with 31 stops, with Corner back Lane Adams, another soph adding 30.  Nose Tackle Jean Pierre gets in the action with 25 tackles and 1 each of a TFL, Sack and Interception.   NK only returns 4 starters from the Linton game of 2021- Kale Jones at OLB, Dylan Bond at DT, Mason Lyons at CB and Bottum at Free Safety. 

 

NK comes to the Roy with an eye on upsetting the Miners on Homecoming.  As always the Miners have the target on their back, but even more so with a #1 ranking in 2A in the State.  The Warriors coming in after back to back wins over 1A North Central 35-0 and 3A Pike Central 35-14. Their other win came in week two 45-14 over 1A Eastern Greene.  Those wins come against a collective opponent Won-Loss of 2-15.  Their losses come to Sullivan (3-3) 31-17, 1A 6-0 Tecumseh 35-14 and to 4-2 A Boonville 13-7 in OT.  You can bet Coach Brian Oliver in year 10 at the helm of his Alma Mater will have his Miners primed with enthusiasm and intensity.  Coach Oliver is 45-17 since taking over for Steve Weber staring in 2013 and led Linton to the promised land of Lucas Oil in back to back years (2015 and 2016) with the trophy coming to Linton in 2016.  The bad taste of losing to North Knox in the Warriors last trip to Roy Williams (2020) still fresh in the mind, a game that saw Linton out done in physicality and embarrassed on their home turf.  Many of these current seniors were sophomores: Hunter Gennicks, Aiden Giles, Wrigley Franklin, Hunter Johns certainly remember that game.

Once more I can’t impress on Linton fans how important it is to fill the Roy with full voice and support for your Miners.  They have put on quite the show in 2022, as well as in 2021 and should be taking the field to a packed house of Miner Red and Blue.  Again we have been blessed by weather as it looks to be a perfect fall night for football.  You can bet North Knox will show up in full voice.  Beating Linton is always something huge locally, but beating Linton at Linton, on Linton’s Homecoming, when Linton is ranked #1 in the State would be talked about forever.  The crowd support has been stellar thus far, and was very impressive in the last home game with Sullivan.  This was noted by Coach Oliver and by the players themselves as helping them in many ways.  You can’t know how it feels unless you have been on that field and experienced it.   Let’s keep that happening for these guys. 

 

You can carry our radio broadcast online on your phone while at the game by going to www.wqtyradio.com.  Listen as the game plays out to hear all the pertinent info, and maybe a little more than you necessarily want to hear!  All the stats as they happen, and experienced play by play from Kevin Rader, and all the color you’d even need from my 23 years of coverage as well as my great memories of playing Linton Miner Football.

 

Go Miners

 

 

 

 

great read as always...see you this evening...

 

 

 

Linton NK Pre Game Stats.docx 44.79 kB · 0 downloads

 

great read as always...see you this evening...

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