Bluejays Distance Themselves From Warriors!
The old rivalry between North Judson-San Pierre High School and Winamac High School added yet another chapter to the historic matchup on Friday. With limited attendance, the crowd was still entertained with a hard hitting Hoosier North Athletic Conference game at Roudebush Field!
The Bluejays came out, initially, against the Warriors on the defensive side of the ball and began making things difficult early. On the opening possession, the Bluejays forced a three-and-out, putting the Warriors punt team into action on the first possession of the game. The Bluejay offense would begin on the slow side as well, but it would not last long. After moving backwards on their first two plays, the Bluejays found themselves in a third-and-fourteen situation. Running out of their shotgun formation, Senior quarterback Trey Hampton dropped back to pass, as the defensive line came full-boar. The aggressiveness played right into the Bluejays’ design, as they were setting up a halfback screen pass to Sophomore running back Cheyenne Allen. After catching the pass, Allen was able to turn on the jets to pick up fifteen yards, giving the Bluejays a new set of downs. The big punch for North Judson on their opening drive would come from Hampton, as the veteran quarterback made a perfect read on an option play, pulling the ball from his running back as the defensive tackle crashed down on him. Hampton then tucked the ball away and exploded thirty-four yards down field for the first score of the ballgame. After the successful extra point, North Judson found themselves leading 7-0 with 8:15 left to go in the first quarter.
The ensuing possession for the Warriors saw some signs of life, as Winamac began to run the ball with some authority. However, not long after a string of nice plays, the Bluejay defense snapped back to life. On a first-and-ten play, Senior quarterback Russell Compton dropped back to throw. Not being able to find an open target, Compton attempted to buy some time for himself. Using his athleticism, he eluded a few defenders, before being violently introduced to Brennen Benson, a 6’3 300lb Junior defensive lineman, who brought him down for the sack and a loss of four yards. The following play would yield similar results, as once again the Bluejays defense would find their way into Winamac’s backfield, resulting in yet another sack. The Warriors would respond well on the next play as they would hand the ball off to Shaun Pratt, who was able to pick up twelve yards on third-and-long. It was not enough for a first down, but was one of the better plays for Winamac early in the game.
After forcing a punt, the Bluejays offense came back to the field chipping their way through and around the Warriors’ defense, still holding on to a 7-0 lead as the second quarter wore along. The drive would stall out on third-and-six when Sophomore defensive end Zayne Bell exploded through the line to stuff the Bluejays in the backfield, forcing them to punt the ball back to the Warriors. As the first quarter came to an end, the scoreboard flashed the same 7-0 tally. The second quarter would see, once again, the Warriors scrapping to get yardage, but would start to gain some momentum. The Bluejays’ defense would continue to provide an enormous amount of pressure, as Russell Compton was unable to be fully comfortable in the pocket. On third down, with six yards to go, it would be Senior defensive linemen Tabor Brown who would explode through the line, getting to Compton before he was able to get rid of the ball, bringing him down for a sack, and forcing the Warriors into a punting situation yet again. The game would turn into somewhat of a punting battle as the two defenses continued to pick up momentum in the first half. The Bluejays would begin to move the ball down the field, as the clock neared the end of the second quarter. It would be the Warriors’ defense that would come up big on this drive. With 1:02 remaining in the first half, Winamac was able to intercept a pass at their own ten yard line, giving them a chance to either get points on the board, or run out the clock and head into halftime only trailing 7-0. The Bluejay defense had other plans. After an offensive penalty and Winamac being unable to move the ball, the Warriors lined up to punt with thirty-five seconds remaining in the half. The first punt attempt would be negated by a holding penalty against the Warriors. Winamac lined up to punt once again, with the punter standing in his own end zone. Tragedy would strike for Winamac, as the snap would be bobbled in the end zone, resulting in a safety, giving North Judson a 9-0 lead, and the Warriors kicking the ball back to the ‘Jays with twenty-four seconds remaining in the half. After a quality return by Cheyenne Allen, the Bluejays found themselves with the ball at the 40 yard line of the Warriors. On their first play, Hampton would drop back to pass, unleashing a bomb down the field, completing it to the 10 yard line of the Warriors, giving the ‘Jays a first down with ten seconds remaining. On the following play, Hampton would drop back to pass. With solid protection, the lefty would find fellow Senior Eli Blount, who had initially lined up in the slot receiver position to the left of the formation. At the snap of the ball, Blount would run a textbook “drag” route across the middle of the field, and would pull in a pinpoint pass from Hampton, then stride into the end zone with only four seconds remaining in the half. Following a successful extra point, the Bluejays held a 16-0 lead, which would be the score as the teams headed into the locker rooms at the half.
The second half would see the Bluejays continue to be in control of the game. From a defensive standpoint, the ‘Jays would only allow the Warriors to run 19 plays in the final two quarters. Eli Blount would provide an incredible defensive highlight for the Bluejays in the second half. With 7:40 remaining in the third quarter, Blount would jump a pass, and return it forty-five yards for a touchdown. After the successful extra point attempt, the Bluejays led the Warriors 23-0 with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter. The final punctuation of the game would come from Junior Owen Frasure. Lined up at the left wing position, and the ball on the Winamac four-yard line, Frasure would go in motion towards the right of the formation. He then took the handoff from Hampton, lowered his shoulder, and plowed into the end zone to give the final points of the ballgame, and the final score of 29-0.
The Starke County Co-op Play of the Game on WKVI came with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter, when Eli Blount intercepted a pass, which he returned forty-five yards for a touchdown to put the Bluejays up 23-0.
The Ashley Derrickson/Five Star Player of the Game Award went to North Judson Senior quarterback Trey Hampton, who had 14 carries for 106 yards rushing to lead the Bluejays, to go along with 92 yards passing, a rushing touchdown, as well as a passing touchdown in the 29-0 win.
The Bluejays will be back in action next Saturday when they play host to Culver Military Academy, while the Warriors will be traveling to Culver in our WKVI Game of the Week.
Statistics
North Judson
Rushing: 35 Carries 159 Yards 2 Touchdowns
Trey Hampton: 14-106-1; Cheyenne Allen: 10-38, Eli Blount: 5-10; JJ Blount: 2-5; Owen Frasure: 3-1-1; Aldric Harper: 1-(-)1
Passing: 4 Completions 9 Attempts 92 Yards 1 Touchdown 1 Interception
Trey Hampton: 4-9-92-1-1
Receiving
Eli Blount: 1-10-1; JJ Blount: 1-37; Cheyene Allen: 1-15; Kason Sanchez: 1-30
Winamac
Rushing: 33 carries 99 yards
Jaden Terry: 1-2; Brayden Lynch: 2-(-)2; Russell Compton: 9-44; Hayden Clark: 10-29; Cale Pesaresi: 1-0; Shaun Pratt: 1-12
Passing: 3 Completions, 14 Attempts, 16 Yards, 0 Touchdowns, 1 Interception
Russell Compton: 3-12-21-0-1
Jaden Terry: 0-2
Receiving:
Jaden Terry: 2-6; Braden Lynch: 1-15
*Statistics In This Article Provided By Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Staff. These Are Not Official Game Statistics*
