Blue Jays open title defense by whipping of Devils

Published:  Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (4 months, 1 week ago)
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DELPHOS — Arlington had given up only 692 yards rushing — total — all during the 10-game regular season.
Defending Division VI state champion St. John’s got well over half of that by itself, banishing the Red Devils 56-0 in Region 22 quarterfinal action on beautiful Saturday night at Stadium Park.
“It’s always nice to get the first win in the playoffs. It’s a different atmosphere,” Blue Jay coach Todd Schulte said. “The kids handled it well, all the stuff surrounding the playoffs and everything. Getting that first playoff game under your belt is always good. Plus, getting a lot of players time is a good reward for those kids.”
With the twin tandem of junior tailback Jordan Leininger (19 totes, 157 yards, 3 TDs) and senior quarterback Wes Ulm (7 rushes, 128 yards, 1 score) leading the way, the Jays (11-0) lived up to its top seed with 394 yards rushing on 44 totes.
Meantime, the Jays gummed up the ground-hugging Blanchard Valley Conference Red Devils (7-4), holding them to 140 yards on 36 totes, with Cory Glick rushing for 55 yards (10 carries) and Cam Brown 40 (14 rushes).
“We won the game up front on both sides of the ball; that’s where football games at any level are won,” Schulte continued. “We did what we wanted to offensively, especially with the option. We knew Arlington wanted to run the football and we didn’t let them. These kids are very good at recognizing things by formation and adjusting well.”
The Blue Jay defense forced a 3-and-out on the Red Devils’ first series and drove from their 45 to the Devil 20. However, an interception in the end zone by Zane Leonard foiled that.
However, he was tackled at the 2 and the Jays again forced a 3-and-out. AJ Klausing’s 7-yard punt return to the Arlington 33 set up a 3-play drive, all carries by Leininger. At the 14, he took a handoff off right guard, got through arm tackles and jetted to the end zone. Sophomore Josh Rode made it 7-0 with 5:24 on the first period clock.
The third straight 3-and-out punt set the Jays at their 37. From there, Ulm (4-of-6 passing, 109 yards), faked an option to the left, dropped back and fired down the middle to a wide-wide-open senior Nate Webb at the Arlington 45. He veered back toward the left and raced untouched to the pylon. Rode’s extra point made it 14-0 with 3:35 left in the opener.
The Red Devils finally got their first first down on the next series and reached the Jays’ 44 but still had to punt.
The Jays commenced at the 23 and needed five plays to paydirt. At the Arlington 40, faked senior fullback Mitchell MacLennan to the left, followed him to the outside and found the seam all the way to the end zone. Rode made it 21-0 with 11:47 left in the half.
On Arlington’s next drive, Zane Leonard (4-of-10 passing, 50 yards) found John Inniger for a 26-yard completion to the Jays’ 46 and Arlington reached the 40 but again had to punt.
The Jays needed to march 80 yards to score again. They did, needing six tries to do it. A 22-yard connection to senior Jay Clark (on an great catch) got it going and then Leininger ran five times for 58 yards to finish it. At the Red Devil 3, he took a pitch toward left tackle, hesitated and then scooted in off left guard for the six. Rode made it 28-0 with 8:21 to go in the half.
The hosts then took their time on the next drive, gobbling up 3:53 and 60 yards in 10 plays to finish off the scoring for the half. At the visitor 1, Leininger all but walked in over right guard to the end zone with 2:05 showing. Rode made the halftime edge 35-0.
The Jays opened the second half at the 35 and drove the distance in seven plays. From the Red Devil 9, MacLennan (4 rushes, 31 yards) took a trap inside left guard and bulled through arm tacklers to the goal line. Rode pushed the edge to 42-0 with 8:38 left in the third.
The Red Devils threatened on the next series, garnering the Jays’ 33; in the process, though, senior Justin Backus stole the ball from Glick.
On the Devils’ next drive, junior Tyler Bergfeld picked off a Leonard aerial but the Jays could do nothing with it and punted for the second time.
On the very next Arlington play from scrimmage, junior linebacker Dylan Dancer made a leaping pick of a Leonard pass and returned it 28 yards to the visitor 7. From there, senior tailback Blake Williams (8 totes, 24 yards) took a toss to the right side, jumped even more outside, found the seam and powered to the end zone. Rode made it 49-0 with 10:47 remaining.
The Jays second offense finished it off on their next possession: 69 yards in seven plays. At the Arlington 40, sophomore quarterback Alex Clark ran the option to the right, found the sideline and was untouched to the end zone with 4:39 left. Rode tacked on the final point.
The Jays take on fourth-seeded Leipsic 7 p.m. Saturday at Lima Stadium in the Region 22 semifinals.
“I don’t know much about Leipsic except they are a good football team; those still in playoffs all are. We have their film with Arlington (Leipsic won by 7); we’ll break it down and take a look,” Schulte added.