The Thunderbirds never let it happen.
Dominating on both sides of the ball and scoring 20 points in a 2-minute span late in the first half, the visitors hammered the Wildcats 34-7.
“They dominated us from the beginning. All I can say is they dominated us offensively, defensively and special teams,” Jefferson coach Damon Ulm began. “They physically beat on us. Our defense was out there far too long; our offense couldn’t get anything going. That fits into what they want to do offensively, which is beat on you.”
The T-Birds (5-0, 4-0 NWC) did take control at the start, putting together a 5-play, 76-yard drive, including two pass completions by Lance Helmig (4-of-10 passing, 47 yards) for 44 yards. Todd Ruggley (14 totes, 123 yards) finished it by bolting up the gut from the Jefferson 28, cutting outside right at the 20 and speeding to the end zone. Joel Stolly made it 7-0 with 10:43 showing in the first.
“We felt we had to pass some on first down because their inside linebackers (Bubba Shivley and Stuart Miller) were too good. I like how we started offensively,” LCC coach Jerry Cooper noted. “What I was so pleased with was our defensive effort. Our coordinator, Cam Staley, had a great read on whatever they did. If they went outside, we were there; if they went inside, we had it covered.”
LCC held Jefferson to a mere 95 yards of total offense, while they amassed 316 yards rushing on 48 attempts.
Jefferson did get into LCC territory on its first drive but had to punt.
For the rest of the quarter and into the second, the play was in LCC space but the Wildcats couldn’t generate anything offensively.
LCC would take over at its 31 with 9:35 left in the half and use a typical 14-play drive — all on the ground — to hit pay dirt. At the Delphos 5, Chris O’Brien (18 rushes, 67 yards) bolted through a big hole off left guard to the end zone. Stolly’s conversion made it 14-0 with 3:12 showing.
Disaster then struck the Wildcats (3-2, 2-2 NWC). Forced to punt from their 45, Jordan Jettinghoff’s boot was interrupted by Jake Hyland, who picked up the loose ball at the 28 and took it to the house. Stolly’s PAT was wide left for a 20-0 spread with 2:02 left in the half.
Woes continued on Jefferson’s second play from scrimmage at its 26. Josh Miller (3-10 passing, 28 yards) was picked off by Matt Huffman, who returned it 35 yards to the host 4. Ruggley took the handoff off left tackle, went outside, stiff-armed a defender and hit the end zone with 1:28 left. Stolly added the kick for a 27-0 lead.
On Jefferson’s next play, the center/QB exchange was muffed, with Desmond Kirkman recovering at the host 39. However, the defense stiffened and held on downs, effectively ending the half.
“Our problems started way before that flurry but the wheels came off: the blocked punt, the interception, the fumble. Our center had gotten hurt and we had our backup in on the fumble,” Ulm added. “It starts with me and my coaching staff and goes all the way down. We’ll have to get back to work and get better. These kids are good kids; I would be surprised if they don’t come back in Monday and respond well from this.”
The first three possessions of the second half went nowhere until LCC took over at its 40 with 6:55 on the third-period clock, aided by a tipped punt. Four plays hence at the Jefferson 41, Michael Lombardo tore up the middle, emerged from heavy traffic at the 35 and didn’t stop until the goal line. Stolly’s conversion made it a 34-0 margin with 4:45 showing.
As both teams began to substitute freely, that score stood until the Thunderbirds punted from the Jefferson 47 late in the game. Sophomore Tyree DeWitt gathered the pigskin at his 10 and went up the middle. He broke a couple of tackles at the 20, found the field wide open to the right sideline for a 90-yard TD with 2:21 left. Brayton Kruse tacked on the final point.
“We did what we needed to as far as controlling the line of scrimmage. We got some big plays, especially from our defense, and that’s what we’ve been looking for,” Cooper added. “A lot of things went our way tonight. I wish Jefferson the best of luck; I still think they are an excellent team.”
Jefferson hosts Crestview Friday, while LCC entertains Spencerville Saturday.
