By CHRIS KOENIG

The Delphos Herald

DELPHOS — Jefferson head coach Damon Ulm knew he had his hands full as the visiting Crestview Knights came to Stadium Park Friday night.

His defense would have to contain arguably the best player in the Northwest Conference in Briggs Orsbon. They did that and then some as the Wildcats (4-2, 3-2 NWC) rolled over the Knights by a final score of 37-0. “We were ready to play this week,” said Ulm. “Our game plan worked great, our defense played outstanding and the special teams were good as well.” Both teams’ defenses were stunned cold in the first quarter, leaving the score 0-0.

With 11:06 to play in the second period Delphos junior quarterback Josh Miller bootlegged around the left side and took it 34 yards for the score. The play came on just the second play of the drive. Junior Matt Antalis added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

It stayed there until 3:08 to play in the quarter when Orsbon made a throw over the middle. Jefferson junior defensive back Tim Sanders picked it off and dashed into the end zone from 36 yards out. Antalis once again added the kick for a 14-0 lead.

Crestview got the ball back and went 3-and-out. A holding penalty forced the visitors to punt from their own end zone. Delphos junior Michael Rahrig raced through and blocked it out the back of the end zone for the safety, making it a 16-0 spread at the 1:07 mark of the second period.

On the ensuing kickoff, junior Aaron Schuerman ran it back to the Knights’ 36. On the first play of the drive, Miller dropped back and found Schuerman wide open down the middle for a 36-yard score with 52 ticks left in the second. Antalis was good on the conversion kick, making it 23-0, Jefferson, at half.

To start the second half, both teams stalled on their first drives.

The home squad would get the ball back on the Knights’ 26 on a bad punt. Five plays later, Sanders took a counter play to paydirt from seven yards out. Antalis put the edge at 30-0.

After Crestview (3-3, 3-2 NWC) once again stalled on offense, Crestview punter Stephen Semer would get a beauty off to Schuerman. The Jefferson junior took it 84 yards for the touchdown putting the game away at 6:24. Antalis accounted for the final marker of the night.

“Delphos just shut us down offensively; we could not do anything,” stated Crestview head coach Jason Cross.  “It’s pretty much back to the drawing board from here.”

The Jefferson defense held Orsbon, the Division 1 college football prospect, to just 31 yards on 11 carries. He completed just 11-of-28 passes for no scores and a pick.

“Our assistant coaches did a great job this week helping us get a game plan together to slow the Orsbon kid down and it definitely worked,” Ulm added.

Schuerman led the Jefferson attack on the ground, giving his team 55 yards on seven hauls. Miller would add 59 yards on five carries.

Jefferson visits Columbus Grove Friday, while Crestview entertains Ada.

JEFFERSON 37, CRESTVIEW 0

Crestview    0    0    0    0 - 0

Jefferson    0    23    14    0 - 37

FIRST QUARTER

No scoring                                                                                                  

SECOND QUARTER

DJ — Miller 34 run (Antalis kick), 11:06

DJ — Sanders 36 interception return (Antalis kick), 3:08

DJ — Safety (punt blocked out of end zone), 1:07

DJ — Schuerman 36 pass from Miller (Antalis kick), :52

THIRD QUARTER

DJ — Sanders 7 run (Antalis kick)

DJ — Schuerman 84 punt return (Antalis kick), 6:24

FOURTH QUARTER

No scoring

Team Statistics

Crestview           Jefferson

First Downs    6    13

Total Yards    135    252

Rushing Yards    63    178

Passing Yards    72    72

Completions    11    11

Interceptions By    0    1

Fumbles/Lost    2/1    1/1

Penalties/Yards    7/60    3/25

Punts/Aver.    6/28.2    3/36.3