The Jaguar football team is ready for business, prepared for their final regular season game against the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Lakers (5-2 overall, 4-2 CMC). They will continue on offense without Josh Roelike at quarterback and Jordan Bouwmann at center, as well as lacking Isaac Anderson on defense, as those three players join other guys on the injured list.
However, sophomore Jackson Illies performed brilliantly last Friday night against Holdingford, and showed what a hard week of practice put in by the team can do.
Interestingly, they have been very business-like in their approach to the season, taking one game at a time. In talking to some of the team members, it is apparent that most guys have not put much thought into possible playoff matchups or scenarios. That's a good thing.
Such focus is one element of their dedication to turning our football program around and putting our school back on the football map.
Good luck guys, your win against the Lakers will deliver you a three-seed in Section 5A and bring home playoff action back to our community for the first time since 1997.
Jaguars Suffer Heartbreaking Loss
10/16/06
Going into last week's home Parents' Night game against Holdingford, our Jaguar football team
was confident in their chances after a solid week of practice, sitting in third place in Section 5A.
The Jaguars' hard play and unbending confidence ruled nearly the entire second half as they moved ahead 20-15 and held the lead until the game's final minute. Disaster struck, however, at the worst possible time (under 2:00 left) and the worst possible position (the Jaguars' eight-yard line) and allowed the Huskers to regain a 23-20 lead and hold on for the win.
On their opening drive, the Jaguars picked up two first downs with great runs from Austin Kampsen and Michael Zenzen before Zenzen went down with a slight knee injury. It was not looking good as the Huskers took over on their 44-yard line with one of our top defenders sitting on the sideline.
The Jaguars' defense was up to the task, gaining excellent penetration on the Huskers' backfield while holding them to no yards and three-and-out. They received the punt at their own 19 with 6:51 left in the first quarter. Austin Kampsen and quarterback Jackson Illies advanced the ball for one first down before the Jaguars would face a fourth-and-11 on their 35.
Michael Zenzen returned to action and blasted for an incredible 28-yard gain along the right sideline on a successful pitch from a fake punt, getting to the Huskers' 37. Five plays later,
including a 26-yard gain by Kampsen which brought first-and-goal on the 10, Zenzen ran in a 14-yard touchdown run, shedding would-be tacklers along the way. With one minute left in the first quarter the Jaguars were ahead 6-0.
The Jaguars' defense then held the Huskers to three-and-out once again, getting the ball back on their 42 as the second quarter began. They would themselves go three-and-out, though.
The Huskers then put on a sustained drive eating up over seven minutes on the clock. Chad Starr, Pat Roelike, and Zenzen all had big hits in the Huskers' backfield, but Holdingford would convert on two fourth-downs to earn first-and-goal at the five, scoring two plays later to take a 7-6 lead with 4:08 left before halftime.
Taking over on their 19, the Jaguars would muster only seven yards in three plays to bring a punt on fourth-and-three. A bad snap on the punt helped the Huskers' get possession with only 11 yards to the endzone with two minutes on the clock.
An unforgettable goal-line stand by the Jaguars developed with four straight incomplete passes.
On second down, Kampsen had a big deflection deep in the endzone next to the Huskers' 6'8" wide receiver. On third down, an even bigger deflection took place when the football shot towards the would-be receiver, and Chad Starr leaped in an NFL-like diving move to knock the ball down. Kampsen had one more deflection on fourth down, and the Jaguars took over on their 11.
They entered halftime down 7-6.
The Huskers would kick the Jaguars in the gut with a 69-yard touchdown reception on the second play of the third quarter, earning a two-point conversion and making it a two-score game, ahead 15-6. The Jaguars would then go three-and-out on their first possession of the second half.
The defense rose to the occasion, harassing the Huskers' quarterback into an intentional grounding, yielding third-and-forever. They then fumbled the ball, recovered by Brett Landwehr, with the Jaguars' sitting on the Huskers' 10.
On fourth-and-one, goal-to go, Jackson Illies carried the ball in for the touchdown. Michael Zenzen would earn two more points on his second blast into the endzone, Jaguars down 15-14 with 7:00 left in the third quarter.
On the Huskers' next possession, Pat Roelike would twice light up their running backs and help bring a fourth-and-inches play at midfield. Dustin Gruber then earned the stop, as the Jaguars took over with 5:00 left in the quarter.
On the Jaguars' first play, Austin Kampsen broke a 62-yard touchdown run to lift the Jaguars on top 20-15. The fans and sideline went nuts as the wind was literally at the Jaguars' backs.
The Jaguars' offense sputtered the rest of the game, though, but their defense remained strong
and kept the Huskers in check. Pat Roelike, Zenzen, Starr, and Landwehr all earned backfield tackles against the Huskers through four more possessions. The Jaguars even earned an interception on one series, yet could not make the Huskers pay by adding on an insurance touchdown.
The Huskers would capitalize on the pivotal play, a failed fake punt deep in Jaguars' territory,
giving the Huskers first-and-goal on the eight. It was nothing less than the most stunning reversal in a Jaguars' football game in recent memory as players and fans alike were shocked at the outcome.
All is not lost as the Jaguars did not fall out of the top-four of Section 5A, and going into the season's final game they sit in fourth place, a mere point behind third-place Dawson-Boyd.
The Blackjacks have no chance of winning their final game against Adrian, so this week's trip to Howard Lake is crucial as a win would vault the Jaguars to third place in the section and give them a first-round home playoff game for the first time since 1997. The Lakers were shelled by Pierz last week 27-6, so this game will be a battle.
The Jaguars have shown their ability to recover from tough losses. They have done it all season long and will do it once again even though this was the most emotionally difficult loss they have endured this season. Their will to succeed has given them the ability to overcome a wealth of adversity this fall, while at the same time helping them play an exciting, competitive brand of football. See you in Howard Lake.