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Tri-Village sophomore Jarred Buckley runs the ball against Northridge
Saturday. The Patriots won their first
ever game with a 55-12 thrashing
of the Polar Bears. Buckley scored four touchdowns including a 45 yard
interception for a pick six. CNO Photo by Danny Stockton,
stocktonstudio.com
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Big win sparks
enthusiasm at Tri-Village
By George Starks
NEW MADISON- A two week layoff didn’t seem to bother the Tri-Village
football team Saturday against Northridge.
In fact, it seemed to fire a young group of Patriots up as Tri-Village
thumped the Polar Bears, 55-12.
Sophomore running back Jerrod Buckley score four touchdowns, three
rushing and another on a 45 yard pick six for the first score of the
game.
“I was impressed with the way we came out and jumped on them,” said
Patriots coach Jason Schondelmyer in a phone interview. “We’ve had two
great weeks of practice. We came out ready to play and we weren’t
setting back on our heels. We were aggressive and we attacked the ball.
We were in attack mode and to be honest, it’s been like that since the
second half of the Bethel game. I think the kids are starting to
understand that the game of football is to hit or be hit and they are
really starting to grasp that concept and they are starting to realize
it’s better to do the hitting than to receive the hits. I think the
layoff bothered me more than it did them.”
Right from the start, the Patriots were on the attack. With the early
interception by Buckley, T-V jumped out to a 36-0 lead before
Northridge got on the board.
“I know we were ready to play,” said Schondelmyer. “I didn’t expect for
us to jump to a big lead early so they exceeded my expectations there
but I did expect that we would play well.”
From week one to week three, it was what Schondelmyer saw that got his
attention.
“I was very happy with what I was looking at,” commented the veteran
coach. “Everything I seen during the practices made everything click on
Saturday. I think we were prepared to play. I didn’t expect to score
three touchdowns right away. I never expected to blow the game wide
open though.”
By the end of the first half, Buckley had tallied nearly 200 yards
rushing.
“Jared ran the ball well. He is solid and is not the type of kid you’ll
arm tackle. He’s going full bore and this is what we need to see out of
him,” said Schondelmyer. “I have to give credit to the offensive line.
They made it possible for him to put up the numbers.”
So what changed from week one to week three?
“The kids know where they’re supposed to be defensively,” commented
Shondo. “They hit the line hard and the rest of the kids get there
faster. The put pressure on the opposing offense. They never hesitated
on the play and knew what to do. They were aggressive and they
attacked. They were being the aggressor on both sides of the ball. We
won the game and it tells me we’re moving in the right direction. We go
as far as the offensive and defensive line will take us.”
Not only is Schondelmyer seeing positive things on the field but also
in the halls of the school.
“It seems there are kids coming up to me in the halls and the
classrooms telling me they are going to play next year,” said
Schondelmyer. “There is a positive attitude in the school so I think
the enthusiasm is there inside the school. The kids are hungry for the
game and the kids playing right now are telling me they are enjoying
the game. I see the confidence in the kids and I’m really happy with
what I’m seeing right now. These kids want to be a part of a team when
without football, these kids would have just walked the halls of the
school for four years.
Now 1-1 on the season, the Patriots will see action Saturday as they
travel to National Trail for a 10 a.m. game.
The following two weeks after the Trail game, the Pats will be at home
with Covington (9-26) and Dayton Jefferson (10-3) for 7 pm starts.
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