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Jacks seek win Friday night
After four weeks of punishing football, the Jacks finally face an opponent with similar credentials, when Wapato comes to town Friday.
“This is a big one,” Coach Terry Dion said. “Wapato is the first team we have played that is not undefeated in league. This game is going to be real feisty.”
The Wolves (0-4, 1-4) rely heavily on senior running back Kenny Garza. The Wapato High School ASB president is coming off a football season where he was named to the ALL-CWAC team as an honorable mention. This season Garza (5-6, 140) is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 111 yards per game. He has 559 yards on 119 carries through the first five games, along with four scores.
“You hold your breath when he gets the ball,” Dion said. “Our defensive scheme this week is to stop their main plays and he is obviously their main guy.”
The Jacks will counter with Manny Ybarra (5-6, 140) and Chase Henne (5-6, 140). Breck Webley will be sidelined with an injury for at least another week. Ybarra has 98 yards on 36 carries this season with one touchdown and Henne has five carries for 17 yards.
Edge - Wapato
The signal callers are Jackson Hodges (5-7, 165) for Quincy and Cody Nickoloff (5-10, 170) for Wapato. Both are sophomores and both have yet to find the end zone via the pass. Hodges has more pass attempts with 114 versus 77 for Nickoloff. Hodges (40-114 for 346 yards and 10 picks) and Nickoloff (27-77 for 325 yards and five picks) both have a favorite downfield. In this match-up, the home quarterback just might have the edge.
Edge - Coin flip
Hodges has found targets in wide receiver Trevor Hyer (6-0, 160) and tight end Brett Petersen (6-3, 175). Hyer has 10 catches for 147 yards, while Petersen has five catches for 62 yards. Quincy also uses Ybarra out of the backfield and has added 10 catches for 76 yards.
Nickoloff has used Chance Thomas (6-0, 175) to the tune of eight catches for 121 yards and just this week added Zack Lamebull (6-2, 150) to his arsenal.
Edge - Quincy
On the line, Quincy has been anchored by Michael Reyes (6-1, 215) and added Max Melburn (6-1, 240). But a season-ending knee injury to Kevin Hille has been hard to overcome by the Jacks.
The Wolves are anchored by Isiah Littlebull (6-0, 230) and Sean Pitt (5-11, 230).
Edge - Wapato
On defense, Quincy will have an edge in two of three positions. But the Wolves will hold the edge on the line, despite the efforts of Reyes. He has 19 tackles and two sacks and is the staple defensive lineman for Quincy. The trouble lies in who accompanies him in the trenches.
“Reyes is having a banner year,” Dion said. “But the other side has been by committee on the defensive line.”
Petersen (27 tackles) is also having a good season at defensive end, while first-year player Case Hinkins has 10 tackles at the other end position.
Edge - Wapato
The linebacking corps and defensive backs were bolstered last week with the return of Melburn. He had nine tackles in his first game of the season and showed improvement during the game.
“Max improved dramatically in his first game,” Dion said.
Others: Ronald Sorto (16 tackles), Hyer (16 tackles, Int.), Ybarra (18 tackles, Int for TD), Cody Beaumont (10 tackles, Int.)
Edge - Quincy
“I’m sure they are looking at us as a team to get them off the zero in the league win column and so are we,” Dion said. This is going to be a great game and you know what might decide it is special teams.”
Quincy’s weapon in the past several weeks has been Hyer. He has taken over the punting duties and has averaged 30-plus yards per boot.
“He has been real consistent this year,” Dion said.
Edge – Quincy
The pick:
Quincy 21, Wapato 19
