Big challenge for Skins

Sports

October 8, 2009

By STU SWARTZ The Goshen News Thu Oct 08, 2009, 10:18 AM EDT

A challenge, and an opportunity, await Goshen High School’s football Redskins on Friday night.

The Redskins visit the 7-0 Plymouth Rockies who are ranked No. 7 in Class 4A and lead the Northern Lakes Conference with a spotless 5-0 mark.

“They are big, fast and play with tremendous confidence,” said Goshen coach David Wilson of the Rockies. “When challenged, they make plays and they are a very opportunistic team.”

Plymouth owns wins ovder Bremen 48-6, Rochester 42-7, Warsaw 41-7, Northridge 27-16, Memorial 28-10, Wawasee 48-7 and Concord 41-27.

“They run out of a full-house formation, but showed last week against Concord and last year against us that they can throw the football if needed,” said Wilson.

“They are the champions until someone can bump them off, They have a title on the line and we have nothing to lose. We must play with passion and desire, like we did against Concord.

“We need to go down there with the idea of playing to win. It will be a championship atmosphere and a very physical game which our kids like.”

The Redskins, after a season-opening win at Carroll, have lost six straight with the last five goiing down to the wire.

“We are a better football team than at the start of the season,” said Wilson. “We aren’t seeing as many errors, but must make plays to either keep the momentum or swing it our way.

“You learn to make those plays by doing it in practice. Then, it becomes easier on Friday night. Our emphasis is always on good practices.

“We are all frustrated, but improvement has been constant. We are executing better on offense and our defense has moments of brilliance, but not enough.”

During a triple-overtime loss last Friday at Northridge, the Redskins got into their best offensive rhythm of the season.

Offensive line play was a big key and Wilson singled out 5-11 (265) senior center Jeff Weirich as a big reason why.

“Jeff is doing a fantastic job in the middle of our line, making the calls and bringing the group together.”

The Redskins finish the regular season at home Oct. 16 against Wawasee.

The state tournament draw is next Tuesday.

Goshen is in a Class 5A sectional with Mishawaka, Penn, LaPorte, Michigan City, South Bend Adams, Elkhart Central and Memorial.

Defensive Report

Senior Keean Pries had 5 tackles and 2 assists for the Redskins in the game at Northridge.

Tony Pung had 6 solos, Francisco Garcia 5 and 1, Nathan Swihart 5 solos, Allen Murray and Jon Swihart both 4 solos, A.J. Garcia, Michael Lewallen and Evan Cripe each 3 and 1, Taylor Short 2 and 1, Andrew Stegelmann, Brad Taylor and Aaron Krabill 1 solo each.

Jon Swihart blocked a Raider field goal try, Cripe and A. Garcia had sacks, F. Garcia a fumble caused and Murray two recovered.

Series History

This is the 40th Goshen-Plymouth football meeting with the Redskins leading the series, 25-14.

Goshen won the inaugural by a 26-0 score in 1927. Nate Warstler, Dale Peffley, Dan Yoder, Paul George, Eldy Kyle and Bob Rule were among GHS players.

After a long interruption, which Goshen was playing in the Northern Indiana Conference, the series was revived in 1976 when the Redskins joined the NLC.

Thirty years ago, GHS won 14-6 on touchdowns by Mike Hunsberger and Ron Lewallen.

Twenty five years ago, it was the Redskins winning 27-15 with Trent Lambright scoring two TDs, Matt Jerlecki and Jeff Loucks both one.

Twenty years ago, an unbeaten Goshen club won 42-0 at Plymouth with Rick Cain, Brad Daniels, Craig Stahly, Bob McLaughlin, Jim Hoke and Shaun Beachy involved in scoring plays.

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