By GREG KEIM
This Friday’s high school football matchup, featuring the Jimtown Jimmies (10-1) and NorthWood Panthers (7-4) at Andrews Field in Nappanee, could be called the “Indiana 19 Series.”
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
Both schools are located just off the state highway and this is the repeat of a Week 1 matchup, also at Andrews Field.
Jimtown won the opener by a 13-10 score on an overtime field goal by 5-8 (145) junior Tyler Zufan. The Jimmies have a 9-4 lead in the series which began in 1997.
Jimtown moved up to Class 3A this season so this will be the first postseason meeting between the two highly successful programs which have captured a combined 161 playoff victories, 34 sectional titles, 21 regional championships, 11 semistate crowns and five state titles.
“It’s always fun to play the Jimmies,” NorthWood coach Scott Hoover said. “The two communities are close to each other and both generate a lot of excitement.
“We have had some bad weather on Friday nights this season so I think we have a lot of people in the community anxious to come out a see us play. I look for one of the larger crowds we have had in some time.”
If NorthWood wins, the Panthers would either host Andrean or visit Culver Military in the regional on Nov. 13. Jimtown would be at home regardless.
The Jimmies’ only loss this season was to Concord (34-13) in Week 6. NorthWood dropped a 26-21 thriller to the Minutemen in Week 3.
“Both teams are pretty much three yards and a cloud of dust type offenses,” Hoover said. “But at the same time, if we just go out and run the ball all the time, it’s going to be tough.
“Jimtown is a different team than the one we played in the first week, just like we are different. Both of us have more confidence in our quarterbacks throwing the ball. Both have also shown a lot of improvement in line play. The trenches should be an exciting part of the game.”
NorthWood has a balanced rushing attack with 5-10 (183) sophomore Coy Brown having 592 yards on 103 carries, 5-10 (160) senior Christian Diemer 423 on 100 and 6-1 (196) senior Brant Nine 340 on 102.
Jimtown is led by 5-9 (175) junior Nick Lertola 951 rushing yards on 189, 5-8 (145) junior John Michael Moore 512 on 104 and 5-7 (160) senior Herman Pollard 519 on 86 (5.8).
Nine has completed 78-of-146 passes for 1,012 yards. Two of his four touchdown passes on the season came in last Friday’s 12-6 win over South Bend St. Joseph’s in the sectional semifinals. Another was in the opener with the Jimmies.
NorthWood is the only 3A school in the Northern Lakes Conference (others are 4A and 5A) and Hoover believes that helps the Panthers when the playoffs roll around.
“Any time you are the smallest school in the conference, you have to play physical. That is the aspect helping us the most when we get into the tournament.”
Leading receivers for the Panthers are 5-9 junior Derek Yoder 25 catches for 445 yards, 6-0 (150) junior Aaron Rhoade 14 for 154, 5-11 (182) junior John Sittler 12 for 211 and 5-10 (190) senior Tony Miranda 10 for 57.
The Jimtown QB is 6-4 (165) junior Brian Hosinksi who is 47-of-83 passing for 602 yards and six TDs.
Top receivers are 5-10 (160) senior Ryan Serafino 12 catches for 136 yards, Pollard 11 for 145, 6-0 (160) sophomore Drew Zeiger 10 for 163 and 5-11 (145) Matt Hill six for 104.
Miranda leads NorthWood’s “Black Crunch” defense with 66 “hits,” followed by Diemer and Sittler both 60, 5-9 (166) senior David Zeltwanger 59, 6-0 (220) junior Brad Troyer 56 and Brown 50.
Leaders for the Jimtown defense are 6-2 (285) junior Eric Forrest 36 tackles and 17 assists, 5-6 (145) senior Todd Farrand 39 and 13, 6-0 (185) senior Justin Wagers 31 and 18, 6-2 (230) junior Derrick Brothers 27 and 21 and 5-9 (160) senior Richard Geraghty 26 and 21.
