Crimsons show some life in win

SPRINGFIELD — The Lanphier Lions were almost late to their own homecoming Friday night.

In an awkward pregame moment, the Lions burst through their banner and charged onto the Memorial Stadium field as Jacksonville High’s players stood ready to deliver the opening kickoff.

At least the Lions got to their dance early. The Crimsons erupted for 49 points and ensured a running clock by halftime in a 49-14 statement to the rest of the teams on Jacksonville’s schedule.

“We made the statement that … we still have a little bit of life left in us,” said JHS head coach Mark Grounds. “I’m very proud that they were able to rebound. Right from the get-go, they came out on both sides of the ball, and they didn’t let up.”

Jacksonville (2-3, 1-3 in the Central State Eight) outgained the Lions (0-5, 0-4 CS8) by a margin of 548 yards to 223, including 29-8 in first downs. Except for one big play in the first quarter and a late, 99-yard scoring drive by Lanphier against Jacksonville’s reserves, the defense held the Lions down.

“We wanted to come out here and let everybody know that … we’re a good football team,” said senior linebacker/running back Jacob Mills. “Yeah, we wanted to make a statement.”

Like many of his teammates, Mills would not put too fine a point on the statement. On the Crimsons’ first offensive snap of the night, he followed a Thomas Jackson block and burst downfield for a 44-yard gain. Three plays later, Mills scored his first of three touchdowns on a three-yard run, and Jacksonville was off and running.

“The line did a hell of a job tonight,” said Mills, who also had a 23-yard touchdown reception and a three-yard scoring plunge as JHS seized 49-7 command by intermission. “I broke a couple of tackles (on the first play) and made something happen,” Mills said. “That’s what we’ve got to do the rest of the season.”

Senior quarterback Blake Schnitker had the best two quarters of his career, completing 13-of-16 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 15 times for 92 yards, including first-quarter scoring runs of 33 and four yards. Senior Braxton Stewart supplied the PAT kick after all seven JHS touchdowns.

“There was a lot of frustration from the last three weeks that we were able to get worked out,” said Grounds. “It feels a heck of a lot better with a win than what we felt in the last three weeks.”

Schnitker spread the wealth with his passes, hitting junior Bryce Heaton four times for 89 yards; senior Kendall Phelps (3-54, including scintillating touchdown plays of 33 and 26 yards); junior L.J. Flynn (2-45), Mills (3-40, with a touchdown) and Caleb Howell once, for 35 yards.

“The offense has been waiting for a breakout game,” Schnitker said. “Tonight, the defense put us in situations where we were able to have that. They were making stop after stop and giving us good field position. We were rolling.”

Lanphier (0-5, 0-4 CS8) got on the board in the first quarter on a 70-yard sprint by Malcom King on a misdirection play. But that only helped the Crimsons’ motivated offense get back on the attack.

Turnovers also helped. Jackson, a lineman who missed the past two-and-a-half games with a concussion, returned in a big way Friday, solidifying the line on offense and, on defense, making an athletic interception. Jackson batted Lions’ quarterback Daniel Jordan’s pass into the air with his hands, then dove forward to make the pick.

Brant Ruble also had an interception for Jacksonville Friday night.

“This is what we need, I think,” said Phelps. “It felt good to get a big win like this after the past few weeks. I never really thought we were down for good. But, definitely, we’ve got new life. We feel like we can stop people now and put points on the board.”

The victory was as convincing as it was timely. Next Saturday, the Crimsons return home to take on Taylorville (4-1, 3-1 CS8), which lost to Springfield High 28-22 Friday.

“We needed to have an edge back to us going into (next week vs. Taylorville),” said Grounds. “I don’t know how they did tonight (against Springfield), but I know they’re well-coached and hungry. This is coach Scott Alberssen’s last year, and we’d like to send him out with a big ‘L.’”