St. Joseph-Ogden Remains Undefeated with 42-28 Victory Over Chillicothe IVC in Penalty-Ridden Game
By FRED KRONER
St. Joseph-Ogden’s state-ranked football team eclipsed the 40-point mark for the third time in four games on Friday (Sept. 20) en route to a 42-28 triumph at Chillicothe IVC in a penalty-marred contest.
Kodey McKinney and Wyatt Wertz both scored two touchdowns for SJ-O, which built a 21-0 lead in the opening quarter.
The Spartans led, 28-7, at halftime and showed TDs on all four of their first-half possessions.
The two teams combined to be whistled for 28 penalties resulting in 190 yards of total walk-offs.
“It was hard to get any flow or rhythm,” SJ-O coach Shawn Skinner said, “but the kids did a good job of responding. We did as good of a job as we could want from an effort standpoint.”
McKinney got his team on the board with a 12-catch scoring strike to Tanner Siems in the opening period. The first of Charlie Schmitz’s six conversion placements lifted the Spartans into a 7-0 lead.
McKinney connected on 18 of 21 pass attempts, throwing for 230 yards. He is 23 yards from reaching 1,000 for the season.
“He had his cleanest game and was more of a vocal leader,” Skinner said. “He’s getting a feel for what we’re trying to do.”
Wertz rushed for 51 yards and McKinney gained 33 yards on the ground.
The team’s other TD was on a 5-yard run by Coy Taylor, who snared nine passes for 112 yards. Siems had 68 receiving yards and Tim Blackburn-Kelley hauled in five receptions for 50 yards.
The SJ-O defense and special teams units also fared well.
Blackburn-Kelley returned a punt to the 50-yard line and a subsequent penalty allowed SJ-O to start at the IVC 35-yard line.
“Three of our touchdown drives started in their territory,” Skinner said.
Collin Thomey intercepted a pass and broke up another attempt. Logan Rosenthal, who filled in at middle linebacker after Jared Altenbaumer was injured, had a team-high 12 tackles in what Skinner said was “his first extended varsity-level time.”
James Barron not only had 10 tackles, but also had a sack, three tackles for loss and a pass defended. Kyler Swanson broke up two passes.
“This was the fourth week in a row the offense we prepared for turned out to be something different than what we had seen on film,” Skinner said. “Teams are doing things to try and keep our offense off the field or to keep up with us.
“Our linebackers are doing a really good job. We’re starting five linebackers because we’ve got them and our defense is based on that.”
Ryker Lockhart finished with 10 tackles and Nolan Earley – the lone two-way starter for the Spartans – ended with nine stops and a tackle for loss.
SJ-O’s 4-0 start includes three wins away from home. The Spartans return to action on Friday (Sept. 27) at Dick Duval Field against Carterville (3-1), which has been receiving votes in the Class 4A state rankings.
SJ-O was ranked fourth in last week’s Associated Press Class 3A state poll. Three of the team’s final five regular-season games will be at home.
