The Jackson County Central football team took the first postseason step toward living the dream of a third consecutive state championship by blanking Pipestone Area on Saturday.
The fourth-ranked Huskies shut down the Arrows 42-0 in the Section 3AA semifinal round at Swearingen Field.
The JCC defense outlasted the Pipestone offense for a turnover on downs on the first drive of the game. Brody Anderson started the scoring on the second Huskies play from scrimmage with a 61-yard catch-and-run from Jacob Kruger. Gage Johnson added the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 JCC.
The Huskies overcame defensive penalties to force another turnover on downs. Haiden Warmka finished the ensuing drive with a six-yard TD run to make it 14-0 JCC.
The Huskies forced a three-and-out on the next Arrows possession. Kruger found Anderson wide open from 45 yards away for a second pass TD connection and the Johnson two-pointer made it 22-0 JCC. Johnson gained 47 yards on five touches.
The Huskies forced a third turnover on downs before Tate Phillips punched in a six-yard rushing touchdown in the senior’s return from a knee injury suffered during the playoffs last year. Jahzyel Munoz added the extra point to make it 29-0 JCC. Phillips gained 45 yards on seven carries.
Zayne Zollner picked off Kruger late in the first half but Beck Johnson returned the favor three plays later.
Kruger found Anderson for a third TD pass from 34 yards away and made it 35-0 JCC at halftime. Kruger finished with 173 yards passing and 149 of those yards went to Anderson.
Carson Doescher dropped a 69-yard bomb to Mason Helmers and Munoz made the PAT to complete the scoring. Doescher led the offense for most of the second half and gained 94 total yards individually.
Talan Holm grabbed an interception for JCC during the fourth quarter. The Huskies defense limited the Arrows to 60 total yards with 24 rushing and 36 passing. JCC penalties provided most of the big plays for Pipestone. The Huskies finished with 460 yards offensively with 256 passing and 204 rushing.
Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial awaits the 8-1 Huskies in JCC’s sixth straight Section 3AA title game appearance. The eighth-ranked Knights are 9-1 after routing Minnesota Valley Lutheran 46-14 on Saturday.
The championship kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, at SMSU in Marshall with our coverage starting at 6:40 p.m. on KKOJ.
FULL POSTGAME SHOW