1900 TEAM PHOTO

1956 Jersey County Democrat Photo turns up evidence that Jersey had a football team in 1900.

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JCHS 48  Triad 14

It took 24 minutes and a half-time pep talk, but finally after a sluggish first half the Panthers realized they were just 2 quarters away from landing another play-off berth. As the final siren went off, the Jerseyville Panthers found themselves in a familiar position. By thumping the Knights of Triad, the locals advance to post season play for the eleventh straight year. The game started routinely enough for the Panthers as RB Brent Hawkins got things started with a 13 yard TD run. Then Jerseyville looked poised to run away with it, when RB Nathan Smay galloped 64 yards for another score and a 13-0 lead.

                                                Photo courtesy of IHSFW.com

                   #27 RB Nathan Smay, heading for another touchdown!            

However Triad took the momentum, as QB Tyler Yates marched his offense on a time consuming drive that seemed to catch the Panther defense sleeping. The Triad score came on a 3 yard Chris Thomas TD run. Jerseyville was able to show some last minute life in the opening half, as Brent Hawkins busted through the Knight defense for a 2 yard score. Hawkins also converged on a 2 point conversion run to end the half at 21-7.

The Panthers came out in the second half like a team ready to play. They dominated the 3rd quarter, with their hard hitting. Jerseyville scored 27 points to take a 48-7 lead. The big play came when Greg Madson picked up a fumble and raced for 66 yards and a TD. The Panthers also got scores on a Smay 12 yard run and a 6 yard TD pass from Joey Kallal to Todd Ringhausen.

                                          Photo courtesy of IHSFW.com

              #8 QB Joey Kallal sending one Todd Ringhausen's way. 

Jerseyville's slow start could have been attributed to last weeks emotional come from behind win over Highland or perhaps thoughts of next weeks clash with rival C.M. Regardless, the Panthers did what they had to do. Making the cold Jerseyville fans happy and excited about another possible undefeated season. A win next week in Bethalto, will give Jerseyville their 4th straight MVC title.

Mike McInerney

September 5th, 2003.

JCHS 34  GRANITE CITY 27

Ask any member of the Jerseyville coaching staff and they would probably tell you that "it" was supposed to happen that way. The Panthers two minute offense could not have executed any better when senior RB Trent Griffith capped off a big night with a 14 yard score with 34 seconds left to give the Panthers a dramatic come from behind 34-27 win over 8A Granite City.

Warrior RB Josh Stout, who just 1:54 before barreled his way 6 yards into the endzone to tie the score 27-27. The score was set up on an interception by Aaron Askew (his second interception of the night) followed by a 57 yard jaunt by Greg Lofink. But the Panthers special teams, which had struggled most of the night came up big as Ryan Goetten blocked the extra point attempt and wiped out a Granite City 28-27 lead. That play seemed to ignite Jerseyville and never was there a doubt that their offense would not be denied.

The Panthers jumped on top first and set the stage early by marching down the field with ease. Griffith who missed the season opener at Springfield H.S. scored from eight yards out. But the Warriors wasted no time getting that score back when Stout returned the kick-off down to the 10 yard line, that set up a Howell one yard plunge.

Jerseyville QB Mitch Watkins completed 9 of his first 10 passes in the first quarter including a 31 yard toss to Justin Wittman to put the Panthers back on top 13-7. Jerseyville could have opened up the scoring in the first half but two interceptions and a missed field goal (all in Warrior territory) resulted in the half time lead of only 6 points.

On their first possession of the second half, Granite City marched down the field resulting in a 6 yard touchdown run by Josh Stout and a 14-13 lead. The Warriors then took advantage of a Griffith fumble on the ensuing kick-off and eight seconds later Greg Lofink scored from seven yards out to give Granite City their biggest lead of the night, 21-13.

The turn over only seemed to wake the Panthers, and just when you thought they lost any momentum, Watkins found Justin Wittman again this time from 40 yards out. A missed 2-point conversion attempt though allowed Granite City to take a 21-19 lead into the final quarter. But Watkins who had his biggest night completing 26 of 43 passes for 337 yards, found Wittman for the third time from 11 yards out to give the Panthers the lead again 25-21.

Jerseyville decided to go for a 2 point conversion again and this time found success on another Watkins pass that was caught in the right hand corner of the end zone. The six point lead turned out to be very important, keeping the game tied after Goetten blocked Lofinks extra point attempt with just over two minutes to go. And set the stage for what seemed like a two minute run by the Panther offense coming straight out of a script.

The Panther star of the game was hard to choose this week with so many good performances, besides Watkins there was Justin Wittman who caught 3 touchdown passes and a total of 150 yards. But it was Trent Griffith that seemed to carry the Panthers, especially in the last quarter when he rushed for over 100 yards alone.

Griffith ended up rushing for 192 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Griffith also played well on defense after sitting out last weeks game while serving a suspension.

Jerseyville will host Peoria Richwoods next week at Snyder's Sports Complex at Illini junior high school. The Panthers defeated Richwoods last year in 3 overtimes.

  Mike McInerney    

September 19, 2003

JCHS 32 Civic Memorial 7

Jerseyville - What a difference a week makes as the Jerseyville Panthers started their quest for another Mississippi Valley Conference title.

The Panthers faced rival Civic Memorial earlier then normal this year after a rotation of conference games for all teams. After last weeks near five minute mental collapse resulting in a 37-13 loss to Peoria Richwoods, Jerseyville was eager to put that game behind them after winning their first two games against Springfield H.S and Granite City.

Panther QB Mitch Watkins set a new Jerseyville record for most yards passing in a single game. The junior QB passed for 406 yards completing 27 of 38 attempts and five touchdowns.

Jersey QB Mitch Watkins

Jerseyville took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Watkins found Jason Steckel (7-116) all alone down the right sideline for a 61 yard touchdown. Watkins then exploded in the second quarter when he connected with Brian Madsen for a 20 yard touchdown strike, and then again to Madsen from 39 yards out, just 3:09 later. Then with just over a minute to go in the first half Watkins found the area's leading receiver Justin Wittman (8-150) on a 59 yard touchdown strike to put the Panthers up 26-0 at the half.

Civic Memorial QB Steven Jones suffered the games hardest hit when senior linebacker Jake Norman found an opening in the Eagle line and sacked Jones. The sack was Norman's fifth of the season. Jones however suffered a concussion as his head slammed against the ground. After being helped off the field, he was replaced by Brett Wassink in the second half. Jones who finished the game 6 of 15 for 41 yards and two interceptions, could be lost for two weeks.

The Panthers made it 32-0 with 4:49 left in the third quarter when Watkins tossed his fifth touchdown of the night, this one to Steven Goetten from 11 yards out. Watkins who passed for 284 yards in the first half alone was taken out at the end of the third quarter with the record all his.

The win puts Jerseyville at 1-0 in conference play and 3-1 overall. Next week the Panthers travel to Troy to take on the Triad Knights.

Tonights Jerseyville star of the game without a doubt goes to QB Mitch Watkins breaking the 16 year old record previously held by Tyler Gross who passed for 368 yards in a single game in 1987. However equally deserving was the Jerseyville front line consisting of center Ryan Gresham, tackles Ryan Bell and Dallas Hill and guards Bob Mueller and Joey Bradfish.

 Mike McInerney