The 2025 Junior High Football Jags opened their season Tuesday afternoon at home in Burnside on Tuesday, September 16. After a lightning delay, the Jags were anxious to tangle with the Indians. A few days before the Poky squad indicated they could only play 6 quarters, therefore, a squad consisting of 8th and 7th graders took the field. The injury bug has somewhat decimated the 8th grade offensive line; four out of the seven players up front were 7th graders, who got their first taste of Jr High football.

The Jags received the opening kick-off and proceeded to march down the field with the duo of Wyatt Muench and Tristan Hanson. Hanson scored on a five yard bubble pass from QB Boe Davis midway through the first quarter; two point conversion successful as Muench rumbled in the endzone. The defense was stout all night forcing many 3 and outs resulting in another drive in which Hanson finished with a 15 yard touchdown run; Muench followed with the two point conversion making the score 16-0 after the first. In the second quarter, Hanson once again showed his shiftiness and speed galloping in for a forty yard TD run; 2 point conversion no good as Davis’s pass sailed a little high for wide receiver Bennet Nolte. In the ensuing offensive series, outside backer Landyn Fisher recovered a Poky fumble resulting in a fifteen yard rumble up the gut by Muench; Muench followed with the 2 point conversion making the score 30-0 at half in favor of the Jags.

A continuous clock ran in the second half but that didn’t stop the scoring, Hanson zig zagged right to left and back eventually scoring a fifty yard punt return: 2 point try no good. QB Bennet Nolte also hit paydirt in the fourth quarter with a wild scamper after a busted play scoring from fifty-five yards out; Nolte followed with a QB iso play for the two point conversion making the score 44-0.

Tailback Landyn Fisher also had some nice runs in the second half but the backs couldn’t have done it without the help of the guys up front: Jaxon VanCannon, Jax Spangler, Jax Hindt, Rece Carlson, Rocco Jondle, Owen Mikesell, and Brady Anderson were firing off the ball all night opening holes for the backfield.

The 7th graders took the field after the 8th grade contest picking up where the 8th grade squad left off. TB Hudon Ulicki went to work scoring on a 25 yard TD run; 2 point conversion no good making the score 6-0. The 7th grade D also played aggressively forcing many 3 and outs in the contest. QB Tripp Roper scored on a 10 yard run off tackle making the score 12-0 after the 1st quarter. In the second quarter, deep back Jackson Halsrud scored on a 50 yard punt return; Ulicki followed with the 2 point conversion making the score 20-0. Midway through the 2nd Ulicki again outran the defense on a 45 yard TD run with Halsrud converting the 2 point try making the score 28-0. Also, Brady Anderson and Tripp Roper recovered a fumble in the second quarter. The O-line was up to the task again as Treyson Gutshall, Gavin Rude, Logan Weier, Canton Richardson, and Nicco Jondle put pad on pad opening holes for the backfield.