Roundup: JV, MS Football Post Wins; Also Volleyball, Girls Tennis

Jack Stewart threw for two touchdowns and ran for one and Sam Patterson ran for a score and had two interceptions to lead the SJCS Junior Varsity to a 27-7 victory over host Southside Christian Thursday night.

Stewart tossed scoring passes of 39 yards to Paul Norman and 30 yards to Mack Rambo, helping the Knights improve to 3-1.

Stewart and Norman hooked up on a 49-yard pass play on the Knights' first drive of the game, setting up Stewart's 5-yard touchdown run. Nick Passerrello added the point-after kick, and it was 7-0.

The SJCS defense set the tone on the Sabres' first play from scrimmage, with Sam Covington and J.B. Meadors combining on a sack. On second down, Patterson picked off a pass, although the Knights were unable to capitalize that time.

However, Meadors had back-to-back tackles for loss, the Knights' pressure forced Patterson's second interception. This time, Stewart hit Norman for 39 yards and a touchdown. Passerrello's kick made it 14-0.

The SJCS defense was on the field most of the second quarter. Meadors, Passerrello, Quinn Walsh, Dean Dryden and Sean Gilroy made big stops, and the Knights made a goal-line stand just before the half, with 
Passerrello and Patterson leading the charge.

Eliot Power's big hit jumpstarted the Knights in the second half. Dryden and Meadors combined on a tackle for loss to force a punt.

Southside Christian was able to break through on its next possession, pulling to within 14-7.

The Knights answered that score, beginning with Walsh's halfback pass to Patterson that was good for 30 yards. From the SCS 30, Stewart hit Rambo for a touchdown. The conversion attempt was no good, but St. Joe's had a 20-0 advantage.

Power and Chapman Doar made a nice open-field tackle on the kickoff. Rambo and Sam Utecht forced a partially blocked punt that set the Knights up on their next possession, which was capped by Patterson's 11-yard touchdown on a sweep to the left. Passerrello's PAT made it 27-7.

Playing until the end, Robert Loftis made a big hit at the line of scrimmage, and, after Southside Christian broke a long run, Josh Lyons hustled and ran down the ball carrier, making the stop at the 1-yard line.

The next game for the Knights will be at Dixie at 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 28.

Middle School Football

Sam Winburn and Cael Roberts each scored a pair of touchdowns, and the SJCS Middle School team posted a 32-6 victory against host Southside Christian Thursday night.

Winburn scored on a long run on the Knights' first play from scrimmage. Roberts ran in for the two-point conversion, and St. Joe's led 8-0.

Austin Courchaine, Jensen Granger and Hudson Wolfram led a solid defensive effort, and the Knights regained possession. Roberts ran for a score and then ran in for another conversion, giving St. Joe's a 16-0 lead.

A big stop by Mayson Ludolph halted another Sabres' drive, and the Knights went into halftime up by two scores.

Winburn's 30-yard run set up Roberts' second rushing touchdown. Matthew Mordas added a two-point run to make it 24-0.

Wolfram recovered a SCS fumble, and the Knights capitalized. Granger plowed in from short yardage, and Mordas again ran in for two, extending the lead to 32-0.

The defense continued to dominate, with big stops by Wolfram, Courchaine, Graham Flynn, Finn Potisek, Christian Garnett, Josh Conroy and Ty Gilroy, and Potisek also recovered a fumble.

The Sabres scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but the Knights improved to 1-2.

After a bye week, the Knights will return to action at Liberty at 5:30 PM Thursday, October 5.
 

Volleyball

The SJCS Varsity volleyball team defeated host Brashier Middle College 3-0 (25-7, 25-11, 25-13) in a Region 1-A match Thursday night.

Lillie Hecker had 15 kills and three aces for the Knights (12-6-1, 4-0), and Grace Dumont had 26 assists, eight digs and three aces. Tiffany Helmer had 13 digs and three aces aces.

Also for St. Joe's, Mendolia Anderson had eight kills and three aces; Ava Catherine Elder had seven kills; Sophia Duque had four assists and four aces; and Emi Reese Hand had three assists.

The Knights will compete in the Dorman Tournament of Champions this weekend.

**The JV also beat BMC, 2-0 (25-11, 25-17).

**The Middle School Knights lost to visiting Langston Charter, 2-0 (25-19, 25-22).
 

Girls Tennis

The Varsity girls tennis team swept host Powdersville 7-0 on Wednesday.

The highlight was provided by the Knights' No. 1 player, Grace Eilers, who battled back from 1-4 in each set and won 7-6, 7-4.

"Her opponent was really playing lights-out tennis for a while, but Grace stayed patient and battled back on every point," Coach Tricia Brown said.

"It was really a lesson in perseverance. It’s tough to keep battling when your opponent can’t seem to miss, but Grace has an amazing gift of tenacity and the ability to get the job done. I was very proud of her effort tonight."

Next, the Knights will host Eastside at 5:00 PM Tuesday.

SJCS 7, POWDERSVILLE 0
Singles
No. 1-Grace Eilers d. Reagan Stump, 7-6, 6-4
No. 2-Sydney Conroy d. Lilly Harris, 6-4, 6-3
No. 3-Caroline Clayton d. Kim Ellis, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4-Bridget Houck d. Riley Poole, 6-1, 6-1
No. 5-Caroline Gunter d. Peyton Roth, 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1-Conroy/Clayton d. Harris/Poole, 8-0
No. 2-Kayce Charlton/Evania Ayala d. Miranda Mackey/Olivia Gray, 6-0, 6-1