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NCA Jets Soar In Opener As Title Defense Begins
PRENTICE, Wis.---Jason Whitens threw five touchdown passes and ran in another score as the North Central Jets opened their season Thursday night with a 60-14 win over Luck, Wis.The Jets began defense of last year's Eight-Man Michigan state football championship with a tough forst quarter, but NCA gradually pounced on the Wisconsin squad and eventually won the game on the running clock. Whitens hooked up with Tyler Bentley for a 53-yard touchdown pass early in the game, but the defense wasn't up to par on the first Luck drive, giving up a touchdown and two-point conversion. It was an 8-8 game, and it looked like the Jets may be in for a tough battle. "Coach Kleiman came off the field and told us the same thing that he told us in practice. Things that we should have done on that first drive, but we just didn't get it done," Whitens said. "It's hard to come off the practice field and just go do it, even though we're expected to do that as the season moves on. It's good that we had that moment now." It didn't stay close for long as Whitens picked apart the defense, the offensive line gave him time, and his receivers got open. Bentley had a 30-yard touchdown run to put the Jets on top, then Whitens threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Gagne. In the second quarter, Whitens found Trent Holle for touchdown passes of 23 and 15 yards, and then Whitens capped the half with a 61-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds. The score was 46-8 at halftime, and in the third quarter, Whitens threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game...a 33-yarder to Hunter Ridley...and that got the clock moving on the mercy rule. The Jets' final touchdown was a 20-yard scamper by Ridley in the fourth quarter. "I thought the guys adjusted well," Whitens said. "We had a couple mishaps on that first drive, but after we got in the groove a little bit more, I thought Coach did an outstanding job of calling plays in a good flow, and we executed." It was a big game for Bentley, who was injured during the NCA title run last season. "I practiced, I trained all winter for this, just to play football," Bentley said. "I was waiting for all winter, all year long. Staying on the sidelines is one of the worst feelings I could ever imagine right now. And I don't want to do that again this year." Whitens completed 12 of 14 passes for 228 yards and five touchdowns. The Jets have a tough battle next week against Eight-Man newcomer Crystal Falls Forest Park. The game next Friday night (at 6:30 CT) will be broadcast live on WUPF-FM (107.3). Click the thumnbails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to listen to interviews with Whitens and Bentley, as well as our Eagle Sports game recap. |
