10/02/2025
Week 6. North Decatur at Linton
Linton won toss, elect to receive. Miners start off like they finished with Boonville. Cooper Smith, his first game back since a week two knee injury, takes his first touch 31 yards down the Miner sideline to the North Decatur 49. Russell Goodman followed that up with 14 more to the 35 then Aiden Sparks with a trademark physical run of 7 to the Charger 28. However Paul Oliver’s first carry was stuffed for a yard loss from Simon Barber and Carter Gray followed by a false start that pushed Linton to 3rd and 9 at the Charger 34. Oliver got 4 back, but Logen Foster and Trenton Larison brought Goodman down 3 yards shy of yards needed. It was the first Linton drive without a score in some time. North Decatur came away with nothing on their 1st possession. A run, and overthrown sideline pass, a procedure call and a QB scramble back to the LOS by Matthew Fields netted -5 yards. Tyler Dean booted the field of his punts giving Linton the ball at the Charger 49 with 7:40 in the 1st.
The Chargers practically gifted the Miners in this next possession with two 3rd down penalties that resulted in Miner 1st downs. On 3rd and 5 Oliver went deep for Goodman at the Charger 20 where the defender had a full hand of #6’s jersey. The pass was picked by Dean, but the penalty nullified that and pushed the Miners to the ND 29. Another 3rd and 4 and another Charger penalty, this time for an obvious jump across the line pre-snap gave Linton another 1st down in the RedZone at the 18. Oliver gained 9, followed by 2 from Cooper Smith. It was Aiden Sparks pushing through the Charger D from 2 out for the first score of the night. Oliver got the 2-point run, and Linton was up 8-0 on Homecoming Night with 4:09 in the opening quarter
R J Wilson put the kickoff at the Charger 21, where Barber returned it to their 36 to start ND’s 2nd possession. Again a shot in the foot for ND with a procedure call to start things off. Fields then drilled a shot across the middle to Barber who was absolutely drilled by Corey Andrews. The pass was caught for a 4-yard gain, the referee’s called Andrews for a hit to the head. For me, looking at it again in slow motion it truly looked like a solid football hit. The 15 yards moved ND to midfield with their initial First Down of the game. After Corbin Thackery, the leading rushing for the season for ND, was stopped for no gain by the tandem of Tate Gamble and Jimmie Wright; Fields dropped back to pass. From his back-side came #13 Paul Oliver from OLB unabated to the QB. Fields did not see him. Oliver’s text book hit dislodges the ball from the sophomore QB and bounced back 11 yards to where Wright made the recovery. The Turnover put into at the Charger 39 with a great chance to jump up by 2 scores.
The Charger Defense wasn’t going to let it be a cakewalk. Facing 3rd and 9, it was Goodman who churned out 11 yards and a first down. After consecutive run of 2 and one of 3, the Miners faced their Second 4th Down play inside the ND 30. Again it was Goodman who eeked out 4 on a 4th and 3. Goodman and Oliver both had runs of 6 to the Charger 10. Twice Oliver carried to get to the 3. Once more it was the power of Sparks who was hit at the line by Larison but pile drove him backwards into the endzone. The 2-point run was halted, but the Miners were up 14-0 just into the 2nd quarter (10:23) as well as in command with a 126 to (-7) total offense tally.
North Decatur isn’t just a normal 1A school. They come in #1 ranked for a reason. Coach Stirn has this program winning 10+ games a year on a regular basis. I would never expect them to roll over any more than I would expect Linton to do the same. They came out at their own 38 with a 6 yard run from Thackery, then a Fields to Thackery 6 Yard toss earned a first down. The Charger running attack was finding space limited in the trenches with the work of Tyler Franklin, Jimmie Wright, Aiden Sparks, Jacob Bredeweg and on passing downs Tripp Haynes freeing up the LB’s (Gamble, Andrews, Goodman and Oliver) to make stops. Barber fought for 5, then Thackery for 4 set up 3rd and 1, but once more ND hurt itself with a procedure call turning in to 3rd and 6. Thackery test the line again but was stopped at the Miner 43 by Oliver and Andrews, and still 3 yards short. The punt team came out with Tyler Dean back to punt.
There are times in a game when you can look around and just ‘know’ everyone ‘knows’ what’s going to happen next. Down 14-0 on the road, with your deepest pe*******on of the game, in fact up to this point the Chargers had been on Linton’s side of the field 3 times all night. “Watch the Fake” was probably yelled, mumbled, whispered from nearly anyone paying attention at the time. I’m quite sure the coaching staff had gone to great length to tell the punt return team to be prepared for it. And it happened. Direct snap to upback (Thackery) who handed to Hayden Kuehne, the occasional FB who was next to Thackery. Koehne went to his right and saw nothing but green grass. Nobody was home, and he rumbled 33 yards to the Miner 10 before Cottingham and Goodman ran him down. The Chargers tried to pound the ball in with Fields on a keeper for 5, then Thackery for 1 both stopped by Corey Andrews. Finally on 3rd down, Fields kept the ball and went against the grain for the TD at 5:14. ND has a very got PAT kicker in Logan O’Dell who drilled the PAT. North Decatur had new life with the fake punt leading to a TD that pulled Chargers within 1 score: 14-7.
The Charger defense needed to make a stand and get the Miner offense off the field. From their own 20 it was another Goodman stretch run gaining 10 and another first down. At the point the ND Defense stood up with Adam Whatley, Hunter Meister, Charlie Parmer, Simon Barber, and Eli Trenkamp all contributing to stops of Smith, Oliver and Sparks. Oliver boomed a 34-yard punt fair caught by Thackery at his own 30. Plenty of time for the Chargers at 2:57 on the clock. However, they stuck to the ground assault with Thackery and Barber, who were both hammered by ILB Andrews for a net of 5. Fields tried to hit Thackery on a deep pass to the Miner 35 defended by Ren Cottingham. Dean pinned the Miners at their own 19 with his punt at 1:32 on clock.
First snap of the drive saw Oliver with a perfectly delivered aerial in the bread basket of a streaking Smith at the Charger 45. He was only kept out of the endzone by a diving foot grab by Dean at the ND 26. A 55-yard pitch and catch that set Miner City alight. After a short Goodman run, it was Russell who made the 2 handed catch from Oliver who had his choice of receivers open in the endzone. This pass was actually the harder to make; throwing back across the middle, and hitting Russell who was on the back line behind a leaping defender. Stephens had also been open on the right side of endzone. The 24-yard catch made it 20-7, and Oliver converted the 2-point play for a 22-7 lead. There still was 48 seconds to burn. ND came out swinging with a Fields to Brayden Murray 10-yard toss, then a nifty 17-yard scramble from Fields to the Miner 43. Fields fired to the Miner 34 for O’Dell who felt the wrath of Andrews but gained 9. Down to one play at the Miner 34, but the miner D backs & LB’s left nobody open, and eventually Aiden Sparks dragged him down for a sack and a loss of 1 as the horn sounded sending both teams to the locker rooms with Linton up 22-7.
The Miners had put up 144 rush yards on 29 carries at 4.97 per rush at the half. Russell Goodman had let the way with 8 for 54, Smith 7 for 49, Oliver 8 for 19 and Sparks with 5 for 19-2 of those touchdowns. The affect of having Cooper Smith back from injury was immediate with his 31 yard carry. Paul only threw 2 passes, and both were big plays. Smith with a 55-yard play and Goodman with the 24-yard TD. That made total yard total 223 yards. North Decatur also had a powerful running tandem of Thackery and Barber, but it was a fake punt run by Hayden Koehne for 33 yards that lead the pack, and set up the lone Charger score. Thackery had 6 carries for 18 yards, Barber 3 for 6 with QB Fields 6 for 14 and the TD. Fields was sacked twice losing 12 yards and a fumble as well. He was held in check passing as well hitting on 4 of 6 but all under 10 yard receptions. Murray for 10, O’Dell for 9, Thackery for 6 and Barber for 4; a total 29 yards. Right at 100 yards total for the Chargers with 71 on the ground.
Linton had a 11-6 edge in 1st downs. ND had hurt themselves with penalties (5-35), including giving the Miners a couple first downs. Linton with 2 for 20. 1 Turnover in the game on a QB sack from Oliver causing a fumble that Wright recovered was a big play as Linton would score on that drive. Corey Andrews was indeed in “Menace” mode with 8 tackles, several were bone shaking. Oliver added 4, Wright with 3 and 2 each from Gamble, Goodman, Sparks and Colten Andrews. ND’s leading tackler on the season was Barber at Safety, and he was a busy guy 1st half with 10 stops. Trenton Larison at LB had 9, Tyler Dean and Corbin Thackery each with 5.
If the Chargers wanted to establish the ground came coming out 2nd half series, it was not successful. Successive runs by Barber were met by Gamble. Andrews and Wright for no gain and a loss of three. Fields tried to connect with Trenkamp but the pass was broken up by Cottingham, and the footsteps of Andrews surely in #31’s ears. Dean punted to Goodman who gave the Miners a good spot at their own 44. Linton converted two 3rd downs in the 8 play 56 yard scoring drive. Highlights were Oliver’s 4-yard run on 3rd and 3 and another stellar between Oliver and Goodman for 19 yards to the Charger 22. From there it was Cooper Smith busting untouched those 22 yards to put what felt like the nails in the Charger’s hopes. Even without the 2-point play, Linton lead had jumped to 28-7 with 6:17 in third.
I should have said..seemingly put the nails…. Because the one Charger we did not want to kick to was Thackery. He had already had 2 return TDs coming into week 6. We had avoided him all night, but this kick went to him at his own 15. At first he dropped the ball, but soon enough he had it in hand, and turned up field with a couple cuts, and bam.. .he was gone 85 yards to the endzone. With O’Dell’s PAT it was back to a 2-score lead at 28-14. More importantly for Charger fans, it had kept N.Decatur in the game and perhaps lit them up and the team.
The Miners were having no part of it. First play after the kickoff it was Paul Oliver with a beauty of a pass to Cooper Smith caught at the Charger 40 and Smith nothing but the endzone ahead. Only Thackery could track Coop down at the Charger 7-yard line. Goodman went in on the next snap for the Miner response, a resounding 67 yards in 2 plays. The 2-point pay was a pass from Oliver than saw Andrews have to go to the ground to pull in. Linton was up 36-14 still with 5:31 in the 3d quarter. You could bet this kickoff from Wilson would not go near Thackery.
From their own 35 ND started off with a Thackery 5 yard run then took a blow with a personal foul that came after the play. This pushed ND back to their own 25 but they’d get that back on a ruled blow to the head on a pass across the middle intended to TE Meister. Indeed it was a big hit, one that Meister walked off from but I never saw back in the game. A bang bang play, but after watching in slow motion, it might have been interference but I don’t think a blow to the head. Thackery then ran off his biggest play of the night on a 16 yard run to the Miner 36. Fields hit Gray, in at TE for Meister, on a 9 yard pass to reach the Miner 25. A couple plays later on a 3rd and 6, Trenkamp had gotten behind secondary for what would be an easy TD pass play, but alertly the DB held the receiver getting the flag and a 10 yards and a first down but kept 6 points off board…temporary as it was. Thackery was kept out on 2 runs Including a loss of two by Sparks and Franklin. On 3rd and goal Fields found a wide-open Gray in the endzone to culminate an 11 play 65-yard drive with just 3 seconds left in the 3rd. ND went for two and Thackery made the catch in the flat but slipped down. 36-20 Linton as we heading into the 4th.
Everyone was waiting for an on-sides kick, but O’Dell booted it into the endzone. The Chargers needed a stop but after a stuff of Cottingham, Oliver rumbles for 18 yards and out of bounds at the Miner 41. Every week I feel that Renn is about to break out on a big TD run, and it happened on the next play . taking the pitch going left to right, Renn got a terrific kick out block from Gamble, and another seal from Oliver Stephens. He side stepped a Charger and followed Jimmie K down the Numbers on the right side to pay dirt. It was a thing of beauty until the referee fired the yellow hanky around the ND 34. Unfortunately Stephens was trying to sustain his block on Thackery downfield and just held on too long. Wright was alongside Cottingham by that point and might have shielded Thackery making the tackle, but maybe not. It still was 25 yards for Renn, and a Miner first down eventually at the Charger 44. ND defense rose up at the point with tackles for gain by Barber, Thackery and the impossible to pronounce Bryson Abplanalp, for here on known as Bryson A.! Facing 4th and 7, Oliver faked but was chased out of pocket by lineman Nolan Barber, but looked like he had open field for at least the first down. If not for the open field tackle by Thackery it looked to be a Miner TD for Paul, but Corbin went low and got Paul’s legs tangled just enough at the ND 36. North Decatur took over with 9:13 left in game.
North Decatur refused to go away, and that’s how you expect a winning program to be. Barber shot out for a quick 6 to start off, then a crazy play caused emotions on both side to flip and flop. Fields was under heavy pressure as he dropped back, and just got rid of the ball as Oliver reached him. The pass looked like a sure interception as Corey Andrews made the leap for the ball headed for Kipton Ruf at the ND 47. Andrews tipped the ball at the Charger 45 popping the ball in the air, were Carter Gray had continued his under route and the ball landed right in his hands at the 47. An incredible play by Gray to be alert to where the ball was, and he broke an immediate tackle and started down the Charger sideline. If not for Coltyn Andrews diving and making the stop at the Miner 42 he probably scores. A good thing to see was Hunter Meister on the sideline where the catch was made cheering his team on, although without a helmet and obviously not playing. To make matters more difficult for Linton, Oliver was tagged for the late hit on Fields adding another 15 yards to the play. 1st down at Miner 27.
Pressure was now on the Miner Defense, Fields tried to hit Murray but he heard footsteps and the impending hit from #42 and the ball went through his hands. 2nd down saw Fields mishandle the snap and have to fall on the ball losing a yard. 3rd down and 11 and Tate Gamble on the blitz forced Fields out of pocket and he does well to get 8 yards to the Miner 20 before Stephens and “the Menace” make the stop; Corey’s 14th at that point. Play of the game for the Chargers, and Fields didn’t stand a chance. Tripp Haynes and Jimmie Wright among others are in the Sophomore’s grill forcing a quick throw in the direction of Thackery but Cottingham and Andrews were also there. Miners hold and take over at their own 20 with 6:50 remaining.
Miners just trying to use up the last minutes of the game but still have to move the ball. On 3rd and 7 Oliver gets loose on a scramble with another “wow” moment gains 11 for a new set of downs. Another 3rd and 1 and Paul powers forward for 9. Cooper Smith adds 11 with Goodman to follow with 8 more to the Charger 29. It appears the Miners will eat up the last 2 minutes likely taking a knee, but Sparks bobbles the hand off and the hit from Charlie Parmer knocks it completely loose. Hayden Koehne, of the early fake punt run, is in the right place and recovers the ball at the Charger 28. Likely Aiden pulls that ball in if not being pulled down. Fighting to the end Fields tried for Bryson A. (kidding..Abplanalp) but Corey Andrews breaks it up with pressure from Goodman. Thackery has runs of 5 and 6 for a 1st down at the Charger 39. Fields then fires a bulled to Trenkamp as he steps out at midfield for a gain of 11. The game ends on Andrews reaching Fields for a sack and loss of 8 with Goodman again applying outside pressure. The Miners win their 3rd in a Row to raise record to 4-2 disposing of the 1A #1 unbeaten North Decatur Chargers…who won this guy’s admiration for their style of play and fight to the end.
Linton again with a solid performance on both sides of the ball. The big play bug still reared its head with the 85-yard kickoff return TD, but this Charger team has put up big numbers all year. To hold the tandem of Barber and Thackery to 75-yard rushing, and the team to 116 is a badge of honor. Consider that 33 of those yards came of a fake punt run by Koehne. But must also add that 20 negative yards came from 3 sacks of Fields. Still, 3.6 yards per carry on 32 rushing attempts you’ll take anytime. Thackery finished with 61 yards on 15 carries, Barber 14 on 7 attempts. Fields had officially 8 yards on 9 carries but counted a TD In that mix.
Linton had a whopping 52 rushing plays averaging over 5.5 yards per touch. 6 Miners carried the ball, each with his own attributes and each can make plays. It’s a testament that of 289 yards rushing, no single Miner had 100 yards. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to see #2 Senior Cooper Smith have a big night coming back from injury. 31 yards on his opening carry and 93 total on 14 carries with a TD. Goodman with 11-76 with a TD, Oliver 13-66, Sparks 8-27 with 2 TDs, Cottingham 2-24 (and a long TD run called back) and Gamble 2-3. It’s also true that while Linton has not put up the passing numbers of the recent years, it has now become a threat and has accounted to big plays in the last 3 weeks. Oliver was 4 of 5 and a TD with 158 yards. It was Smith again with a big night accounting for 115 of those receiving yards on 2 catches and 52 Yards After Catch. Goodman with another TD catch on 2 receptions for 43 yards. Fields hit on 8 of 14 passing for 71 yards, with a TD as well but absorbed 3 sacks as well. North Decatur has a bevy of receivers but the Miners kept the big pass play away. Gray had 3 for 31, the longest being a freak catch of a tipped ball!. Trenkamp with 1 -11, Murray 1-1, O’Dell 1-9, Thackery 1-6 and Barber 1-4.
Corey Andrews was all over the field defensively with 15 tackles, 10 of those solo as well as a TFL and game ending QB Sack. Gamble was next up 7 and a TFL. Wright and the freshman Coltyn Andrews each with 6. Goodman, Oliver, Sparks and Franklin with 4 each. Sparks had 2 TFL and a Sack, Andrews. Gamble and Oliver each with 1, Franklin and Haynes with .5 each. Simon Barber led N.Decatur with 13 stops and 2 TFL. Corbin Thackery with 12, Trenton Larison with 9. Conner Larison, Tyler Dean and Logen Foster each with 7. The Miner Offensively line was once more on their game. Wright had 7 pancake blocks with Scharbrough and Andrews 5 each, Lyons adding 4. Franklin and Sparks with 3 each. Dresden Kenworthy at Center with another spotless night of snaps to Oliver.
It was Linton’s 3rd win in a row after dropping 2 of their first 3 contests. It also showed some of the benefit of the competition level with the likes of Corbin, Ky and Archbishop Alter, OH. The offense has been running well scoring on 19 of their last 27 possessions. Getting Cooper Smith back on both offense and defense adds experience, but in his absence others stepped in and did the job. This provides much needed depth as this is the time of year muscles ache daily. R J Wilson has stepped into the kick-ff specialist and averages 42 a kick and provides Russell Goodman to take a play off! Dalton Reed and Harrison James, as well as Tripp Haynes have been ready when the call comes. At this point staying healthy is such a key to how far Linton can go. What appears to be the last meeting with North Knox in football is next up, on the road. Other than the series with Sullivan, Linton and North Knox, and before that the Bicknell Bulldogs goes way back as well. It, too, has always been a big rivalry. More on that tomorrow.
I think a lot of praise has to be handed to the Miner coaching staff top to bottom at every level. It’s been a grueling taxing season with the competition and the road trip to Kentucky. Like every year, there are players shifted, formation changes, different things that go on well behind the scene. It started early with Aiden Sparks moving from OL to RB. I’ve seen great results from Jimmie K Wright on the DLine with his quickness and size, which puts Gamble at ILB with Andrews. Obviously moving Paul Oliver back to QB and Goodman back to WB kicked the offense into higher gear. It’s also key that guys like Oliver Stephens, Renn Cottingham and Coltyn Andrews have each stepped into starting roles under pressure. Jacob Bredeweg and Tripp Haynes have teamed up at Nose Tackle in roles that complement each other, and the offensive line has improved week to week to become a dominant force and key to success of the team. All we need is a PAT kicker LOL….or to convert 60% of all 2 point plays each week!! ]
Go Miners!
