Rensselaer defense silences Bluejays

Rensselaer's Ben Ahler (left) breaks a tackle by North Judson's Chad Zimmerman (right) for a first down.
(Michael McArdle/Post-Tribune)

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NORTH JUDSON — North Judson and Rensselaer have been putting some big offensive numbers on the scoreboard in recent weeks, and many fans of this intense rivalry expected much the same in the Class 2A Sectional 25 championship matchup.

It was a tremendous game, but not the high-powered offensive game many expected, with Rensselaer out-toughing North Judson in a 9-0 shutout of a Bluejays team that scored 62 points in eliminating Seeger last week.

“Our kids gutted it out,” said Bombers coach Chris Meeks. “It came down to a hard-fought defensive type of game. A big battle.

“We knew we had two very good defensive lines. Everybody had responsibilities, and we played very responsible defense.”

And on the other side, a lot of the key plays were buttressed by the Bombers’ physical offensive line, a line that dictated a Bombers offense that kept North Judson’s defensive unit on the field for way too much.

Until late in the second half, the Bombers shut down the potent Bluejays running game, and quarterback Drake Barrett and his receivers connected on just three passes in 16 tries. Not enough to keep the Rensselaer defense honest.

“We pounded the football,” said Meeks of his hard-working backfield.

Eight minutes into the game, North Judson stopped Rensselaer and forced the Bombers to send Jacob Egan out for a 30-yard field goal attempt. The ball barely cleared the goal post, and the Bombers were up 3-0.

Late in the third quarter, the Jays missed a 30-yard field goal try of their own that would have tied the game.

Rensselaer quarterback Josh Wollack finally got the offense rolling with a 52-yard explosion, then completed the drive by scoring from 20 yards out, giving the Bombers the points that meant that the Jays would need to score twice to get back in the game.

“Our linemen did a heck of a job,” said Wollack of the two rushes on the fourth-quarter score. “Those runs, the linemen made key blocks. A couple of linemen made the blocks, and I made a cut that got me (into the end zone.

“There was a lot of motivation after the first-game loss to North Judson, (a 28-14 loss). It should have been closer,” Wollack said.

North Judson and Rensselaer are big rivals, and both teams are very familiar with the other team’s home field.

“North Judson is a a home away from home,” Wollack said. “It is the best feeling ever to win this thing (a sectional championship).”