The Country Bull Y102 Area Game of the Week features a pair of 2-0 Mid-Continent League teams, the Norton Blue Jays and the Plainville Cardinals.
Coming into the season most people thought that these two teams were on different paths. The Blue Jays are coming off a 9-1 campaign last season, but return just two full time starters from a year ago. Gone are two All-State linemen, a running back who rushed for over 1,700 yards and a starting quarterback. The only offensive starter returning is Dillon McConney, the wide receiver caught five passes a year ago.
In the early goings of the season they have had no problem finding players to step up and fill those spots. In wins over Ellis and St. Francis the Blue Jays offense, led by quarterback Jordan Wahlmeier, the Blue Jays have outscore their opponents 91-15. Tye Nickell, Jacob Brooks and Trey Millian have stepped up to carry the load on the ground. McConney, Carson McKenna and Brooks have also been big targets in the passing game early on this season.
While the Norton Blue Jays had so little experience returning, the Plainville Cardinals have 18 starters returning from last season’s team that finished 3-6. Third year head coach Joe Simon and the Plainville Cardinals have struggled recently but it appears that they are prime for a return to the winning ways of the 1980’s and early 90’s.
The Cardinals downed Phillipsburg and Ellis in the first two weeks of the season. Plainville comes into Friday night’s game averaging 410 yards of offense per game, 397 yards coming on the ground. Running back Trevor Alexson leads the way so far this season, with 278 yards rushing and leading rusher from a year ago Harrison Gilliland has 198 yards rushing through the first two games of the year. Quarterback Kyle Becker and offensive linemen Jameson Klein, Nathan Thyfault, Brady Chard and Todd Addleman as well as tight end Andrew Casey all started last season.
The Mid-Continent League showdown between the Norton Blue Jays and the Plainville Cardinals will kickoff at 7pm from Plainville, with our coverage beginning at 6:30pm with the Fort Hays State University Office of Admissions Pre-Game Show on the Country Bull Y102.
