Lafayette Jeff football finds strength as a unit by playing for others
LAFAYETTE - Dr. Robert Hagen was around long enough that he witnessed the glory days of Broncho football in the 1980s and early 1990s, saw it fall on hard times and was still on the sideline when the program again rose into one of the state's best.
Hagen's absence this season hit the community hard. His unexpected death last March meant he'd no longer be on the Scheumann Stadium artificial turf greeting the team during warmups or offering congratulatory conversations after.
"Unfortunately Dr. Hagen is no longer with us, but we know he was looking down smiling on Friday basking in the glory," Lafayette Jeff coach Pat Shanley said.
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Junior Lance Crowder only has been around long enough to associate Lafayette Jeff football with winning, but this season he expected to be a bigger part of that success.
He was supposed to be entrenched in a battle for the Broncho starting quarterback job.
That was before a non-cancerous tumor was found in his brain that caused seizures and constant other setbacks.
Crowder is still able to remain a part of Lafayette Jeff's first sectional championship team since 2002, but it's been a different role as a motivator from the sideline rather than a leader on the football field. Last week, he had six anchors inserted into his shoulder to repair a torn labrum.
"We all have a sticker on our helmet that says LC17, so we all represent him when we're playing," said junior running back Glenn Patterson, who last week rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the Bronchos' 38-28 upset of Crown Point for the sectional title. "LC is like a best friend to me. I always think about him when I am playing."
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That has been the theme this season.
Do it for the person next to you. Do it for the former players who helped build a sectional championship program but graduated before they got to enjoy it. Do it for those who aren't here. Do it for the players who want to be a part of it but can't.
"These guys have played inspired football for others all year," Shanley said. "This Friday, they will continue to play inspired football for people they love."
This Friday is the biggest Lafayette Jeff football game in two decades when Fort Wayne Carroll makes the trip to Lafayette for the regional championship.
If the Bronchos win, it will be the greatest season in program history when based on tournament success. To do so, Lafayette Jeff will have to knock off a third unbeaten, highly-ranked foe in its last four games.
Last week, the Bronchos already proved they could do the improbable.
Now they just have to do it again.
"It is a great opportunity. We get to prove ourselves. To have this opportunity is pretty special," said senior linebacker Durya Minor, who had 13 tackles in last week's win over Crown Point. "Us doing our jobs, being disciplined, playing for each other, it’s what we’ve been working on a lot recently, is helping us pull through against tough teams."
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In three straight games, it took a touchdown drive, followed by a forced turnover to seal the deal.
Josh Milian's interception on the final play - following Patterson's go-ahead touchdown - clinched a win over Kokomo to close the regular season. Jaymeson Connell did the same last week week to put the stamp on a postseason win a week after he forced a fumble in overtime that Jeff recovered, picking up his kicker who'd just missed a crucial point after try as Jeff rallied from a 28-7 deficit to survive Lake Central 34-28.
"We've all got the mindset that we all have each other's back," Patterson said. "We all know what to do and if we do our job, we'll get it done."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
Fort Wayne Carroll (11-0) at Lafayette Jeff (9-2)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Sagarin ratings: Carroll 95.21, Lafayette Jeff 81.34
Series history: First meeting.
About Carroll: The Chargers average 40.2 points and allow 8.4 per game. ... Carroll defeated Penn 35-7 and Warsaw 34-17 to win Class 6A, Sectional 2. ... The Chargers have only played two games decided by single digits, in Weeks 2 and 3 in wins over Fort Wayne Snider and Fort Wayne North, respectively. ... Carroll's sectional title was the program's second in a row and seventh in program history. The Chargers have never won a regional. ... Statistical leaders - Passing: Jimmy Sullivan (151-231, 1,821 yards, 25 TD, 7 INT). ... Rushing: Nathan Starks (142 car., 915 yards, 6 TD). ... Receiving: Camden Herschberger (47 rec., 637 yards, 6 TD), Hansen Haffner (31 rec., 427 yards, 10 TD). ... Tackles: Ashton Pesetski (52), Maxton Wiard (40). ... Sacks: Pesetski (11), Royce Jones (9). ... Interceptions: Jorge Valdes (4), Braden Steely (3), Michael Dierckman (3). ... Kicking: Sebastian Lopez (42-48 PAT, 2-5 FG, long of 41).
About Lafayette Jeff: The Bronchos average 42.7 points and allow 20 per game. ... Lafayette Jeff defeated Lake Central 34-28 in overtime and Crown Point 38-28 to win Class 6A, Sectional 1. ... The Bronchos are playing their third undefeated opponent in the last four games and gave Kokomo and Crown Point their only loss. ... Lafayette Jeff's sectional championship was its first in 20 years and sixth in program history. The Bronchos have never won a regional. ... Statistical leaders - Passing: Ethan Smith (74-110, 1,314 yards, 14 TD, 3 INT). ... Rushing: Glenn Patterson (161 car., 1,155 yards, 12 TD), Siah Powers (59 car., 470 yards, 11 TD). ... Receiving: Asa Koeppen (33 rec., 673 yards, 10 TD), Brandon Jackson (31 rec., 500 yards, 7 TD), Abram Ritchie (25 rec., 465 yards, 5 TD). ... Tackles: Jordan Scowden (84), Damarion Jackson (82). ... Sacks: JoJo Houston (3.5). ... Interceptions: Micah Lillard (2). ... Kicking: Joel Garrido (50-56 PAT, 4-6 FG, long of 41).
Coach Shanley's take: "You're going against the SAC (Summit Athletic Conference) champ that is undefeated, so you know they're legit. (Carroll coach) Doug Dinan is probably a future hall of famer. He’s put together a heck of a career with what he did as an offensive coordinator when he was at Snider. Obviously what he has built at Carroll is remarkable."
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lafayette Jeff high school football finds strength as a unit
