Thompson breaks own school record, runs for 317 in 56-0 SHS victory

Jacob Thompson had himself a hell of a Friday night.

The senior rushed for a new school record 317 yards for Sturgis, leading the Trojans to a 56-0 homecoming victory over visiting Wyoming Kelloggsville. He scored six times in the game and was named the homecoming king for Sturgis High School. Jillian Romanyk was named queen.

There was a moment of silence prior to the game for longtime Sturgis legend Budd Munson, who passed away on Thursday night. Munson was a pillar in the Sturgis community and was often times seen at Trojan athletic events, especially tennis.

Thompson's record-setting night on the football field started off with a bang as well. The senior took the opening kickoff back 77 yards for a touchdown. Most teams have been kicking away from Thompson this season and the Rockets tried that as well but Dalton Tisdel, who received the opening kickoff, pitched it back to Thompson, who followed blocking in front of him and started the Trojan homecoming party a little earlier than expected.

Thompson has now broken the 300-yard rushing plateau three times in his career. His 317 yards on Friday broke his previous mark of 313 yards against Otsego last season. He also rushed for 302 yards against Plainwell at home this year. To date, only Mike Fieberkorn, who rushed for 304 yards in a 51-22 win for SHS over Albion in 1998, has reached the 300-yard mark in a game.

Back on the field Friday, Sturgis got the football back quickly after the Rockets gave it back. Thompson would end the drive on a 45-yard touchdown run where the offensive line produced massive holes. Thompson is always thanking his offensive line for their production on the field, and Friday’s success was paved in part by that line.

Sturgis would run in the conversion attempt, by Thompson, to make it 14-0.

The Trojans would add another score in the first quarter, this time a 63-yard touchdown from Thompson. In typical fashion he booted the extra point through the uprights, making the game 21-0.

Sturgis scored four times in the second quarter, bringing the homecoming crowd to its feet several times.

With 11:22 left in the second, Thompson crossed the goal line for the fourth time in just over a quarter of action.

This run was of the 20-yard variety and Sturgis’ lead swelled to 28-0.

The Trojans threw the football as well on the next drive.

QB Taner Patrick found Callahan Lamb for a strike across the middle, Lamb then outran everybody to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown. At that point, the Sturgis lead was 35-0 with just over six minutes remaining until halftime.

Kelloggsville still would not be able to keep Thompson from scoring again. He rushed in a 10-yard TD on Sturgis’s next drive, which happened at the 4:38 mark of the second quarter. After another good extra point, the Trojan band was playing the fight song on repeat with a 42-0 lead.

To that point, it would have been a great game for everyone wearing orange and black.

But it got better. At least for Thompson fans.

Sturgis received the football deep in its own territory with just over three minutes remaining until halftime festivities. Thompson wasn’t ready to get in line just yet for those Homecoming introductions.

He rushed 92 yards for a touchdown, capping off an impressive half of football for the Trojans.

The halftime score was 49-0 before Thompson and Romanyk were named the homecoming king and queen. This brought on the running clock in the second half, which certainly brought the scoring to a halt.

Sturgis did score once, though. It came as Damian Avila rumbled 34 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.

SHS held a 458-123 advantage in total yards. The Trojans piled up an average of 14.3 yards per play on 32 offensive snaps. The Trojan defense forced five turnovers in the game as well, taking the Rockets completely out of any rhythm they might have created.

Thompson’s 317 yards came on just 11 carries, for an average of 28.8 yards per carry.

Avila rushed for 51 yards, Dawson Miller rushed five times for 28 yards and Kaicee Kyle rushed it four times for 18 yards.

Patrick completed two passes on the night, one to Lamb for the big TD and one to Rasean O’Tey, which covered three yards.

Defensively, Brock Fergison had a nice game with 10 tackles for SHS. Gibson Cary totaled 6.5 stops while Lamb made six tackles. Logan Markey helped anchor the defensive line with 2.5 tackles while O’Tey, Owen Brewer and Tisdel each made two stops.

Sturgis, now 4-2 on the season, is still in contention for a playoff spot in Division 3. The MHSAA went away from the six wins for automatic qualification, but SHS could obviously still get to that number with three games remaining.

The Trojans will host Three Rivers, 35-14 victors over Vicksburg on Friday night, next week. The Wildcats are also 4-2 on the season.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Jacob Thompson breaks school rushing record in 56-0 Sturgis victory