Valparaiso’s Zach Jones displayed his power and breakaway ability on consecutive plays.
On the opening series of Friday night’s second half against visiting Crown Point, the senior running back pounded the pile to pick up 2 yards on a fourth-and-1 from the Vikings 40.
“I knew I had to get it,” Jones said. “We had to powerhouse it and get it.”
On the next play, he barreled down the right sideline for a 58-yard touchdown as part of the Vikings’ 21-7 Duneland Athletic Conference win.
“It was exciting,” Jones said. “The offensive line did their job, and I was able to get to the outside. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it the whole way, but I was able to shake one guy off and go the distance.”
Jones had 110 yards on 14 carries for the Vikings (4-2, 3-1). Jay Bisacky added seven catches for 135 yards and two TDs, both from Jake Leffew within the first six minutes. Leffew completed 14 of 27 passes for 182 yards.
Those two TDs from Bisacky set the tone, according to Valparaiso coach Dave Coyle.
“If he gets that one-on-one coverage, we’re going to try to get him the ball,” Coyle said. “That’s the type of athlete he is.”
Grayson Lynk completed 13 of 36 passes for 157 yards and ran for 75 yards for the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-3), who were without leading rusher Tyler Gomez. The junior running back was sidelined after injuring an ankle last week against Portage.
Valparaiso took a 14-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter on a pair of TD passes from Leffew to Bisacky. The first covered 34 yards, and the second went for 49 yards, with Bisacky speeding away from several Crown Point defenders.
The Bulldogs drew to 14-7 with 8:20 left in the second quarter on Griffin Govert’s 2-yard TD run on a direct snap.
They were threatening to tie the score, but Bobby Lee came up with an interception at the Vikings 22 with 2:58 left in the half on a pass that Michael Mann deflected.
Coyle praised his team’s defense.
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“Crown Point is a physical team,” he said. “They never stop fighting.”
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