Andrew shakes off JT with Rust
In the pouring rain Friday night, Andrew High School overcame a determined Joliet Township team 34-13.
JT (0-3) had a 13-7 second quarter lead over the Thunderbolts (2-1) thanks to a 5-yard touchdown run by running back Ronald Jordan. Senior quarterback Justin Stephenson set up the score two plays earlier when he found Alex Kershaw over the middle for a 46-yard gain.
Andrew responded quickly with a score of its own. Senior fullback Joe Rust scored on a 75-yard run off the right side on the second play of the Thunderbolts' next possession. Rust had earlier opened the scoring for Andrew by breaking an 80-yard run to put the Thunderbolts ahead 7-0 with 6:01 to play in the first quarter.
Rust's second score gave Andrew a 14-13 lead with 11:45 to play in the second quarter. Rust punched in another score with 1:09 to play in the second quarter to make it 21-13 at halftime.
"We came out and we knew it was going to be a dogfight because of the weather," JT coach Jason Aubry said. "We missed a few tackles, and their running back (Rust) got loose and he was pretty quick.
"Some would say this isn't an offense (the spread offense) for this kind of weather, but we moved the ball well and we were able to complete some nice passes," he said.
The highlight for the Steelmen in the first half was provided by senior Wesley Powell who answered Rust's first score with an electrifying 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
"It was a middle wedge," Powell said. "Basically, it was just great blocking. All I had to do was to find the crease and break down the sideline. We felt were right back in the game after that play. We gained momentum back, and it gave us a lot of confidence."
Aubry singled out his special teams units for their fine play.
"Special teams is something we really have worked on a lot," he said. "We thought we could put some of our more athletic guys on kickoff return and do some good things. Wesley is a great athlete. We know if Wesley and Perry (Adams) get a seam they can take off. We need our seniors to make plays like that."
Andrew scored 14-second half points on a halfback-option pass that went for a touchdown, and on a 3-yard-run that was set up by an Andrew defender's interception return of a Stephenson pass. JT was plagued on offense for much of the second half by poor field position.
"It's tough," Aubry said. "There are not many words you can say. You tell them that you believe in them. I believe in this team. They worked their tails off. You tell them you won't quit on them, and you make them tell you they won't quit on you.
"We will come out next week and work that much harder."
