The Independence Patriots football team so far this season is the big sports story. They are now 4-0 and beat Hopewell in a blowout game 69-14 on Friday night on the road. Their dominance has been nothing less than spectacular to date. Also, their performance has been a real treat to watch as they seem to improve with every game.
This writer expected a much improved football team based on the coaching staff, team talent, and change in culture. However, I did not anticipate their success to be at the current level of play.
Therefore, it begins with leadership, and to be watching a young quarterback like Justin Little grow and seem to get better and more comfortable with each passing game has been fun to experience first hand. Little clearly stands out above all the rest as this week’s Athlete of the Week.
Justin Little:
The sophomore QB had himself his best game of the season completing 19-23 passes for a total of 342 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also ran for another score on a 21 yard dash into the end zone. He rushed for a total of 48 yards on QB keepers on 6 carries averaging 8.0 yards per carry. He accumulated 390 yards of total offense.
Honorable Mentions:
Jaylen Springs:
The senior WR made one tough catch after another in key situations. Springs had 5 receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown. He has consistently been a dependable target throughout the season for the Patriots especially on big down situations.
Austin Cowick:
The steady senior WR had himself a typical football game. He is certainly an important reliable WR on the team and a key factor in the passing game. He had 5 pass receptions for a total of 112 yards and one touchdown.
Other notable performances on the gridiron include RB sophomore Landen Carr who had 83 yards on 5 carries and 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Brian Crowder 4 catches for 63 yards and 1 TD, William Brown 4 receptions for 50 yards 1 TD. The entire offensive line had a solid game and Garrett Raimon stood out with his performance. Joe Reddish was involved in several tackles including 3 solo tackles and 2 pass deflections on defense. Lyric Kopera connected on 9 of 10 PAT’s in the contest.
Another athlete who deserves recognition is Charlie Gottlieb the senior Indy soccer player who leads the team in scoring with 3 goals, 2 assists and 8 points thus far this season for the Patriots.
