MARENGO — Mitchell High School continued their season on Friday, hitting the road after three-straight games at home for a Patoka Lake Athletic Conference battle against Crawford County.
The matchup is one that the Bluejackets have dominated in recent years, winning eight straight against the Wolfpack since 2015. This time though, the two sides found themselves in nearly opposite positions heading into the games.
Mitchell have struggled to start the season, losing their first four games, a losing streak that extends to nine games including the previous season.
Crawford County picked up their first win in two years near the end of last season, carrying that momentum into this season to claim victory in three of their first four games.
On paper, seemingly gone were the days of the Bluejackets’ dominance in the matchup, after beating the Wolfpack by an average of nearly 43 points since Crawford County’s last win over them.
No longer just theoretical, the tables had officially turned by the conclusion of Friday’s game, with the Wolfpack edging out a narrow 24-22 win over Mitchell.
The game itself was hotly contested throughout, but was ultimately decided by a 30-yard keeper from quarterback Brody Fish, scoring with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter to even up the game. Crawford County would go on to convert the two-point conversion for the lead and ultimately the win.
“It sucks we came up on the short end, but that’s a heck of a football game. We gave the fans something to come watch and see” said Mitchell head coach Zach See.
Despite the loss, the game was a standout performance for the Bluejackets so far this season, particularly on offense, where the team has notably struggled.
A first quarter touchdown rush from Kaden Mullis was Mitchell’s second touchdown of the season to that point, the first scored by the offense.
In total, the Bluejackets’ offense earned 108 rushing yards and 100 passing yards on their way to scoring a season-high 22 points.
“Best game we played by far. Finally got the monkey off our back and got in the end zone a few times. I know that was in the back of our heads a lot, going four weeks without scoring an offensive touchdown is tough on coaches and kids,” said See.
Mitchell found the endzone for two more offensive touchdowns.
One was a three-yard rush from Cam Gilstrap, who took snaps at running back after starting the season at quarterback for the first four games.
The other was a 50-yard completion from Joe Todd, who was in for his first start at quarterback, to Sven Lutchka that came in the fourth quarter.
The Bluejackets controlled the game early, with Mullis’ TD and a successful two-point conversion giving them an 8-0 lead at halftime.
The Wolfpack found their stride in the second half thanks to a big performance from Kaidyn Messer, who finished the night with 179 rushing yards.
Messer and Crawford County scored 16 unanswered points to take the lead before the long touchdown pass from Todd to Lutchka evened up the score in the fourth.
Next up on Mitchell’s schedule is North Central Farmersburg. The Bluejackets will look to build on the momentum of their season-best performance against Crawford County to pick up their first win of the season against the Thunderbirds.
“We’re going to stay together, and we’re going to keep fighting because we’re right there,” said See.
“I wouldn’t trade a single one in there, not a single one of them for anybody else. I don’t care who it is, all-state player, whatever. I love my guys.”
