If the Jackson County Central football team had a printed depth chart, freshman Roman Voss would be QB1.
Voss says that junior Brenan Runge is QB 1.5.
Runge has made the most of the limited number of plays he’s played this season but given the success he’s had, his reps could be increasing.
And that could start as early as Friday when the Huskies travel to Windom in the “Battle for the Paddle” at 7 p.m. at Island Park.
Runge has attempted eight passes in three games for JCC. He’s completed five of those passes with four caught by Voss, three for touchdowns.
“When I get out there it’s fades to Roman,” Runge said. “He goes up and gets those balls. I just put it up there and he gets them.”
Two of the TD passes were in last week’s 34-26 win over Blue Earth Area in a game the Huskies trailed 26-6 early in the second quarter.
The first TD pass came from two yards out on the final play of the first half on the second of back-to-back attempts.
“He came in made some great plays,” JCC Coach Tom Schuller said of Runge. “He threw the ball to Roman, their guy made an unbelievable play and somehow ripped the ball out of his hands and you thought ‘oh crap, we’re not going to score now. Maybe we should run it. But we decided if they were going to double him we’re going to try it again and Runge put it on the money again and Roman caught it. That was a huge score for us.”
That pulled the Huskies to within 26-20 at halftime.
Voss also caught an 11-yard TD pass from Runge in the third quarter that tied the game at 26-26.
Roman has four catches for 62 yards including three touchdowns. He caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Runge and had another catch for 35 yards at Maple River.
“He’s probably better than me to be honest,” Voss said of Runge. “He’s awesome. He’s the guy. I love him.”
Jackson County Central’s defense held the Buccaneers off the scoreboard in the second half. The only points the Huskies have allowed in the second half this season came when Maple River returned an interception to the Huskies’ two-yard line in the season opener.
Runge had praise for the JCC defense.
“Our defense went out there and played amazing,” he said. “Our offense did enough, Gabe Wolff with the touchdown pass was huge for us.”
JCC went ahead on a 65-yard TD pass from Voss to Gabe Wolff with 3:56 remaining.
The Huskies improved to 3-0 with the win. The Eagles are 0-3.
The teams have played the same three opponents.
In order, Jackson County Central has defeated Maple River 30-27, Luverne 24-0 and Blue Earth Area 34-26.
Windom has lost to BEA 73-12, Maple River 53-6 and Luverne 36-0.
The Huskies are back home next week, hosting Redwood Valley for their homecoming game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1.
SOUTH CENTRAL SILVER DISTRICT
Standings
Jackson County Central 0-0
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 0-0
Pipestone Area 0-0
Redwood Valley 0-0
Windom Area 0-0
District games only
Friday, Sept. 23
Jackson County Central at Windom
Maple River at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Pipestone at Redwood Valley
SECTION 3AA
Records
Jackson County Central 3-0
Pipestone Area 3-0
Minnesota Valley Lutheran 2-1
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 1-2
Redwood Valley 0-3
St. James Area 0-3
Sibley East 0-3
Windom Area 0-3
Friday, Sept. 23
Jackson County Central at Windom
Maple River at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial
Murray County Central at St. James Area
Norwood Young America at Sibley East
Pipestone at Redwood Valley
Saturday, Sept. 24
Minnesota Valley Lutheran at Wabasso
JCC football schedule
Thurs., Sept. 1 – at Maple River, W 30-27
Fri., Sept. 9 – at Luverne, W 24-0
Fri., Sept. 16 - Blue Earth Area, W 34-26
Fri., Sept. 23 – at Windom, 7 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 1 - Redwood Valley, 1 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 7 – at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 - Pipestone, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 19 - St. Peter, 7 p.m.
Series highlights
Series: Jackson County Central leads 26-4
Regular season: Jackson County Central leads 22-3
Postseason: Jackson County Central leads 3-1
First meeting: Jackson County Central 27, Windom 0 (1997)
Last meeting: Jackson County Central 58, Windom 6 (2021)
Current streak: W 16
Longest Huskies win streak: 16 (2009-2021)
Longest Eagles win streak: 2 (2004-2005)
Most Huskies points: 73 (2019)
Most Eagles points: 55 (2005)
Huskies shutouts: 1997, 2009, 2010 (2), 2011, 2014, 2018
Eagles shutouts: None
Scores
All-time scores in the JCC-Windom series. The Battle for the Paddle started in 2009.
1997 – Jackson County Central 27, Windom 0
1998 – Jackson County Central 22, Windom 7
1999 – Windom 34, Jackson County Central 27
2000 – Jackson County Central 42, Windom 14
2001 – Jackson County Central 20, Windom 15
2002 – Jackson County Central 63, Windom 27
2003 – Jackson County Central 27, Windom 6
2004 – Windom 28, Jackson County Central 21
2005 – Windom 55, Jackson County Central 13
2006 – Jackson County Central 28, Windom 14
2007 – Jackson County Central 45, Windom 21; Jackson County Central 40, Windom 7 (Section 3AA quarterfinals)
2008 – Jackson County Central 24, Windom 17; Windom 18, Jackson County Central 13 (Section 3AA quarterfinals)
2009 - Jackson County Central 17, Windom 0; Jackson County Central 30, Windom 3 (Section 3AA semifinals)
2010 - Jackson County Central 29, Windom 0; Jackson County Central 42, Windom 0 (Section 3AA semifinals)
2011 - Jackson County Central 46, Windom 0
2012 - Jackson County Central 31, Windom 20; Jackson County Central 67, Windom 13 (Section 3AA quarterfinals)
2013 - Jackson County Central 42, Windom 7
2014 - Jackson County Central 33, Windom 0
2015 - Jackson County Central 58, Windom 21
2016 - Jackson County Central 49, Windom 13
2017 - Jackson County Central 48, Windom 27
2018 - Jackson County Central 51, Windom 0
2019 - Jackson County Central 73, Windom 7
2020 – Jackson County Central 32, Windom 8
2021 - Jackson County Central 50, Windom 6; Jackson County Central 58, Windom 6 (Section 3AA quarterfinals)