Switzerland County Athletics

MITCHELL, Ind. — The Switzerland County Pacers opened the sectional tournament in impressive fashion Thursday night, traveling to Mitchell and coming away with a hard-fought 47-28 victory over the Bluejackets to advance in the postseason. Despite playing on the road in a win-or-go-home situation, the Pacers put together a strong offensive performance, piling up 497 total yards and 22 first downs. Switzerland County's offense found success through the air and on the ground, while several young players stepped up in a big way when the team needed them most. The Pacers struck first when Aiden Greene scored on a 10-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter. Mitchell answered with a 70-yard touchdown run to make it a one-point game, but Switzerland County began to create separation in the second quarter. Camron Simpson opened the second-quarter scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run. After Mitchell tied the game at 14, the Pacers responded with a nine-yard touchdown run by Brackston Sullivan. Quarterback Aiden Mosley then connected with Masin Stroud for touchdown passes of 25 and three yards, sending Switzerland County into halftime with a commanding 33-14 lead. Mitchell was unable to find the end zone in the third quarter, giving the Pacers an opportunity to extend their advantage in the final period. Mosley scored on a two-yard run before connecting with Greene for a 31-yard touchdown pass. Mitchell added two late touchdowns with mainly JV players on the field, but the Pacers had built too large a lead to be caught. Mosley had a standout night, completing 14 of 20 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 68 yards on eight carries, including a two-yard touchdown run. Mosley accounted for four touchdowns in the victory. Greene was another major contributor, finishing with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, along with four receptions for 55 yards and a receiving touchdown. His ability to contribute in both phases of the offense was a key part of the Pacers' balanced attack. As usual, Stroud delivered a big performance when the Pacers needed him. He caught eight passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, including both of Mosley's second-quarter scoring strikes. Stroud also contributed three tackles, an assist and two interceptions on defense. Sullivan added 33 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Simpson scored on a 15-yard run. Haiden Rohrbach contributed 62 rushing yards, helping Switzerland County finish with 241 yards on the ground to go along with 256 passing yards. The offensive production was impressive, but the Pacers also deserve credit for the work of an offensive line that has been forced to overcome a seemingly endless list of injuries. The group has endured constant changes throughout the season, with only one player still playing the same position he held at the beginning of the year. Nokomis Mumphrey, Grayson Levell, Braylon Barnes, Masen Kilborn and Corbin Craig have helped shoulder the responsibility up front, finding ways to keep the offense moving despite the challenges and unfamiliarity that come with so many lineup changes. “We wouldn't have been able to do what we did tonight without the outstanding play of our offensive line,” head coach Ryan Jesop said. “Those guys have been through so much this season. We've had a laundry list of injuries, and we've had to move people around and ask them to play different positions. Only one guy is still playing the same position he was playing when the season started. For those guys to keep battling, learn new roles and give our offense a chance to make plays says a lot about their toughness and commitment. They deserve a tremendous amount of credit for what we're doing.” Defensively, the Pacers battled through a game in which both teams experienced turnover problems. Switzerland County recorded four takeaways, including two interceptions by Stroud, and finished with four turnovers of its own. The Pacers also held Mitchell to 220 total yards and just seven first downs. Jesop was proud of the way his young players responded to the pressure of sectional football. “I'm really proud of the way our young guys stepped up tonight. Aiden Mosley and Aiden Greene both had outstanding performances, and they showed a lot of confidence in a big postseason game. Aiden made plays with his arm and his legs, and Greene gave us a big lift both running and catching the football. Those are the kinds of performances we need from our young players if we're going to keep moving forward,” Jesop said. Jesop also praised Stroud for once again being a reliable presence on both sides of the ball. “Masin Stroud continues to be the kind of player we can count on in big moments. He made huge plays in the passing game, found the end zone twice, and came up with two interceptions on defense. He's been a consistent leader for us, and nights like this show just how valuable he is to our football team,” Jesop said. The Pacers now turn their attention to a familiar opponent in the second round. Switzerland County will host Clarksville next Friday night in a rematch of an earlier-season 30-27 loss to the Generals. With a sectional victory already under their belts, the Pacers will have an opportunity to avenge that defeat and continue their postseason run in front of the home crowd.