As a light rain fell on Friday night, Johnny Cash’s voice echoed through Benny Strazi Field.
“I’m going to Jackson,” Cash’s voice sang through the loudspeakers.
The St. Joseph Fighting Irish are going to Jackson as well to play for another state championship after the Irish beat the Riverfield Raiders 46-0 in the MAIS Class 4A state semi-final game. The Irish advance to next week’s state championship where they will face Tri-County Academy in the championship game. Tri-County defeated Adams County Christian School 28-21 in the other state semifinal. The Class 4A state championship game between St. Joseph and Tri-County will be Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. at Jackson Academy.
Though the score was so lopsided, the Irish left a few touchdowns on the field, but pitched another shutout on the season.
“This was probably our best defensive performance,” Irish head coach John Baker said after the game.
Riverfield runs a basic offense and the Irish had it sorted on the first drive after giving up two first downs when Julius McCollum picked off one of the few Riverfield passes on the evening.
The Irish had already scored on their opening drive on a four-yard pass on fourth down from quarterback C.J. Moore to Donnie Smith.
On their next drive, the Irish failed to convert a fourth and 14 but forced a Riverfield punt four plays later.
The Irish sealed the game on a 42-yard catch and run by Stank King. Kye Nelson scored on the next play from the 38.
The next three drives, two by Riverfield and one by the Irish ended in failed fourth-down attempts.
St. Joe would get on the board again when Cliff Perry grabbed a 26-yard touchdown pass from Moore.
Perry would come up with a big play on the next drive after picking up a blocked punt and returning it to the six-yard line.
Moore hit King on fourth and goal from the 12-yard line in the back of the endzone to put the Irish up 28-0 at the end of the half.
St. Joe opened the second half by grabbing the on-sides kick. Three straight Moore incompletions and a penalty led to a turnover on downs.
Three plays later, Alex Foster would pick up a Riverfield fumble on the 25-yard line. Moore would add six more points hitting Perry for another touchdown.
Moore scored from 61-yards out on quarterback run.
Christian Foster would have the highlight of the night four plays later when he returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown.
Moore would end the night 14-26 with 212 yards passing and nine carries for 97 yards and four touchdowns. Kye Nelson carried the ball four times for 60 yards
