Harper passes up Joliet
One Joliet Junior College player was in the way of Troy Jones' end zone-to-end zone trip into the Harper College football record book Saturday.
But that lone player got the sophomore safety booking in the Midwest Football Conference East Division opener at Joliet Memorial Stadium.
"All I was thinking is I just can't get caught by the quarterback," Jones said with a laugh.
Joliet quarterback Chris Walley couldn't stop the errant pass Jones caught and turned into a 101-yard interception return.
And Jones started Harper on its way to avenging two losses last year when he returned a blocked punt 25 yards for the first touchdown in a resounding 45-14 victory over Joliet, the 16th-ranked NJCAA team in the country.
"It felt good, we finally got it," Jones said of losing by a point in last year's season opener and 24-14 in the Region IV title game. "It felt like a monkey was lifted off our shoulders.
"We were all prepared. The offensive line did a great job, the DBs (secondary) held them down, the linebackers were flowing to the ball and the defensive line was getting pressure on the quarterback."
It was a performance that will likely vault Harper into the NJCAA poll going into next Saturday's 1 p.m. home opener with Grand Rapids.
And beating Joliet was refreshing beyond the ice-water baths given to head coach Dragan Teonic, new defensive coordinator Geoff Durian and former head coach and line coach John Eliasik.
"These kids prepared so well," Teonic said. "We talk about championship Saturday - and our defense played their tails off.
"Our kids, considering how many plays they ran (69 to Harper's 40), to hold them to 2 touchdowns is outstanding. Joliet is very talented."
The defense led by the pressure from end Kyle Jenkins, linebacker Ayadeji McCarthy (3 tackles for loss, sack), Eric Pugh and linebacker Kevin Pacholski set up Dan Brunke's punt block and Jones' score on Joliet's second possession.
"That set the tone right there," Jones said.
Jones' interception return broke the record of 100 yards by Antwan Tucker against Ellsworth (Iowa) in 2003. Jason Mielzynski only had to go 10 yards with his interception to set the final score.
Running back Rithner Jean-Baptiste (12 carries, 63 yards), a transfer from Alcorn State, had impressive first-half tackle-breaking touchdown runs of 20 and 2 yards.
All-America sophomore quarterback Garrett Barnas did his part by passing for 204 yards and an 86-yard score to John Baldwin. Ryan Fillingim added a 26-yard field goal.
"Joliet is No. 1 in our conference and we just destroyed them," Jones said. "We feel everybody will be gunning for us and we've got to be ready."