Jimtown High School

Jimmies remain unbeaten in flag football By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter ELKHART - Back-to-back long-distance interceptions would surely make most highlight reels. That was one of the key plays Wednesday night (9.9.26) when Jimtown knocked off visiting LaVille, 25-6, in high school flag football. With seven minutes to play in the second half, LaVille’s Halliah Stull, a sophomore defensive back, picked off an errant pass by Jimtown’s Baylee Laird and returned it 73 yards to the Jimmies’ 30. The play set up the Lancers for an easy score. But on the first play, LaVille’s Lily Elliott, a freshman quarterback, lofted an aerial toward the endzone, and it was intercepted by Laird (turn-about, fair play?), who raced down the right side line and could not be stopped. It was a 76-yard return for a touchdown. The game was played on Knepp Field on a steamy 80-degree night with a scattering of fans on hand. There are quite a few different rules in girls flag football: For instance, there is no kicking, and a running clock is used, except for the final two minutes. Of course, there is no tackling, tho a few of the girls landed on their backside during the game. The game is played in two 24-minute halves. Also, a smaller, junior ball is used. If the ball touches with a muff or fumble hits the ground the play is immediately dead with no scrum for the recovery. “Baylee’s pick six was huge,” said Jimtown coach James Davis. The play provided the final margin in the game as the Jimmies stretched their lead to 3-0. LaVille is 0-2. Both play in the Indiana Northern Indiana Conference, but they are the only two schools with a flag team. It is sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Assn. LaVille coach Ally Eisele said, “This was our first complete game in a year-and-a-half. So we’re proud of the girls. The Lancers coaches expressed appreciation for Jimtown’s gamesmanship. Jimtown scored first in the contest, completing a 66-yard drive in just four plays. Kiera Jackson got the Jimmies going with a 21-yard dash to the right, and Khloie Smith toted the ball in from the LaVille 29 for the score. Davis said Jackson had more than 100 yards rushing, and sat out most of the second half. “Our kids played hard and ran and passed well,” Smith added. They are playing their best ball right now.” Jimtown travels to Concord for a game next Wednesday (9.16.26), a team they defeated earlier, 19-12. Scoring: LaVille 0. 6. 6 Jimtown 19 6 25 J - Khloie Smith 29 run (pass failed) J - Ja’Mara Lesure 2 pass from Baylee Laird (run failed) J - Emily Williamson 63 pass from Laird (Lesure pass from Laird) L- Oliva Grindle 31 pass from Halliah Stull (run failed) J - Laird 76 pass interception return (pass failed) Officials: Patrick DeKever (Mishawaka), referee; Jay Squib (Elkhart), back judge; Augie Freda (Elkhart) head linesman.