Linton Miner Football

Boy... does that "W" feel good or what?!!! Good job Miner players and Coaches!!!

35-0 miners at half. 223 yards offense.. Andrews with 7 for 96 2 td. Graves 4 of 8 passing 2 td. Eastern 13 --8 rushing. 44 passing for 36 total offense. Miners dead?? Nope.

From The Desk of Daniel Phillips

Eastern Greene: 3 -4. Under Shawn Nikirk 2nd year. 2-9 in 2025. 5-13 overall. Have played Linton every year since they started varsity football in 2003. Over all Linton has won 25 of the 26 meetings including 3 in post season. Both teams do play in Sectional 40 2A. EG is in the Southwest Conference along with ND, Clov, NK, NC. The lone EG win over Linton came in 2017 in a 35-12 TBird..which coincides with the State run that ended in a loss to Pioneer at Lucas Oil. This was the Pioneer team Linton had beaten the year before for the State Title. EG also won a sectional in 1A in 2016, Losing to The Miners in the Regional 56-7. The big win in 2017 was over Lutheran in Semi-State 12-8 in the infamous power outage game.

Former Coaches- Travis Wray 4 years as head coach, 17-24 (’18, ’22-’24). Roy Bruce-3 years 3-27 (’19-’21) and Joey Paridaen 4 years—currently with Tecumseh after time at Evansville North 37-12 ’14-’17. Hi Point obviously 14-1 in 2017 under Paridaen. Luke Dean (21-29) in 6 years 2008-2013 had gotten EG to respectable .500 ball, but Paridaen changed the environment almost immediately doing 5-5 in his first year 2014, 8-3 in 2015, then back to back sectional titles with a 10-3 ’16 and 14-1 ’17. His Defensive Coordinator took over in 2018 and the TBirds still had success at 6-4, but Wray was gone the following year. Three 1-9 seasons followed before Wray was back in 2022. After an initial 2-8 season, Wray guided the Thunderbirds to 5-5 in ’23 and 4-6 in ’24 ending his tenure as head Coach.

2025’s game was a 44-14 Miner win at Eastern. Linton jumped up 16-0 before a full 2 minutes were gone from the scoreboard. Russell Goodman scored from 11 out on the opening drive, then Paul Oliver picked off a Saxton Pennycuff pass and returned it 43 yards for another score. Oliver Stephen hauled in a Paul Oliver pass for 23 and a 24-0. Aiden Sparks ran in 2 more and senior Dalton Reed got on the board with a 10 yard run. Linton was up 44-0 at half. 2nd half was sloppy as I recall with JV, but Eastern put 14 on the board with the running clock. Zach Herndon with a 63 yard TD on a pass from Freshman Pennycutt, then with just 30 seconds remaining PEnnycuff ran in from 2 yards out. Linton was very balanced with 175 rushing and 188 passing. Oliver was 8-14 with a TD pass. Multiple Miners had rushing attempts, with Sparks leading the pack with 59 on 9 carries. Stephens had a TD on 3 catches for 68 yards, Goodman with 2-58. Tate Gamble led the defensive charge with 8 stops and 1.5 TFL, Jimmie Wright added 2 TFL and Sparks a QB Sack. Stephens, Oliver and Sparks all had picks. Tanner Scharbrough had 8 pancakes as well. Pennycuff was impressive with 13-22 for 210 passing, 1 TD, but 3 costly interceptions. EG only managed 45 yards on the ground. Herndon caught 4 for 84, and Bryson Jones 3-62. Ayden Deckard led the rushing attack with just 19 yards on 4 carries. Jones led EG on the defensive side with 10 tackles, Brown with 8.

EG opened up with 41-12 win over 0-7 Pike Central. Saxton Pennycuff threw for 231 yards and 5 TD. McNeal with 4 catches for 123 yards and 3 scores. Norris led EG with 8 tackles. Lost to North Knox 60-14 the next week. THe Warriors had 407 rushing yards, EG held to 179 total offense. Fell to 1-2 with a 39-14 loss to unbeaten North Daviess with not much to talk about for the TBirds. Came back to 2-2 with 24-12 win over 1-6 Mitchell. EG had best rushing game of season with 158 yards (Combs with 83). Pennycuff threw for 228 and 2 scores, McNeal with 95 yards receiving. Tbirds fell to 2-4 wih 16-7 loss to Eastern (Pekin) surrendering 391 rushing yards. 311 by one Mitchell back. Next up was the 39-14 loss to Cloverdale. Clovers had 484 yards of offense split 248 passing 236 rushing. One highpoint for EG was Englekinf 6 catches for 84 yards, Combs with 52 rushing. Last week was a big 48-6 win over Brown County. James at QB threw for 152 yards and 2 TDs, Combs with 86 yards rushing as EG surpassed their season high with 198 as team. Norris with 10 tackles. jacobs had a 65 yard Kickoff return TD and Deckard a 75 yard punt return TD

QB 15 Joby James 9 5'11 175
RB 20 Brayden Combs 9 5'10 170
WB 5 Eli Engleking 11 6'0 190
WB 7 Luke McNeal 12 6'1 215
WR 10 Noah Coomer 12 6'0 175
WR 81 Qwentin White 11 5'10 160

LT 56 Triston Perkins 12 5'10 215
LG 67 Fletcher Flynn 12 5'10 240
C 77 Alex Dixon 12 5'10 325
RG 61 Wyatt Dorman 9 6'3 305
RT 50 Landon Norris 12 5'10 235

3 Chase Kelley 11 5'10 225
9 Gage Engleking 10 5'10 170
6 Ayden Deckard 12 5'11 190
2 Coty Nicholson 11 5'11 170
22 Eli Jacobs 10 6'1 170
12 Saxton Pennycuff 10 6'2 175

This was the BC Game. #12 Pennycuff had been the starter at QB the 1st 6 games, but #15 James (a freshman) took over in 2nd half of Cloverdale game, and started last week. Pennycuff is 47-105 for 856 yards 9 TDs but 5 picks. James is 13-33 for 227, 3-1. Pennycuff is 44.7% Janes only 39.4% completion rate. Freshman Combs has been the main RB all season, leading the team in carries (57) and Yards (350) and TDs (4). Senior Deckard #6 sees a lot of action at WB with #5 Engleking (18-139-2) and #7 McNeal. #3 Kelley as well (16-57-0). EG had been a single back with 3-4 receivers and a more passing attack with Pennycuff, and still pass with James at QB, but it seems more wingback motion base and James involved in the running as well (21-108). McNeal leads with 441 yards receving on 16 catches and 7 TDs, with Engleking leading in catches with 19 and 332 yard with 4 TDs. Deckard adds 7-57, with #10 Coomer 6-61-2 and #81 White 3-48.

#56 Perkins was in street clothes vs Cloverdale but back at Tackle against BC. He, along with #77 Dixon, return from 2025 starting on the Oline. Dixon at Center and 5’10 325, with freshman Dorman at Guard 6’3 305.

ILB 3 Chase Kelley 11 5'10 225
ILB 50 Landon Norris 12 5'10 235
OLB 9 Gage Engleking 10 5'10 170
OLB 18 Andy Fry 10 5'6 160
DE 7 Luke McNeal 12 6'1 215
NT 73 Emmit Zuchschwerdt 10 6'0 260
DE 75 Silas Buskirk 9 5'10 325
CB 10 Noah Coomer 12 6'0 175
CB 2 Coty Nicholson 11 5'11 170
S 6 Ayden Deckard 12 5'11 190
S 22 Eli Jacobs 10 6'1 170

77 Alex Dixon 12 5'10 325
63 Austin Easter 11 5'10 195

Again, this was from the BC game. The week before vs Cloverdale there were some differences, but I’ll go with this one. #50 Norris returns at ILB from ’25 and leads in tackles with 41 . #6 Deckard is at strong safety moving from LB last year, and had 39 stops. #10 Coomer is also a starter from 2025. But that’s all that returns. #3 Kelley joins Norris as well as #9 Engleking and #18 Fry at the LB corp. Engleking- (there are 2 of them.. Eli #5 is a junior, Gage #9 a sophomore) had 33 tackles and a team leading 9 TFL. #7 McNeal had 22 tackles, 5 TFL and 3 sacks. In the Cloverdale game, and I assume most of the season #77 Dixon was at NG, and had 11 tackles for the year, but also #63 Easter has good numbers with 34 tackles 9 TFL and 2 Sacks. Last week Dixon was strictly offense at Center, and Easter was on sidelines (fully dressed out ). I see a freshman ( #75 Buskirk) was on Dline last week (6 tkls in season), so not sure what we’ll see tonight.

30 Ryder Crane 11 5'10 150
Ryder is the place kicker… is 17-21 in PATs with a 38.5 kickoff average. I’ve seen both Pennycuff and McNeal punt for the TBirds.

More... From the Desk of Daniel Phillips

Here is what I see as starters for the Comets based on their last 2 games.

QB 1 Gibson Eagle 12 5'9 185
RB 7 Abe Edwards 12 6'3 230
SL 3 Bently Hullinger 11 6'0 185
SL 27 Cody Tarrh 11 5'10 170
WR 18 Riley Helmberger 11 5'9 160
WR 12 Kyler Pollard 10 6'0 170

LT 54 Richard Bickel 12 6'0 220
LG 50 Jaxsen Hilsinger 12 6'1 240
C 60 Zane Marr 10 6'0 260
RG 75 Nate Spangle 11 6'0 275
RT 64 Cam Beechy 11 6'0 190

LB 55 Braiden Smith 11 5'9 190
LB 7 Abe Edwards 12 6'3 230
LB 54 Richard Bickel 12 6'0 220
DE 50 Jaxsen Hilsinger 12 6'1 240
DT 78 Riley Cutter 10 6'5 340
DT 72 Damien Teter 10 5'10 230
DE 68 Izaiah Simpson 12 6'1 250
CB 27 Cody Tarrh 11 5'10 170
CB 3 Bently Hullinger 11 6'0 185
S 21 Noah Zook 11 6'0 160
S 1 Gibson Eagle 12 5'9 185

They opened with 2 big rivalry wins in a 28-27 over 2A 3-3 Oak Hill on the road then a 49-20 battering of 4-2 3A Northwestern. The continued dominance with 2 blowouts 52-7 over 2-4 2A Delphi and 48-0 over 0-6 Taylor. They handled 4-2 1A Carroll (Flora) 21-6 and are coming into tonight on the heels of a 57-18 blasting of 3-3 Clinton Central. They average 42.5 ppg and allow just 13 ppg. Head Coach Josh Edwards has been at Eastern now 20 years after 8 at Tri-Central . After having only 1 +.500 season in his first 10 years at the helm, the Comets have ripped off 10 straight winning seasons, including 11-1 in 2019, 10-1 in 2020 and last year's 10-2 run. However, they only have 1 football sectional to their credit. It wasn't any of the three I mentioned, rather it was 2024 when they went 8-5. They lost to Adams Central in regional; the same Jet team that Linton fell to in the state title game that year.

Their nemesis in post-season seams to be Eastbrook-who have 17 sectional titles as well as 5 state appearances. If not them, then Tipton who have 10 and 3. Eastbrook has moved up to 3A, so the Comets won't have a chance to get revenge on the 31-28 loss in Sectional 35. Right now in Sectional 35 the Comets would be heavy favorites, with Tipton, Lewis Cass and Seeger each 4-2....but don't forget Oak Hill (3-3) who only lost by 1 point to Eastern to start the season.

They play in the Hoosier Heartland conference, and have a huge matchup with 4-2 Sheridan in week 8. Both teams are 4-0 in conference. Other teams in that conference are Carroll, Clinton Prairie, Clinton Central, Delphi, Tri_Central and Taylor. Miner fans recall Linton playing the Gophers of Clinton Prairie 2001 through 2004 with the Miners taking 3 of 4. Also surely recall the 2 year series with the Blackhawks of Sheridan with the Miners taking both those game in the win column.

Eastern will have a haul of about 3 hours or a little less. Greentown is located about 10 miles east of Kokomo. Those of you who made the trek to Western in 2024 can reference that Eastern is due east about 15-20 miles from Russiaville. The Green and Gold represent 488 students (as compared to 366 at Linton), and is the 6th largest 2A school in Football enrollments. 2 students above Greencastle. Their roster lists 59 players with 11 seniors. The school's first year of operation was 1951, a consolidation of Libery, Jackson and Union townships in Howard County .

Here is a closer look at key players for Eastern

Gibson Eagle #1 Sr 5’9 185. Starting Q since soph year. Thrown for 6, 174 yards to date. 393-641. 61.2%; 72 TD passes. 2nd leading rusher last year with 465 yards, and is leading team this year with 383 yards. 6.8/c. 8 TDs.
Is key member on D at Safety. 3rd in tackles with 39, was 3rd in 2025 with 97. Eagle’s top game was 401 yards passing vs Northwestern, 313 vs Delphi and 301 vs Clinton Central with 7 TDs in that game alone. He ran for 125 in the win over rival Oak Hill in week 1. Also had 10 tackles vs Carroll and Northwestern, and an interception return for a TD against Delphi.

Abram (Abe) Edwards #7 Sr 6’3 230. Became starting RB this year. Only 4 carries last year. Big Strong. 317 yards.
Starting MLB on D with 71 tackles, 12 for loss. Led team as Junior with 120 tackles and 21 for loss. He had 17 tackles vs Oak Hill again versus Carroll (Flora) & 13 vs Northwestern.

Bently Hullinger #3 Sr 6’1 180. Hs caught 100 passes from Soph year to now. 2,082 yards and 24 TDs. This year avergages over 23 yards per catch, 31 of them, 13 of those were scores, and 724 total yards. Also a key defender at cornerback. 5th in tackles last year with 67 and 3 picks, 22 tackles this year. 2 picks and a kick off return TD vs Northwestern, an 80 yard Kick off return TD last week vs Clinton Central. 213 yard receiving game vs Delphi; 181 vs Northwestern.

Richard Bickel #54 Sr 6’0 220. Starts at Tackle and at Linebacker, but last week also saw time at RB. With 48 stops is 2nd on team and 7 TFL. In 2025 he was also 2nd in tackles with 103. Had 12 stops vs Clinton Central, and 11 vs Carroll.

Braiden Smith #55 Jr 5’9 190. Linebacker. 31 tackles. 10 vs Clinton Central.

Damien Teter #72 Soph 5’10 230. Starts at Def Tackle and backup offensive Guard. 36 tackles 3 TFL. 12 tackles vs Carroll.

Izaiah Simpson #72/68? Sr 6’1 250. Came into 2026 aftaer logging 40 tackles and 7 sacks in 2025. Has 9 TFL thus far in ’26 and 19 tackles. Wears both 78 and 68 from what I see.

Cody Tarrh #27 Jr 5’10 170. Starter Slot and Corner. 2nd on team with 19 catches for 417 yards ad 2 scores. Averages nearly 22 yards a catch. Had 130 yards against Northwestern, 2 TD catches vs Taylor. Caught 37 passes for 520 yards as a sophomore in 2025.

Jaxsen Hilsinger #50 Sr 6’1 240. Starting Guard and Defensive End. 29 tackles 6 TFL, had 32 and 5 as a junior last year. Had a fumble return score for the Comets against Taylor.

Braylon Brooks #32 Soph 6’2 180 Brooks is one of 2 kickers listed on Roster. Looks to be a solid weapon with 26-29 PATs and 2 Field Goals of 44 and 45.

GO MINERS! Be there... Be Vocal.. and Support our Team!!!

From the Desk of Daniel Phillips.....

Now it’s time to look at the Sophomore class of Miner Football.

This group is well represented on the field, and brings a lot of talent to the table.

Starting off with the Quarterback, #2 Espn Graves. Espn has one of the hardest tasks made harder by replacing the
Graduated Paul Oliver. I got to know him a bit last year as he recovered from surgery and missed his freshman year in football, then had another procedure in basketball season. So he’s going direct from junior high to varsity which is saying a lot. He’s thrown for 318 yards yet not afraid to put his head down and run people over. He’s also a starter at Free Safety and 22 total tackles with 4 pass breakups to his credit.

#21 Coltyn Andrews was a starter as a freshman in the Defensive Backfield last year, and by season’s end was at Wingback. He also went through an injury suffered in week 9 but came back in the last couple games. He has a big role on both side of the ball. Offensively he has mainly been a WB and Slot depending on our injury situation. He’s obviously one we try to get the ball in the hands of either rushing or through the passing game. Currently he is the leading rusher in terms of yards with 191, and averages 6 yards a tough. He’s also the leading receiver in catches and receiving yards. He is the leading tackler from his ILB position (where his brother Corey played the previous 3 years). Currently at 65 tackles, and 6 TFL and 1.5 sacks. Coltyn averages 10.8 tackles per game with a high of 15 against Sullivan

#34 Stephen Boulanger impressed me as a freshman every time he got on the field. I knew he’d work his way on the field as a starter in 2026 and could have predicted him at Strong Safety! He was the JV running back and ILb in 2025 and has shifted to tight end (early in season) to being a starter at Wingback. He has a handful of carries offensively, but is a key figure on the defensive side, and has 28 stops on the season. He has had an interception to go with 1.5 TFL and a sack. Stevie missed last week’s game on concussion protocol.

#0 Ivan Montgomery got himself noticed late in the 2025 season when he made appearances for Linton as a Wide out as well as OLB. He started the year as the starting Tight End, but shifted to Split End after a collarbone scare that ended up being a shoulder separation that kept him out 1 week. The 6’4” Montgomery is a big target for Graves, and has been a deep target got LINTON as well. He has started at OLB with 15 tackles, 6 vs Riverton Parke, and 2.5 TFL.

#52 Jakob Mitchell has started to see a lot more action on the offensive line, particularly last week against North Decatur. He logged in 2 pancake blocks. At 6’0 280 he brings quite a load to both offensive and defensive lines and brings depth in both positions. #75 Charlie Lyons started on the oline earlier in the season. Also on the Dline providing depth. He’s another of the walking wounded as of this typing. #73 Carter Hammond in another lineman who I see on special teams as well as JV. All of three of these linemen are key not only for depth but for the future with three senior linemen in their last year of football.

#23 Hunter Kruz has seen action returning kickoffs in varsity games, and is a WB and ILB in JV.
#30 Gavin Ross has seen play at RB in JV games as well as special teams on varsity level, as does #32 Eli Lewellyn who is a Cornerback and WR. #17 Colton Day is a WR and a Dback. All of these guys are keys for the future as well as being ready for ‘now’. Injuries can shove you right out on the field in a flash. They have to be ready mentally and physically to go when their number is called.