10/18/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
BRIDGEPORT - There were a pair of major storms that hit the football field at Red Hill on Saturday.

But before Mother Nature unleashed her furry, the Johnston City Indians' offense was equally as powerful.

Coach Marshall Mummert and his rushing attack controlled the game, scoring four touchdowns in a 30-0 victory that was called with 9:40 left in the third quarter.

The Tribe trampled through the Salukis' defense for 235-yards on just 22-attempts, never attempting a pass while scoring on each of its four possessions.

They kept the hosts off of the scoreboard to move to 8-0 on the season and in the Black Diamond Conference.

Red Hill saw its mark slip to 5-3 with the loss.

The Indians proved again that they have weapons with three different rushers racking up over 50-yards on the ground led by senior Jace Weaver with 88-yards on the ground on 10-attempts.

Weaver scored the Indians first touchdown and added three PAT runs in the victory in the first ever meeting between the two programs.

Trey Johnson, another senior running back, traveled 71-yards on just three rushes, including a breakaway second quarter score and junior Marcus Leitzen added another 54-yards on the ground and the final TD before the game was called.

Red Hill was held to just 107-yards of total offense and 97-yards on 25-carries on the ground.

Senior running back Holden Jacobsen led the Salukis with 68-yards rushing.

Senior quarterback Avery Arbuckle threw just two passes; one for a 10-yard completion to senior wide out Brody Wattles.

The other was an interception by Johnson, stopping Red Hill's second drive of the game.

It was the only turnover of the contest and JC scored less than a minute later for the second time.

Red Hill took the opening kickoff and moved into the Indians' side of the 50 but a big defensive stop by Johnston City stopped the drive.

Facing a fourth-and-nine at the JC 41, Arbuckle was sacked by Indians' lineman Nolan Pollard for a 10-yard loss to turn the ball over.

JC wasted little time in scoring on its first try.

The 49-yard drive was highlighted by runs by Weaver and Johnson.

Weaver (13) and Johnson (12) produced 25 of the yards in the scoring march that took just seven plays.

Weaver closed the deal on a seven-yard run to the right.

He ran left on the PAT for an 8-0 lead with 2:39 left in the fast moving first quarter.

Red Hill gained five first downs on their first two drives, with three of them coming on their second possession.

But Arcbuckle over threw a receiver and Johnson snagged the ball, and was brought down at the Johnston City 38.

Two plays later, Johnson took the ball to the left side and broke through the Red Hill defense.

Fifty-one yards later, Johnston City had its second touchdown.

Weaver tacked on the running PAT for a 16-0 spread early in the second quarter.

The Salukis moved the ball again in its third possession but the Indians defense was strong, taking over on downs with 1:24 left in the half.

Coach Mummert's club went straight down the field as the heavy rain and wind began.

Weaver ran three straight times and the Indians made it to the Red Hill six-yard line, taking a time out with :10.

But before another snap, the storm got stronger with a lightning strike halting the game.

After a 30 minute delay, the teams took the field again picking up where the game left off.

Weaver again went up the middle and was stopped just short of the goal line.

The officials granted the Tribe a timeout as the clock hit :01.

A one-yard quarterback sneak by senior Kaden Koenig reached the endzone.

Weaver added his third point after touchdown for a 24-0 halftime.

After taking just a few minutes for the halftime the teams took the field and Johnston City received the kickoff and quickly scored.

On the fifth play of the drive, with a third-and-three from the Red Hill 32, Leitzen took a hand-off and blasted straight through the line.

The junior sprinted to paydirt for the score.

However before the Indians could line up for the point after try, another lightning sighting and heavier rain force another delay.

With the grass field now a quagmire and the rain not expected the let up, the two coaches decide to call the game for the safety of the players.

The Indians can produce the programs' fifth undefeated regular season in the playoff era with a win next Friday against Sesser-Valier/Waltonville (6-2) at home.

Red Hill will get back to action in the regular season finale at Flora.