Published: October 22, 2009 12:01 pm      

Skins to visit Kingsmen

The “Kings(men)” of Northern Indiana high school football are next on the schedule for Goshen’s Redskins.

Penn, with its “Gold Rush” offense and “Wild Bunch” defense, hosts Goshen in a Class 5A sectional first-round game Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7, a half hour earlier than normal for Redskin fans.

If Goshen wins, the Redskins would host either Elkhart Central or South Bend Adams in a sectional semifinal game Oct. 30.

“Under the circumstances, this is the best draw we could have gotten,” said GHS coach David Wilson. “You are going to have to face them sooner or later and it might as well be in the first round where the most upsets occur.

“We feel better about ourselves after the win over Wawasee and the kids are anxious to face the best. We are the team which gets to face them right away.

“Penn is similar to Plymouth which went unbeaten in our (Northern Lakes) Conference. We will get some chances, but must take advantage of them. We didn’t do that at Plymouth.

“Penn finally lost a conference game to Mishawaka, but they are still a very good football team. But, we feel our NLC competition gets us ready to play anyone.

“Except for the Mishawaka and Plymouth games, we haven’t been steamrolled by anyone. Having said that, we must do everything properly this week and that starts with practice.

“Penn is a run-oriented team with play-action passing. It’s the same system going back to the Coach (Chris) Geesman days. Defensively, they are incredibly aggressive. Their linemen both ways are very fundamental and tenacious.

“We need to create some turnovers in this game and finish off our drives.”

Sophomore Chunie Pung leads the Redskins in rushing with 481 yards on 102 carries while senior Nathan Swihart has 425 on 76.

Junior Carson Roberts is 81-of-174 passing for 1,075 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Taylor Short has 27 catches for 413, junior Joey Diaz 21 for 273 and junior Troy Pickard 11 for 132.

Defensive Report