DDN
Piqua, OSU give Pitcocks big football weekend
Jafe's Piqua High team faces Ashland in D-II regional final
By
Greg Billing
Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Chances are good the city of Ashland will have a love-hate relationship with Piqua's Pitcock family this weekend. Ohio State defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock should get support against Michigan on Saturday. Piqua High defensive tackle Jafe Pitcock, Quinn's younger brother, won't be as fortunate on Friday.
Piqua (10-2) plays Ashland (12-0) for a Division II regional championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. That game is first and foremost in the minds of Jafe and his parents Mike and Janey.
"I'm basically like anyone else, I take them one game at a time," Mike Pitcock said of preparing for the busy weekend that'll add up to nearly 400 miles on the road. "Right now I'm focused on the Piqua game and when that's over with I change my hat, I change my clothes and I start thinking about (Quinn's game) Saturday."
Jafe and the Indians' defense will certainly be on the minds of Ashland's offense. Wapakoneta stayed with Piqua into the second half of the Indians' 40-21 win last weekend before the defense turned it on. It finished with four sacks, two interceptions and delivered some hard tackles. Overall, the Indians allow 16.7 points per game.
"We've been practicing for this since my sophomore year," Jafe said of a veteran defense playing for Piqua's first state appearance since 2000. "We just got better and better. It's our last year so we have to do it this year."
Jafe, strong enough to drive back blockers and quick enough to chase down backs, has plenty of help in their pursuit of state. Senior linemen Dusty Snyder and Dominic Allen, senior linebacker Pete Rolf and senior defensive back Phil Collier were all first-team Greater Western Ohio Conference selections. Pitcock, senior defensive back Bryant Fox and junior linebacker David Rolf were all second team.
Jafe will likely get a few encouraging words from Quinn.
"He calls back here once in awhile during the week and I get to talk to him every so often," said Jafe, a D-I college recruit himself. "We usually text message each other throughout the week, tell each other good luck as far as our games and how things are going."
