Fenbert has another big game, P-G routs Locos

PANDORA – It was difficult to imagine Pandora-Gilboa senior Jace Fenbert having a better game than he did a week ago, when he had six catches for a school-record 212 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Ada.But in the Region 26 postseason opener against Montpelier on Friday, Fenbert might have done just that.He intercepted Locomotives quarterback Braxton Henry three times, returned one of the picks 31 yards for a touchdown, and added a pair of TD receptions on offense.The Rockets led 42-0 at halftime, added a 48-yard Layton Cannode field goal in the third quarter and shutout Montpelier 45-0 in Pandora."I tell you what, (Fenbert) just finds the stat sheet column, doesn't he?" said P-G head coach Matt Hershey. "It's outrageous."But after the win – which moved Pandora-Gilboa to 7-4 – Fenbert made it sound almost simple."Really just knowing my rules, and what I'm supposed to do and having my teammates to help me out," Fenbert said.Early in the game, it looked like the night might belong to quarterback Zahnder Boggs, He led a four-minute touchdown drive after the opening kickoff, punctuating it with a 5-yard touchdown run.After P-G's defense forced a three-and-out on the Locomotives' ensuing possession, Montpelier punter World Peace – facing a rush from the Rockets – caught the snap with his knee on the turf.The officials called the play dead and P-G took over at Montpelier's 6.Three plays later, Boggs was in the end zone again, this time on a 1-yard run.What followed was another miscue by Montpelier; it fumbled the ensuing kickoff return and P-G recovered.Again given a short field, the Rockets capitalized. This time, Boggs rolled right and lobbed a 7-yard pass to Fenbert, who caught the ball in the end zone.P-G led 21-0, and the game wasn't even nine minutes old."We took advantage of their miscues and we were able to be more physical up front from the start," Hershey said.P-G added on in the second quarter, as Fenbert's first interception led to another score. This time, Boggs threw a deep pass to a leaping Simon Gerten, who then ran into the end zone to complete a 36-yard touchdown.With the Rockets now leading 28-0, Fenbert made another big play on Montpelier's next possession, jumping a route in the flat, intercepting a pass and returning it to the end zone."I saw (Henry's) arm go up, and I knew it was coming, so I just picked it off," he said.P-G pushed it's lead to 35-0 with 4:33 left in the half. And – after another Fenbert interception – the Rockets scored again about four minutes later.Boggs threw a 22-yard strike to Fenbert, and P-G led 42-0 with 22 seconds left in the half.Fenbert finished with six catches for 36 yards."Couldn't have done it without No. 1 (Boggs) throwing me good passes," Fenbert said. "I just got to get open. He'll find me."After setting the school's single game receiving record last week, Fenbert set another mark this week, as his three interceptions gave him nine on the season."He's doing a great job for us. He seems like he's in the right place at the right time for us, and he makes plays," Hershey said.Fenbert wasn't the only one.Boggs finished with nine rushes for 66 yards, and was 11 of 15 passing for 114 yards. He had five total touchdowns.Boggs frequently fought through tackle attempts, staying on his feet and picking up yardage."I try not to go down, try to get as much yardage as I can for the team, put us in a good spot to win," Boggs said."That's who he is," Hershey said. "He plays so hard, makes a ton of plays for us, and as long as he's back there, he gives us a shot."Montpelier wrapped its season at 7-4. It was led by running back Carter Meek, who ran for 58 yards.Pandora-Giboa's defense finished the game with five turnovers. P-G's Denver Moore added an interception late in the fourth quarter.The Rockets will now travel to Leipsic for the second time this season. P-G fell to the undefeated Vikings on Sept. 18, 39-0.The rematch will be next Friday."(Leipsic is) gonna be projected to win, and rightfully so," Hershey said. "I don't want any locker room material on that one. But we're gonna go play a game and we're gonna see what happens. It's a conference rival, it's a county rival. We're hoping our kids show up to play."Fenbert was succinct when asked about taking on Leipsic again."We're gonna try and go and shock the world," he said.Montpelier 0 0 0 0 – 0Pandora-Gilboa 21 21 3 0 – 45FIRST QUARTERP-G – Zahnder Boggs 5 run (Layton Cannode kick)P-G – Boggs 1 run (Cannode kick)P-G – Jace Fenbert 7 pass from Boggs (Cannode kick)SECOND QUARTERP-G -- Simon Gerten 36 pass from Boggs (Cannode kick)P-G – Fenbert 31 interception return (Cannode kick)P-G – Fenbert 22 pass (Cannode kick)THIRD QUARTERP-G – Cannode 48 field goal