Knox Redskins look to keep undefeated past Jimtown, utilizing nation-leading rusher Myles McLaughlin
ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- This Friday marks another week of high school football in Michiana.
It's Week 7 for the Hoosier teams with just 2 weeks left to go in the regular season before playoffs.
ABC57 viewers chose Jimtown vs. Knox for this week's Game of the Week.
The undefeated Knox Redskins are planning their attack on the Jimtown Jimmies in their hunt for a seventh straight win this season.
"As the season's coming right now, it's working quite well. It's hard to be 6-0, it's even harder to be 7-0," says Russ Radtke, Knox Community High School Varsity Football Coach.
Radtke, in his sixth season at Knox, says he'll be keeping tabs on this conference matchup as the Jimmies are a potential playoff opponent.
"If our opponent is throwing the ball a lot, and hopefully the ball's incomplete, it's going to take a long time," explains Radtke. "We're not going to put the ball in the air very much and we'll keep the clock running."
They're not going to put the ball in the air, instead the Redskins are looking to take the air out of the ball, leaning heavily on their workhorse in the backfield running back Myles McLaughlin.
The senior currently leads the nation in rushing yards with 2,106 yards so far in six games, rushing for over 200 a game.
"He's already rushed for over 5 miles. . . he's Myles McLaughlin and he's already rushed on the ground for over 5 miles," Radtke says.
McLaughlin says it comes from hard work over the past several years working up the ranks, in the offseason, and every day in practice.
"It's an honor, but you got to keep working for it every week. It's never promised," says McLaughlin. "You never know who's going to come up in America taking your spot."
He isn't a selfish player; McLaughlin knows the record-breaking success wouldn't be possible without a strong O-line, paving the way in front of him.
"Everyone wants everyone to do the best for the team, so if someone's doing something good, they know it's for the best of the team and everyone's just excited for each other," says McLaughlin.
"He wouldn't have a single yard if it wasn't for the offensive line. I know everybody always just says that to try to be nice, but I'm telling you the truth," says Radtke. "Our linemen have to make the hole for Myles to get to where he's at."
Because it's efficient doesn't mean it works every snap, the offense has had to get good at adjusting when pressure on McLaughlin comes strong.
"Once Myles gets the ball it doesn't necessarily mean he's always going to have it," explains Radtke. "If the key and the read comes in a different direction, he'll pitch it to another player."
With almost 50 years of coaching under his belt, Radtke remains firm that the key to success falls on the little things that make a big impact, like perfecting field positions and special teams.
"If we can keep the opponent on the other side of the 50 and if we can find a way to get to the 50, will be the difference of the ballgame," says Radtke.