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Amazing Jay Volpenhein leads Anderson to 4-0 with 5 TD performance

Redskins hold off Kings 42-28
Volpenhein, 4-0 Anderson erasing memory of 1-9
Volpenhein, 4-0 Anderson erasing memory of 1-9
Volpenhein, 4-0 Anderson erasing memory of 1-9
Posted at 11:06 PM, Sep 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-18 10:23:09-04

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Anderson senior quarterback Jay Volpenhein admits he's having the time of his life.

The same could be said for the entire undefeated Redskins' football team after Friday night's 42-28 win over visiting Kings.

"It's exhilarating," said Volpenhein, who accounted for five touchdowns (three passing and two rushing). "It's a great win for the team."

PHOTO GALLERY: Anderson 42, Kings 28

Volpenhein, 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds, showed his excellent dual-threat ability in one of the most significant home games at Charles L. Brown in quite some time.

Volpenhein was 21 of 25 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 23 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. 

"Competitor, athletic, a hard worker and resilient," Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said. "Everything about the guy is our program. Jay can definitely compete at any level."

Volpenhein has already thrown for 1,302 yards through four games. His skills were on display in one of the season's biggest stages.

More important is the fact that Anderson (4-0, 1-0 Eastern Cincinnati Conference) made the plays when it needed at crucial times Friday night.

Late in the third quarter and facing a 4th-and-5 from his own 25, Volpenhein scrambled to find junior Eric Curless for a 55-yard pass connection in one of the most electric plays in the area this season.

"I was thinking, ‘Don't throw an interception -- just get the first down,'" Volpenhein said.

That set up senior Kyle Blaha's 20-yard touchdown reception from Volpenhein just one play later to give Anderson a 27-7 lead.

Blaha scored three touchdowns (two receiving, one rushing).

"It's pretty huge to beat (Kings)," Blaha said.

Anderson had not defeated Kings since the schools joined the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in 2012. The last time was in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, according to Anderson Athletic Director Chris Newton.

"It's definitely a foundation we can set for this season," Dreyer said.

Kings made things interesting despite a 20-point deficit late in the third quarter. The Knights scored twice within eight seconds as junior running back Na'kemon Williams had two touchdown carries. His second touchdown in the quarter -- a 45-yard run -- was set up by a recovered onside kick.

Volpenhein responded with a 11-yard touchdown run with 1:12 left in the third. 

Kings got within 7 when senior quarterback Ashton Koller found senior Tommy Baum for a 24-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth.

But Blaha scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 6:03 left to seal the win for Anderson.

For a team that went 1-9 two years ago, the Anderson players and coaches will enjoy this 4-0 start.

"In Year 2 in 2017 it's something special," Dreyer said. "Everybody at Anderson High School has definitely bought into what we do and how we work."

Anderson, which plays at Withrow Sept. 22, is No. 1 in Joe Eitel's unofficial computer points rankings for Division II, Region 8. (The season's first official Ohio High School Athletic Association computer points will be released Sept. 19).

Anderson is ranked No. 4 in the TriStateFootball.com Ohio Divisions II-III rankings.

Kings (1-3, 0-1 ECC) had 427 yards of offense. Koller was 14 of 22 passing for 146 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 128 yards. Williams rushed for 93 yards and three touchdowns.

Kings plays host to West Clermont Sept. 22.

"Week 1 of the playoffs starts next week," Kings coach Andy Olds said. "All we need to do is fully focus on West Clermont. We need to play one at a time."