DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
The talk around the Adams Central Flying Jets this summer always comes around to talk of 2A football. Reaching the state championship game in each of the last three years in 1A has put the program up a class for 2024 and 2025 and maybe beyond.
That fact, however, doesn’t really change anything about the Jets’ regular season. They’re still the favorites to win the ACAC and their schedule remains more or less the same.
What will be new this year is the quarterback. Jack Hamilton threw for 24 touchdowns and 1500 yards as the team finished the season at Lucas Oil with a 14-1 record.
Enter Jamison Roach.
Roach may not have had a regular spot in the Jets’ offense in 2023, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t incredibly potent and dangerous. He had three rushing touchdowns, carrying out the role of backup QB to Hamilton, but also ran back a punt return and a kickoff for a total of five TDs in 2023.
Jamison has taken it upon himself to be a new leader on the team, whether it is on the practice field, in the classroom or in the weight room.
While Adams Central fans might expect another round of big, bruising running backs along the lines of Blake Heyerly and Keegan Bluhm, they may be surprised this season to see a little more speed and finesse with the ball carriers. Aaron Hirschy’s speed will certainly be utilized to relieve pressure on Roach. Hirschy led the team in rushing average with an incredible 10.6 yards per carry and also reached the end zones ten times.
The Jets have been extremely busy this summer preparing for the expectations that will come this fall. Coach Michael Mosser and his staff have seen plenty of area teams from across the Fort Wayne region in scrimmages and walk-throughs.
“We’re going to have bumps along the road,” noted Mosser to WZBD. “It takes a while for them to feel comfortable with the level of varsity football.”
Mosser notes that he has some guys who have the speed to make the adjustment from JV to varsity.
Hirschy will share carries with several teammates, including Drew Kaehr, Matt Heiser and Thomas Laughlin.
“Some of those bumps are going to be good for us,” notes Mosser. “They’re bound to happen, though.”
Kaehr told WZBD this summer that he felt the group really meshed together as a team, especially after graduating so many seniors and having so many guys in new roles. Kaehr was fourth on the team in tackles last season with 66 and will be a key asset for the vaunted AC defense.
Another weapon for the Jets and for QB Roach will be Braylend Reber. He was a big part of the Jets’ D in 2023, but Reber says he thinks he will see a lot more snaps at wide receiver. Reber caught two passes last year in limited attempts, but anyone who has seen him on the basketball court in recent years for AC can verify his athletic ability and agility.
“We know we need people to step up,” Max Kaehr told WZBD in his media day interview. Kaehr will play tight end and be the leader of the linebacking corps, but he feels that the Jets have able-bodied replacements at the skill positions with guys like Jaret Smith, Matt Heiser and Hirschy.
Kaehr also noted that while many people will be concerned about the offense, it is the defense that should be as exciting as any in recent years for Jet fans.
That Jets defense will be anchored by Cam Fravel, who led the team with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss a year ago. Fravel will be active on the offensive line, as well, this season.
The schedule this year for the Jets will be the exact same as last year, outside of Muncie Central, a 4A school, replacing Blackhawk Christian in Week 3. The Jets will play five home games this year.
All four road games for Adams Central will be on the WZBD broadcast schedule, meaning 92.7 FM and the station’s YouTube channel will be broadcasting 8 of 9 regular season contests this year.
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