True Heart: Switzerland County leaves it all on the field

(VEVAY, Ind.) – The Switzerland County football team showed the true definition of heart, grit and dedication on Friday night. 

The Pacers came into the Sectional Championship facing an extremely tough assignment. 

They played former Class 2A State Runner-Up Brownstown Central who had an 11-0 record on the season. 

Switzerland County suited up 27 players, with only 13 of the being regular full-time payers.

On the other sideline, Brownstown Central had nearly 70 players. 

The Pacers went toe-to-toe with the much bigger team and Brownstown only led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

“Our boys went all gas and no brakes, with no breaks from playing, for the first quarter and more. We held our own before tiring out and making mass substitutions to keep our guys from dying,” said Switzerland County head coach Ryan Jesop. 

The 63-6 score may have been lopsided in the end, but the Pacers gave everything they had knowing their backs were truly against the wall. 

Switzerland County’s football program is only 12 years old and the recent on-field success comes in addition to the increased graduation rates, brotherhood and discipline that the program has been responsible for creating.

The seniors this year are the winningest class in Pacer football history. Jesop attributes that to all of the players that have come before them. 

"Our practices started way back in June and I am extremely proud that this team got to play in November for the second straight year. That is light years from where we were when we started a football program 12 years ago," Jesop said.

The coach also congratulated Brownstown and described them as the “gold standard of culture and play that all non-private schools aspire to reach."

All photos in this article were provided by Tammy Hayes.