Chelsea junior quarterback Jax Ichesco was a bit dumbfounded when coaches told him this off season that the Bulldogs were switching from a spread offense to the Wing T with three running backs in the backfield.
After a 5-0 start during which Chelsea has scored at least 49 points in the last four games, he is a Wing T advocate.
“I love the Power T,” he said. “You make reads, fake outs. People chase me. They chase my brother (Gibby) and the O line is great at creating holes.”
Jax Ichesco and his brother Gibby Ichesco put on a football clinic during a 56-21 victory over backyard rival Dexter Friday night. Jax rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns while his brother Gibby scored in every way imaginable. He hauled in 51-yard touchdown pass from his younger brother Jax, scored on a 45-yard run and on a 75-yard kickoff return.
Chelsea didn’t miss a beat when head coach Noel Dean was kicked out of the game in the third quarter for arguing to officials about penalties called against his team. The Bulldogs were called for 10 penalties worth a staggering 130 yards. Dean rushed the field one time too many and officials gave him the old heave ho.
Chelsea’s Wing T offense is similar to the Power T that Howell runs. The difference is Chelsea peppers in an aggressive passing game. Howell does not.
Chelsea rushed to a 28-0 second quarter lead but had to survive the Hot hand of Dexter quarterback Pearson Taylor who passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
“We got too relaxed,” Gibby Ichesco said. “We’ve got to take care of that.”
Chelsea, ranked number 2 in Class 3, behind Detroit Martin Luther King is gunning for a state title. However, players were told by coaches after the game that they must play with more discipline to achieve that.
No matter the offense Chelsea scores points. Last year the Bulldogs (9-2) averaged 39.2 points but lost two of their most important games, 42-28 to Dexter and 27-7 in a district final against Goodrich.
This year they are averaging 50.4 points a game, which included a 29-20 win over state power Harper Woods, which put Chelsea in the state title conversation.
“It was definitely an adjustment,” Gibby said of switching offenses. “We had to put our heads down and get to it. I like to say now that we are one of the best Wing T teams in the state of Michigan.”