Sports
Trimble Advances With Convincing Win
By: Nick Komjati
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The dominant Trimble Tomcat defense wore down defenses across the TVC-Hocking this whole season, surrendering an average of four points per game to their opponents.
In the first game of the playoffs, however, the stout defense would face one of their biggest challenges in a highflying Colonel Crawford Eagles offense.
The game was close for the first half, but the Tomcats, led on both sides of the ball by junior Konner Standley, blew open the game in the second half, propelling Trimble to a 41-6 victory at home in Glouster.
After a near three-hour trip, the Colonel Crawford Eagles looked to unleash their secret weapon, quarterback Nate Klingenberger, on the Trimble defense. Klingenberger had passed for over 2,000 yards on the season and seemed like a weapon that could expose flaws in the Tomcats. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Klingenberger left the game in the first half after taking several brutal hits from the front four of Trimble.
Even with the loss of their quarterback, the Eagle defense held strong and kept the score close at 6-0 at halftime.
What looked like a defensive scrum at the midway point, Trimble’s Player of the Year candidate, Konner Standley, began to wear down the Eagle defense immediately after the third quarter began.
A mistake by the Eagle punter set up the Tomcats in opposing territory and Standley would take advantage of the opportunity and increased the lead to 13-0.
Standley rotated between the quarterback and running back positions and was always effective, rumbling for big chunks of yards and refusing to go down without a fight.
The Tomcat offense continued to roll and was helped by forced turnovers by their defense to score 35 points in the second half and take the first round victory 41-6.
Standley made his case yet again to be awarded the player of the year award as he was 4-for-8 passing through the air for 24 yards, but most of his production came on the ground where he had 11 carries for 122 yards and three touchdowns.
Eagles quarterback Nate Klingenberger finished 2-of-3 passing for 16 yards before he was forced to leave the game and his replacement, Kameron Landin, went 1-of-4 for 29 yards with two interceptions.
The stout Tomcat defense forced four turnovers and continued their dominant play. The Tomcats will travel to a neutral site to play Newark Catholic next weekend in the second round.