Trimble Shuts Out Southern in Game of the Week
By: Jake Motta
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GLOUSTER, Ohio- The Trimble Tomcats came into this game undefeated, and they showed no sign of letting up against the Southern Tornadoes. The Tornadoes came into this game 5-3, including being undefeated on the road, but that changed Friday night once they hit a red-hot team of Tomcats and fell 76-0.
Southern received the opening kickoff and were looking to try to establish momentum against the defense. Their plan was spoiled when Southern’s quarterback fumbled the football and Trimble’s #68 Ian Joyce recovered it on the 12-yard line. The very next play on first-and-10 senior running back Conner Wright ran the ball into the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown, this would be his first of many for the game.
On the next drive for Southern they picked up a first down on a 13-yard run by quarterback Gage Shuler. After that they couldn’t get anything going and they were forced to punt. The punt landed 25 yards away giving Trimble position on their own 28-yard line. However, being 72 yards away from the endzone didn’t faze them or Conner Wright who took the handoff from Cam Kittle and ran the ball 72 yards to the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Southern again could not get anything going on offense from senior running back Trey McNickle, as they went for it on fourth-and-inches and Trimble’s defense prevailed. Trimble gained possession on their own 32-yard line. Kittle started the drive out rushing for 10 yards up the middle and Southern got their first tackle with 5:54 left in the first quarter. After a contribution of 10 yards from Wright, Kittle took the ball 11 yards for the score and his first rushing TD of the game, making it 20-0 Tomcats after a missed PAT.
Sawyer Koons was wreaking havoc on the next drive against Southern getting into the backfield forcing incomplete passes and laying big hits on Southern running backs. Southern was forced to punt again and gave Trimble the ball on their own 23-yard line. Once again Trimble handed the ball off to their bread and butter running back Conner Wright, and he took the ball 59 yards and landed his offense on the Southern 18-yard line. One play later Conner took the ball six yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game. The score was 27-0 Trimble.
After another three-and-out for Southern, Trimble found themselves with the ball on their 42-yard line. Kittle threw a pass to Blake Guffey who had a catch and run for 12 yards and he threw one mean stiff arm during that run. The drive would be capped off by a 30-yard passing TD from Kittle to Bryce Downs making the score 34-0 Tomcats.
Southern was forced to punt again, and Trimble would score again off of a 64 yard TD pass from Kittle to Blake Guffey giving Kittle two passing TDs. After the defense forced Southern to punt again Kittle would get a 69-yard rushing TD, giving him two rushing TDs for the half as well. Trimble would head into halftime with the lead 55-0, and they would only build off that, they ended up winning the game 76-0.
Conner Wright finished the game with six carries for 230 yards averaging 38.3 yards a carry. He also had a pick six on defense. Cam Kittle had six passing attempts, completed five of those attempts, and threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns. On defense Sawyer Koons lead the team with eight tackles, five of them being solo tackles. Trimble’s defense played extremely well all night only allowing Southern’s offense 38 yards on 43 plays, getting three takeaways and the defense was responsible for two touchdowns. They allowed only 42 rushing yards and 12 passing yards all night.
The Tomcats show no sign of slowing down against any opponent, and they have proved that they can score points on offense efficiently and their defense can turn turnovers into points as well. Trimble faces off against Wahama next Friday to see if they can continue the perfect season, and remain undefeated.