Trimble takes care of Southern on Homecoming
By: Charlie Lusk
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB)–On Friday night, the Trimble Tomcats hosted the Southern Tornadoes on their homecoming night. The Trimble community rallied behind the Tomcats as they looked to make a statement to the rest of the TVC-Hocking. It would be a mission accomplished for Trimble as they pulled out a big run against the Southern Tornadoes.
The Tornadoes struck in the first two minutes of the game. On a 4th and 2, Southern Quarterback Josiah Smith went on a massive run landing just short of the goal line.
The Tornadoes would then punch in the ball for the first score of the game. 7-0 Southern. Once the Tomcats got the ball back, they would respond with a 5-minute drive capped off by a Xavier Cunningham touchdown. Trimble would convert a two-point conversion to take the lead 8-7.
Another touchdown drive from Southern thanks to Josiah Smith finding Derek Griffith, the Tornadoes retook the lead 13-8. It looked like we were in for a shootout with both offenses putting up points all night.
This would not be the case as the Tomcat running game and defense would both rise to the occasion and take over the game.
A 51-yard rushing touchdown by Xavier Cunningham almost immediately after that Southern touchdown drive would set the tone for the rest of the game.
At the turn of the quarter, the Tomcats picked up a defensive stop forcing a turnover on downs to leave their opponents with no points on the drive. After the stop, Trimble was firmly in the driver’s seat.
After a hot start from Smith, the Tomcat’s defense was able to neutralize him. Smith found early success on the ground and through the air in the middle of the field.
But once the first quarter ended, Trimble was able to shrink the size of the field and force throws to the sidelines.
The defense stepped up when they needed to, but the obvious star of the night was senior running back, and homecoming king, Xavier Cunningham. Cunnigham would carry the offense on his back with 17 carries, 237 yards, and 5 touchdowns on top of 5 two-point conversions.
Whenever it looked like Trimble were slowing down in the first half, Cunningham would seemingly break off a huge gain for a first down or a score. The Tomcats rode that momentum to a 40-13 lead at the half.
When we talked to him after the game, Cunningham talked about how the occasion uplifted his play. “I think being homecoming king,” Cunningham said. “I just wanted to show out on this day. I wanted to have a great night.”
Trimble would continue to control the game in the second half and win 59-19.
The Southern Tornadoes look to get back on track when they host Waterford next week and Trimble will try to take this energy into next week when they travel to Belpre.