SHARPSVILLE — At the outset, it appeared pure mismatch — a deep, talent-rich No. 11-rated Lapel Bulldog crew against a Tri-Central Trojan squad that was a total stranger to success with 11 winless seasons and seven 1-9 campaigns in 39 years.
But for a few brief moments Friday night, coach Nate Andrews’ Bulldogs had to be wondering after the Trojans of first-year coach George Gilbert strolled to the dressing with a 14-6 halftime lead.
Granted, fumbles and a rash of penalties took much of the starch out of the Bulldogs, but so did a fired-to-the-gills TC crew that ignored a 10-yard TD jaunt by Shelby Weeks opening the second period to score twice in the last 5:42 of the half.
Freshman running back Austin Horn ran through the Bulldogs for a 4-yard TD to give TC a 6-6 tie at the 5:42 mark. And on the Bulldogs’ ensuing series, TC defensive end Eric Cage broke through and ripped the ball out of quarterback Sam Foust’s hands and bolted 26 yards untouched. Horn’s scamper for the PAT gave the Trojans a surprising 14-6 command.
Then the climate took an abrupt turn.
First it was a driving rain, but even worse for TC was another storm in the persons of Weeks and Foust who hit the Trojans full force, especially in the second half. Foust had touchdown runs of 24 and six yards, and Weeks broke free for scores of 46 and 36 yards.
It was a 14-14 contest after three quarters, but from that point on, it was a total Bulldog scene.
Lapel switched from its opening 4-3 defense to an eight-man front in the second half, and the Trojans had all they could do to muster 37 yards in 24 carries, suffering 39 negative yards on 11 trips.
Weeks was more than the Trojans could handle, bolting for 107 yards on 13 first-half carries and adding 120 on just seven totes the last half for an overall figure of 227 yards in 20 carries.
Foust outran the Trojan defense for 64 yards on 13 carries and had two TDs called back due to Lapel penalties.
And yet, it was the bullish Lapel defense in the second half that chilled the Trojans.
That eight-man front took away the TC running game, and the constant pressure allowed Tri-Central one lone pass completion for six yards in nine attempts.
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Bulldogs drop Tri-Central
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