Trojans triumph over the Rams

STAFF REPORTS

 

The Girard Trojans football team fought for their first victory of the season last night against the Riverton Rams.

Girard came out strong early in the first quarter, kicking off then forcing the Rams to punt the ball after only four plays.

The Trojans’ Camden McFarland returned the Rams’ punt for 40 yards to nearly the 20-yard line, and Girard’s offense would soon convert the run into a touchdown bringing the score to 7-0 after a completed field goal.

Kreed Curran also had a strong run into the end zone for Girard after another strong drive down the field, bringing the score to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Girard’s defense remained solid throughout the entire first quarter, forcing the Rams to punt on every possession and denying any entrance onto their side of the field.

With only one minute down in the second quarter, Curran scored a second time for the Trojans after motioning from his receiver position and taking a handoff from quarterback Kyler Siebert for an eight-yard run, bringing the score to 21-0 after a successful field goal kick.

Riverton did not achieve a first down on offense until nearly four minutes into the second quarter after a face

mask penalty on Girard’s defense moved them forward 15 yards. However, Girard still forced the Rams to punt on that drive.

The Trojans struggled to complete passes toward the end of the second quarter and failed to capitalize on two offensive drives. However, their defense was unwavering and refused to allow the Rams any progression up the field.

At the opening of the second half, Girard’s energy seemed to return as they made a nearly six-minute offensive drive down the field. This drive ended with another touchdown by McFarland to bring the score to 27-0 after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

With about six minutes left in the third quarter, Girard’s defense forced the Rams into yet another position to punt, but this time the snap was fumbled by the punter in the end zone and Girard forced him down to gain possession at the ten-yard line.

Girard would fail to convert this possession into touch down, however, they would turn right around and force the Rams into another punt situation.

McFarland returned the punt for Girard and brought the Trojan’s field position to Riverton’s 23-yard line. On the first play of this new drive, an option pitch to Curran landed him in the end zone, but it was called back after a penalty.

The end of the third quarter sent the Trojans to the opposite side of the field to begin the fourth quarter on a fourth down with 14 yards to go. A key pass from Ty Norris to Matthew Sabine earned the Trojans a first down with only five yards needed to score. McFarland finished the drive with his third touchdown of the game to bring the score to 35-0 after a completed two-point conversion pass to Sabine.

For the remainder of the game, Girard gradually replaced their varsity offense and defense with junior varsity players, who held their own against Riverton and prevented any infiltration by the Rams on defense.

Girard’s 35-0 victory over the Riverton Rams last night brought their season record to 1-1, bouncing back strong after their hard loss to Frontenac last Friday.