Young Trojan team drops first game to experienced Raiders

STAFF REPORTS

The Girard Trojan football team fell in its season opener to Frontenac 40-12 Friday night in Girard.
Frontenac’s defense, along with a powerful offensive attack, helped surge the Raiders past the young Girard team. The Raiders scored on their first three possessions of the game and also limited Girard to a number of three-and-outs.
Early in the game, the Girard defense found itself being picked apart on short passing routes in the air attack.
On the defensive side of the ball, Frontenac applied pressure to senior Trojan quarterback Eric Wilson, not allowing him to get into a groove. Blitzing on a number of plays seemed to throw the Trojan offense out of whack.
After a few touchdowns for the Raiders and numerous dead possessions for the Trojans, Frontenac headed into the locker room with a 27-0 lead.
As play resumed, Frontenac quickly capitalized again as running back Cadin Bolinger broke away for a 47-yard touchdown run shortly into the second half, making the score 34-0 after the PAT.
Finally, late in the third, the Trojan offense seemed to have a spark. After an offsides penalty on the Raider defense on fourth down, the Trojans drove for their first score of the game.
After an 11-play, 80-yard drive, junior running back Camden McFarland punched in a 4-yard touchdown run with only seconds left in the third, making the score 34-6 after a missed PAT.
One more Raider touchdown was scored, while the last scoring play came from sophomore running back Kreed Curran late in the fourth quarter for the Trojans.
Girard head coach Leon Miller is optimistic as he looks for his young team to improve.
“We did some good things at the end of the game,” said Miller. “I am glad they found success towards the end there; we will be better for next week.”
This year’s Trojan team features many new varsity faces, as three of the five starting down-lineman are sophomores filling in some key roles.
Senior Isaiah Fisher led the Trojan rushing attack with 47 yard on nine, while McFarland had 44 yards on 14 carries.
Wilson was 3-11 passing for 42 yards, with the majority of those yard coming off of a deep connection to senior Shane Redfern in the third quarter.
Look for this Trojan team to learn some lessons from this game and improve as the weeks go by.
Girard will be at Riverton, who lost to Columbus Friday night, next Friday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.