Stats.
That is about all Trenton High School’s varsity football team got out of Friday night’s romp over Schuyler County. The Bulldogs led 14-0 before their first offensive snap and went on to win, 53-0.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
“I was proud of the way our kids came out and played,” Head Coach Wes Croy said. “In a game like this it would have been very easy to have a let down, especially since there really wasn’t anything to gain.”
THS rolled up 436 yards rushing on its way to victory. Junior DeAndre Vandevender shredded the Rams’ defense for 310 yards on 10 carries. He had three rushing touchdowns and also returned an interception 60 yards for a score.
Vandevender finished the season with 1,856 rushing yards and moved into third all-time in career rushing with his senior season left to play.
A Place In THS History
Trenton’s offensive numbers were impressive this season. Senior receiver Logan Epperson broke the single season touchdown receiving record with nine and tied Andy Hill for the most receiving touchdowns in a career with 12. Senior quarterback Derek Miller moved into second place all-time in career touchdown passes with 12.
The Bulldogs are second all-time in points scored with 343 . The 1966 Bulldogs finished with 419 points. The Bulldogs also finished fourth all-time in total yards and fourth all-time in total rushing yards.
Defensively, the Bulldogs also put some impressive totals, including 93 total points allowed this season. It is the fourth time that in a 10-game or more season the Bulldogs have allowed less than 100 points in a season.
“The points per game was a big goal that we talked about all week long,” Croy said. “Allowing less than 100 points is a big accomplishment and it says a lot about our kids and it also speaks to the job that (defensive coordinator) Jon Adwell did this season.”
The 2006 Bulldogs also became the first THS team to finish with nine wins. Only the 1966 unbeaten team finished with more wins.
“I think when people look back on this team, they will talk about it as one of the best teams all-time,” Croy said. “I feel like this team is in the same class as the ‘66 team and the great teams in the ‘40s.”
Scoring At Will
Scott Stevens wasted little time in getting the Bulldogs on the scoreboard. Stevens returned the opening kickoff, 85 yards for a touchdown.
Trenton forced the Rams to punt on their first drive and then turned the ball over three plays later. On a third down and 11 play, Vandevender picked off a Tyler Green pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.
Schuyler County turned the ball over on downs on its next possessions. Two plays later, Vandevender scored on a 32-yard touchdown run. The Rams managed an 11-play drive that drove the ball down to Trenton’s 22-yard line before being stopped on fourth down.
Vandevender weaved his way through the Rams’ defense on the next play, scoring on a 78-yard run. The Rams then went 12 plays before turning the ball over on downs. Schuyler County’s defense stiffened some on Trenton’s next drive – it took the Bulldogs a six plays before Miller scored on a 14-yard run. At halftime THS led, 34-0.
On Schuyler County’s opening drive of the second half, the Rams were forced to punt. Schuyler County however, recovered a Trenton fumble on the Bulldogs’ first play of the second half. The Rams had the ball in Trenton territory for the third time in the game. The Rams started at Trenton’s 37-yard line, but lost 11 yards on three plays and were forced to punt.
THS got on track again. This time Vandevender broke three tackles on his way to a 93-yard touchdown run.
Senior Kyle Harkins scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. Freshman Tony Thompson tacked on Trenton’s final score of the game on a 31-yard run.
The Bulldogs finish the season at 9-1 overall.