The Trenton Bulldogs will open the 2007 football season Friday night at C.F. Russell Stadium in Trenton when they host the Minutemen of Lexington.
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Last season, Trenton opened the season on the road at Lexington and came away with a 34-13 win. The running game worked well in that contest. De’Andre Vandevender carried the ball 19 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Scott Stevens had 17 carries and went for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Both players are back this year and Head Coach Wes Croy feels they will be a key factor in the Bulldogs’ meeting with Lexington this season.
“We need to run the ball well,” Croy said. “I think there is no question that our bread and butter is the running game.”
Vandevender and Stevens are both capable backs and junior quarterback Ethan Bunnell proved he could run the ball as well last week in the jamboree. During the final session of the jamboree, Bunnell was electric, cutting up the Maryville defense several times, including a long touchdown run that fired up the squad.
Junior quarterback Ryan Wade will also see playing time in the Bulldogs’ opener. Wade has athletic ability and a strong arm.
Kameron Alley and Brett Lawson will be key targets for both quarterbacks when they decide to throw the ball.
The Bulldogs will be looking at a defense they won’t see often this season. Head Coach Lance Johnston has his squad running a defense that displays a five-man front line. The Minutemen run a 5-2 defense and occasionally a 5-3. In the secondary, Lexington likes to run a lot of cover three sets.
Lexington’s defense was very aggressive in the jamboree and played better as the night progressed. According to the scouting report, the Lexington defense looked very impressive in the final session of the night against Higginsville.
Lexington’s defense is not as big as they were last season, but they are very quick. The Minutemen are a very mobile unit defensively and have the speed to chase down players.
On the offensive side, Lexington will be in a wishbone-style offense. The Minutemen like to run the option and have several variations of it in their playbook.
“We have to make sure we play great assignment defense to stop what they do,” Croy said. “Teams run the option because it puts pressure on every individual player on the defensive side of the ball. We have to make sure we don’t have breakdowns that give them a big play.”
At quarterback Lexington has senior Caleb Hambrick. Hambrick is inexperienced at the position but he runs the offense well and can throw the ball, according to the scouting report.
Other key players in the Lexington offense include fullback Michael Duvall and running back Darrell Brooks. Duvall is a good physical inside runner and Brooks is a speedy back who can break plays around the end. Both backs block well also.
Trenton will need good play from the linebacker corps. Matt Mayfield, Vandevender and Cree Beverlin should get several opportunities to lay a hit on Lexington ballcarriers around the end. They will also need to read the quarterback well to determine whether to go at him or hold for the pitch.
Gates will open for the game at 5:30 Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
A tailgate party will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eastside Park shelterhouse, sponsored by Hy-Vee Food Store. Proceeds from the tailgate party will go to the Trenton Quarterback Club and the Trenton Band Boosters.