Sometimes you just need a little break. Luckily for the Trenton Bulldogs, a transformer at C.F. Russell Stadium decided to burst into flames Thursday night, forcing what turned out to be a near hour-long delay before the final six minutes of the game could be played.
Before the delay, Trenton trailed the visiting Plattsburg Tigers 14-7. After the final six minute session was played, Trenton had a 27-14 Class 2, District 16 victory. Thanks to a Hamilton win over LeBlond in St. Joseph, the victory also qualified the Bulldogs for the state playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
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When the teams stepped back onto the field for the final six minutes, Trenton wasted little time evening the score as quarterback Jacob Spillman shook loose for an 82-yard touchdown run.
“It was an outside veer and it was a play that we had run all night,” Croy said. “We felt like we had it. We were comfortable running it, we just weren’t quite getting the blocks and making the reads. It was just a good effort by our kids up front and I thought our kids got off the ball well on that one. ‘Spill’ made a nice read and read the corner well. The corner read the pitch and ‘Spill’ got vertical; then he bounced it back out. It was a very good play by Jake and he needed it because he had a rough night up to that point. That kind of got him rolling and I thought he finished extremely well.”
The score on the play tied the game at 14-14 and breathed life back into the Trenton offense.
“That was our main play that we always go to,” Spillman said. “Throughout the game, short yardage, anything. That is what we go to and we broke it big tonight. I’ve got to thank my line on that one. They got the job done up front. It was a team effort.”
Trenton, which had turned the ball over three times on the night, got a break on the ensuing Plattsburg drive as the Tigers put the ball on the turf and the Bulldogs pounced on the loose ball. Just 17 yards away from taking the lead, Spillman led Trenton into the end zone again, scoring on a 13-yard run, his second of the night. Trenton tacked on yet another score after Plattsburg turned the ball over on downs. Keegan McGinness had a nice run to put Trenton in position and then crossed the goal line on a one-yard run. The touchdown was McGinness’ second of the night as well.
“Once you are even you kind of feel better about things,” Croy said. You could kind of see the air go out of them a little bit and our kids picked up and played well at the end. Plattsburg played a great game and had us on the ropes a little bit. We are very fortunate to win, but we are also very happy with the way we finished the game. I thought we finished very strong and, hopefully, we can use that as a springboard going into the playoff game next Wednesday.”
Trenton struck first in the game when McGinness carried the ball in from 17 yards out for his first score early in the second quarter. But Plattsburg would reel off 14 unanswered points to take the 14-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Over that stretch, Trenton turned the ball over on three-straight possessions, twice with fumbles and once on an interception. The Tigers were looking to go up by two scores with a field goal, but the snap was mishandled and the kick was never even attempted. The failed attempt at three points was the final play before the transformer fire delayed the game.
During the break, the Bulldogs got word of Hamilton’s 31-13 win over LeBlond and realized all it took to make the playoffs was a victory over Plattsburg.
“We were getting updates from around the area during the break and found out that, under the circumstances, we had to win and we were in,” Spillman said. “The coaches told us it was that simple; win and we are in. That was it.”
Trenton’s visit to the playoffs is its second in a row and fourth in the past five years. The Bulldogs have benefitted from the rule change that allows two teams from each district into the playoffs, which was instituted in 2008. Trenton followed up a district title in 2007 with a runner-up finish to Maryville in 2008 and a runner-up finish to Hamilton last season and this season.
“You would like to go into the playoffs as a one seed,” Croy said. “You would like to win a district, but still, anytime you are one of the last 32 teams in our class playing football, it’s nice. After next week there will be only 16 teams left playing. To be one of 32 is special and if you can pull a win off and be one of 16, it makes it even more so.”
Quietly lost in the high drama provided by the game itself was the fact that it was Senior Night at C.F Russell Stadium. The group of seniors on the team will now be making a third playoff appearance in their careers.
“I’m really happy for the kids,” Croy said. “I am really proud of this group of seniors. They have played hard and been good leaders for us. Hopefully, we can extend the season as long as we can for them.”
The Bulldogs will face Class 2, District 15 champion Lawson on Wednesday on the road. In 2008, Trenton went 6-4 in the regular season and traveled to Lawson where they won 29-22. The current edition of the Bulldogs, also 6-4 through the regular season, will look to continue mirroring the 2008 season with a win over the Cardinals. Playoff action in Lawson kicks off at 7 p.m.
* UNOFFICIAL STATISTICS *
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
First Quarter
None
Second Quarter
T – Keegan McGinness 18-yard run (Seth Acton kick)
P – Trevor Jones 3-yard pass from LeAaron Hicks (Josh Fernandez kick)
Third Quarter
P – Andrew Dickerson 2-yard run (Frenandez kick)
Fourth Quarter
T – Jacob Spillman 82-yard run (Acton kick)
T – Spillman 13-yard run (Acton kick)
T – McGinness 1-yard run (kick failed)
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Team Statistics
Stat THS PHS
First Downs 10 11
Total Offense 331 228
Rushes-Yds 37-285 37-148
Passing-Yds 46 80
Passes 3-6-1 9-19-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-Yds 4-40 1-10
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Trenton, Clay Oneal, 19-120; Jacob Spillman, 6-108; Keegan McGinness, 11-59; Colby Larson, 1-(-2). Plattsburg, Andrew Dickerson, 21-125; CJ Graham, 4-14; LeAaron Hicks, 10-3; Robert Querrey, 1-2; Rikki Ramirez, 1-0.
PASSING – Trenton, Spillman, 2-5-1, 35 yards; McGinness, 1-1-0, 11 yards. Plattsburg, Hicks, 9-18-0, 80 yards; Querrey, 0-1-0.
RECEIVING – Trenton, Dalton Burkeybile, 1-30; Oneal, 1-11; Austin Taul, 1-5. Plattsburg, Trevor Jones, 51; Dylan McClain, 3-30.
KICK RETURNS – Trenton, McGinness, 2-38; Dakota Galvin, 1-7. Plattsburg, Ramirez, 2-44; Dickerson, 2-30.
DEFENSE – Trenton, Burkeybile, 16 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery; Fred Pannell, 13 tackles, 1 TFL, 1/2 sack; Tyler Carpenter, 13 tackles; Morgan Schelker, 9 tackles; Dillon Triplet, 7 tackles; Galvin, 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack; Oneal, 5 tackles, 1 TFL, 1/2 sack; Taul, 4 tackles; Larson, 4 tackles; Tyler Gray, 1 tackle; Chanse Houghton, 1 tackle; James Fairchild, 1 tackle; Tommy Kincaid, 1 tackle; Josh Davis, 1 tackle.