The Trenton High School Bulldogs celebrated a 6-5 season that saw the football team find its way into the state playoffs for the fourth time in the past five years on Friday night during the annual football banquet in the THS commons.
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A total of 61 players, including 12 seniors, made up the 2011 edition of the Trenton Bulldogs and those players were honored at the event.
Senior Clay Oneal took home the big award as he was named Mr. Football. Oneal ran for a team-high 889 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added a receiving touchdown and had 72 tackles, 13 for loss and six sacks on the defensive side of the ball.
“Over the past four years, Clay has embodied all that we expect a Trenton football player to be,” Bulldogs’ Head Coach Wes Croy said. “His hard work, great attitude, respect for others on and off the field and his leadership ability makes him a very deserving winner of the highest honor our football program gives.”
Keegan McGinness was named the offensive player of the year, racking up 878 total yards between rushing, receiving and passing. James Fairchild was named the defensive player of the year after collecting 99 total tackles, six for loss.
Other awards given out on the night included offensive lineman of the year, Jacob Meservey; special teams player of the year, Brennon Vandevender; hitman of the year, Fred Pannell; hustle and desire award, Dillon Triplet; most improved player, Tyler Carpenter; scout team player of the year, Lane Beverlin; outstanding junior, Dalton Burkeybile; outstanding sophomore, Josh Davis; and outstanding freshman, Mason Mounce.
The 12 members of the senior class made their third trip into the state playoffs this season, tying them for the most of any class in school history.
The season started as a roller coaster ride for the Bulldogs, who were 2-2 through four weeks with two dominating wins and two losses that left the team wondering what could have been. From that point, however, Trenton reeled off four wins in the final six games of the season and did so in very dramatic fashion.
Trenton pulled out an overtime victory over the Class 1, state-ranked West Platte Blue Jays. That win was followed up by a 25-24 win over Lexington on homecoming night in Trenton. Kicker Seth Acton booted a memorable 31-yard field goal to secure the win with 11 seconds left in the game.
After a loss to Higginsville, who will play in the Class 2 state championship game this weekend, Trenton bounced back with another dramatic win, coming from behind to defeat LeBlond at home. Trenton then fell to two-time defending state champion Hamilton on the road before closing the season with another dramatic come-from-behind win over Plattsburg. That win gave Trenton a final regular season record of 6-4 and advanced the Bulldogs to the state playoffs.
Though things didn’t pan out in the Bulldogs’ favor on a rainy night in Lawson in the first round of the playoffs, the season as a whole was viewed as a success for the Bulldogs, who continue to improve to get back to where they were before the abysmal 2-8 season in 2009. Trenton was 5-5 in the regular season and 5-6 overall last year and reversed that final standing this season.