Gibson, Bulldogs run over Princeton, end Trenton’s losing streak at 12

In Friday night’s Grand River Conference opener at C.F. Russell Stadium, the Trenton Bulldogs found the win column for the first time since a 42-29 victory at Maysville on October 25, 2019, with junior fullback Sam Gibson rushing for six touchdowns and 369 yards in a breakout performance over Princeton.

Despite Trenton’s overwhelming running performance, the visiting Tigers stayed close in the first half, with a 37 yard scoring pass from Logan Smith to Talan Holt, 72 yard kickoff return by Andrew Rhoades, a 5 yard pass from Rhoades to Holt, and a 55 yard touchdown pass from Smith to Luke Kelly keeping Princeton within a score of Trenton at the break, trailing 34-28. 

The Bulldogs opened the night quickly, with Gibson scoring on a 56 yard run early into Trenton’s first possession of the night, before adding an 82 yard scamper with 6:11 to go in the 1st, leaving Trenton up 12-0.  Tom Johnson had the play-by-play calls on Hot Country Z 101.7: 

Sophomore Gabe Novak, returning to the offensive backfield after missing the Week 2 loss to East Buchanan with a shoulder injury, returned to Trenton’s starting lineup and added a 1 yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.  Gibson had a 37 yard touchdown run with 1:35 to go in the first half, before adding a 30 yard touchdown run just 3 1/2 minutes into the second half.

Trenton dominated the second half, using a run-heavy, ball-control offense to keep the football away from the Princeton offense, outscoring the Tigers 25-0 after the break.  Coleman Griffin had a 16 yard touchdown run with 2:18 remaining in the third quarter, with Gibson finishing his career night with a 4 yard touchdown run, his 6th of the night, with 8:15 to go.  Trenton’s defense finished the scoring with 2:38 remaining, tackling a Princeton runner in the end zone for a safety.

The win pushes Trenton’s record to 1-2 overall, and 1-0 in the Grand River Conference, with Princeton dropping to 0-3 overall, and 0-2 in GRC play.  Next week, Trenton welcomes Putnam County to C.F. Russell Stadium for the Bulldogs annual Homecoming game (on KGOZ FM 101.7), with Princeton hosting the Milan Wildcats (1-2, 1-0) on KTTN FM 92.3.

Here is the high school football scoreboard from Friday, September 10, 2021: 

Milan 49, Putnam County 6 (Heard on KTTN FM 92.3) 

Gallatin 20, South Harrison 18 

Polo 17, Maysville 11

Penney 49, North Platte 0 

West Platte 35, Plattsburg 16

Mid-Buchanan 36, Lawson 0 

East Buchanan 35, Lathrop 14

Maryville 36, Chillicothe 25

St. Pius X 48, Cameron 0 

Kirksville 34, Savannah 28 

Lafayette 28, Benton 14

Palmyra 40, Macon 21

Centralia 30, Brookfield 12

Monroe City 48, South Shelby 8 

Highland 38, Clark County 0 

Notre Dame (Quincy, IL) 49, Marceline 7 

Fayette 56, Slater 26

Marionville 24, Westran 0 

Harrisburg 54, Salisbury 16

Lone Jack 15, Carrollton 12

8-Man: 

North Andrew 70, Pattonsburg 20 

Stanberry 34, King City 32

Worth County 80, Schuyler County 12

Rock Port 72, Concordia 34

East Atchison 48, South Holt 0 

Southwest Livingston 90, DeKalb 40

St. Paul Lutheran 30, Northwest (Hughesville) 8

Braymer 62, Keytesville-Brunswick-Northwestern 36

North Shelby 64, Norborne-Hardin Central 0 

Santa Fe 68, St. Joseph Christian 18