Hughs three touchdowns leads strong THS rushing effort in district win over Lathrop

The Trenton Bulldogs scored six touchdowns on Friday night, three from Brayden Hughs, a pair from Mason Rongey, and a late second quarter score from Gabe Novak, in a 42-28 victory over the Lathrop Mules in quarterfinal round action in Class 2, District 8.

In action heard on KTTN FM 92.3, the Bulldogs, reversing a trend from the regular season, jumped on their opponents early, with Hughs scoring his first touchdown of the night midway through the opening quarter.  Scott Lowe had the call on KTTN FM 92.3: 

The Bulldogs doubled the lead by the end of the quarter, on a 31 yard run by Hughs: 

Lathrop cut the lead to 14-7 with 6:14 remaining in the first half with a touchdown, only to see Trenton answer with 1:32 remaining in the half on a short scoring run by Novak: 

The visiting Mules grabbed some late second-quarter momentum on a 40 yard scoring strike from Spears to Chance, cutting the Bulldogs lead at the break to 20-14.

The third quarter, much like the first, leaned Trenton’s direction early, with the Bulldogs pushing the lead out to 26-14 on a one yard Rongey sneak midway through the frame.   A third scoring run by Hughs gave THS a seemingly comfortable 34-14 lead with 2:06 remaining in the quarter.

The Bulldogs 20 point lead was jeopardized early into the fourth quarter, as Lathrop put together the combination of a touchdown, a fumble recovery, and another touchdown to cut the advantage to 34-28.  However, as has been the case so often this season, Trenton used its potent and punishing running attack to keep the ball away from the Mules, and add a critical fourth quarter score on a second Rongey score.

With the final score of 42-28, Trenton advances into the District 8 semifinal round, for a test against third-seeded Mid-Buchanan on Friday night, November 3rd, with pregame at 5:30 and the kickoff set for 7 o’clock on KGOZ FM 101.7, as Tom Johnson brings you the play-by-play call.  Mid-Buchanan defeated South Harrison on Thursday night, 28-6 in district quarterfinal action from Faucett.  Trenton’s record is now 9-1, with Lathrop’s season ending at 2-8, including a pair of head-to-head losses to THS.

In the other District 8 quarterfinal game, #4 seed Brookfield ended Lawson’s season, downing the Cardinals 20-7.  That result sends Brookfield to East Buchanan High School in Gower to play the #1 seeded unbeaten champions of the KCI Conference in a Friday night 7 o’clock duel.

Here are the rest of the high school football scores from Friday, October 27, 2023: 

Class 2, District 7

Monroe City 34, Highland 0

Bowling Green 54, Mark Twain 0

Clark County 14, Palmyra 0

Class 3, District 8

Chillicothe 28, Richmond 22 (OT)

St. Pius X 52, KC Northeast 0

Cameron 42, Pembroke Hill 7

Class 4, District 8

Kirksville 28, Excelsior Springs 13

Kearney 56, Benton 6

Savannah 70, Lafayette 6

Class 1, District 4

Scotland County 34, Gallatin 30

Class 1, District 3

Wellington-Napoleon 29, Lincoln 24

8-Man, District 8

Knox County 50, Paris 36

8-Man, District 7

Pattonsburg 50, Albany 0

King City 20, Stanberry 12

8-Man, District 6

Mound City 66, Rock Port 54

East Atchison 32, North Andrew 12

8-Man, District 5

Stewartsville/Osborn 44, DeKalb 40

8-Man, District 4

Northland Christian 60, Orrick 14