The Trenton Bulldog ground game had their best night of the 2017 season, ripping the Polo Panthers defense for 639 yards of total offense and 56 points, in a 56-20 victory that gave THS its first home victory of the now seven weeks of football.
The win improves the Bulldogs to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in Grand River Conference play, tying Polo and South Harrison for third place in the GRC, one game behind Gallatin, and two games behind Princeton. Trenton caught a break 4 1/2 minutes into the first quarter to open the scoring against the Panthers. Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call on Hot Country Z 101.7:
A 42 yard field goal attempt by Polo’s Patrick Covey went just wide of the upright at the west end of C.F. Russell Stadium, leaving Trenton up 6-0, with the lead expanding to 14-0 by the end of the quarter, on a 10 yard scoring dash by Hunter Dugan and two-point conversion by Carson Radcliff.
The Bulldogs moved ahead 22-0 just 20 seconds into the second quarter, on a 16 yard scamper by Matthew Sibbit, with Jadan Whitney, playing fullback, plunging into the end zone for the two-point conversion.
Perhaps the most important stretch of momentum occurred for both teams within the final 30 seconds of the half. Trenton’s defense, troubled in its habit of giving up late half scores, was hit by a 25 yard pass from James Fleener to Dalton Frazier with 25.8 seconds to go until the break. A Fesmire two-point conversion run by Fesmire made the score of 22-8.
With Trenton receiving the kick with seconds remaining, the Bulldogs went with a conservative play call to run out the half. However, the run by Radcliff broke big, with a block by Sibbitt opening the way:
Up 28-8 at the half, Trenton put the game away in the third quarter, with a 17 yard touchdown run by Radcliff, followed by a 27 yard keeper by senior quarterback Lathan Croy, and another scoring run by Radcliff, this one 45 yards, making the score 49-8:
A 77 yard scoring strike from Fleener to Covey, into the teeth of a Bulldog blitz, cut the score to 49-14 after three quarters. A second Fleener to Covey connection, this one 43 yards, cut the Trenton lead to 49-20 with 8:45 remaining.
A Matthew Sibbit burst up the home sideline at C.F. Russell Stadium completed the scoring, with Mason Owen hitting his second consecutive extra point:
Radcliff finished the night, unofficially, with 207 yards rushing and three touchdowns, while Sibbit had 183 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Bulldogs amassed 639 yards of total offense, 579 of those by ground.
Trenton, now 4-3 overall, and 3-2 in GRC play, will travel to Maysville this Friday night (October 6th) to take on the Wolverines on Hot Country Z 101.7 at 7 o’clock. Polo, dropping to 5-2 overall, and 3-2 in GRC action, will take on the Milan Wildcats at Polo High School on Friday night at 7.
