Trenton’s defense controls second half, Bulldogs beat Milan 28-14

The Trenton Bulldogs, on Homecoming Night at C.F. Russell Stadium, received a strong test from a winless Milan Wildcat team, as the Wildcats took the opening kickoff and drove nearly 10 minutes before taking the lead on a 2 yard touchdown run by senior running back Jaidyn Watts.

The Bulldogs, after starting flat, slowly regained traction on their home field, scoring four of the last five touchdowns of the game in a 28-14 win that keeps THS tied for first place (with Maysville) in the Grand River Conference standings.  

With fullback Austin Burkeybile slowed by an ankle injury, wingback Spencer Harris and quarterback Lathan Croy picked up the running punch for the Bulldogs, with Harris scoring twice in the second quarter.  His 13 yard run with 5:38 left in the second quarter got Trenton on the board:

Mason Owen’s extra point tied the contest at 7, with Trenton adding a go-ahead score just 2 minutes and 44 seconds later on a nine yard Harris run. Owen’s successful PAT pushed the lead to 14-7.  

Milan showed good tenacity and tied the game going into halftime, on a 15 yard connection from Ryan Dabney to Ian Russell with 20 seconds to go in the half.  Eric Moreno hit both extra points after Milan’s first half scores.

Trenton’s run defense, which struggled at first contact against Milan in the first half, was more swarming and difficult to budge against the Wildcats after the break, as the Bulldogs shutout Milan over the second half of play.  Trenton’s winning score came on a quarterback keeper by Croy with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter:

The extra point missed, leaving Trenton up 20-14 after three quarters.  The Bulldogs earned breathing room in the final quarter, as Burkeybile scored on a three-yard run from 10:27 remaining.  Harris, on a right-side sweep, took in the two point try, leaving the final score 28-14.

Trenton Head Coach Brandon Boswell, while acknowledging the 3-0 start in conference play for his team, says to achieve a GRC title, the Bulldogs need continued improvement:

Trenton plays at South Harrison this Friday night at 7 o’clock on Hot Country Z 101.7 and KGOZ-TV.  Milan will host the Gallatin Bulldogs on Friday night at 7 o’clock on KTTN FM 92.3.

Here is the Friday night (September 16th) scoreboard from the area:

Putnam County 46, Princeton 14 (KTTN FM 92.3)

Maysville 72, Polo 42

Gallatin 50, South Harrison 0

Norborne 64, Braymer 6

North Andrew 70, Sacred Heart 12

Worth County 42, King City 26

Stanberry 80, Pattonsburg 12

St. Joseph Christian 62, Albany 6

Lawson 35, Lathrop 0

Penney 42, Plattsburg 7

North Platte 26, West Platte 20

East Buchanan 44, Mid-Buchanan 7

Chillicothe 20, Bishop LeBlond 3

Maryville 92, Cameron 8

Smithville 14, Lafayette 6

Savannah at Benton (MONDAY NIGHT – 6 PM)

Raymore-Peculiar 40, St. Joseph Central 7

Excelsior Springs 19, Harrisonville 18

Kearney 30, Liberty North 0

Brookfield 62, Louisiana 0

Centralia 45, South Shelby 0

Monroe City 42, Highland 0

Macon 20, Moberly 14

Marceline 33, Paris 0

Scotland County 42, Salisbury 6

Fayette 28, Westran 14

Knox County 46, Harrisburg 0

West Hancock 37, Schuyler County 8

SW Livingston 28, Stewartsville 26

Rock Port 46, East Atchison 0

South Holt / Nodaway-Holt 62, DeKalb 0

North Shelby 36, Platte Valley 29

Mound City 46, North-West Nodaway 0