With season-opening showdown at Lathrop looming, Bulldogs look sharp in Bethany jamboree

The Trenton Bulldogs, in back-to-back scrimmages against new Grand River Conference rivals South Harrison and Maysville, scored two touchdowns to their opponents one, winning both ends of the three team jamboree at South Harrison High School in Bethany by scores of 12-6.

Junior Lathan Croy and Senior Spencer Harris split the quarterback duties for Trenton, with Head Coach Brandon Boswell saying the “mixing and matching” at that position could continue into the regular season, instead of the Bulldogs going with a full-time #1 option at signal caller.  Trenton’s first touchdown of the night was a 12 yard run from senior Jeffrey White.  Just a few plays later, senior fullback Austin Burkeybile crossed the goal line on a 1 yard plunge for the Trenton scores against South Harrison.

Trenton’s front line was stout against the South Harrison running attack, shutting down the “Purple Bulldogs” for the first handful of plays run by the home team.  Forced to try the air, South Harrison quarterback Cody Weller found off-and-on success, and the Bethany squad scored on the final play of their 18 play run against the THS defense, as Weller dove in from one yard out.  Just one play earlier, Trenton’s Carson Radcliff had a potential interception at the goal line slip through his finger tips, a play that if made under normal football rules would have likely been a touchdown return.

Against Maysville, Trenton’s offense started in struggling fashion, with back-to-back loss of downs.  The running attack found life on the third series, pushing the ball inside the Wolverine 5 yard line, where Burkeybile scored on a 3 yard run.  Croy and Avery Cooksey connected on a 12-yard slant pattern for Trenton on the next series, finished off on a 12 yard touchdown run around right end by sophomore Matthew Sibbit.

The most established offensive player on the field on Friday night, going off of last year, was Maysville senior Troy Powers, and as soon as the Wolverines got the football, he proved to be a combination of elusiveness and speed difficult for Trenton to corral.  Powers scored on a 22 yard run down the east sideline of South Harrison Memorial Stadium, a score that held after a penalty flag thrown on the play was ruled to be a Trenton face mask.  Nick Evans had a 20 yard run, Austin Podbevsek a leaping 21 yard catch, and Morgan Tait received experience at quarterback for Maysville, but the Powers run were the only points scored by Mark Cole’s ball team.

Trenton Head Coach Brandon Boswell gave his thoughts on the Bulldogs jamboree effort:

Trenton will see both South Harrison and Maysville later this season, with a road trip back to Bethany coming up for Week #6, and the Wolverines visiting C.F. Russell Stadium for Week #9:

Boswell admitted that its not 100% clear what this Trenton’s group personality will ultimately be:

There were generally more good things than bad done by THS, but it was still a fairly mediocre grade given to the Bulldogs by their third-year coach:

Trenton opens the regular season with back-to-back non-conference tests against opponents expected to be strong this fall.  Next week, the Lathrop Mules host the Bulldogs in the opener.  On August 26th, Trenton hosts Lexington in the home opener at C.F. Russell Stadium.