What started out as a slugfest between Woodward Academy and Blessed Trinity in the first two quarters, stayed that way in the second half. Except in the third quarter, it was Blessed Trinity that did all the slugging.
The Titans overcame a couple of their own mistakes, took advantage of some War Eagle miscues and made big plays to blow open what had been a one-point advantage at halftime to and earn a 43-14 win at Woodward (1-2) to remain unbeaten (3-0) on the season.
“It was a tough game, a rivalry game,” said Blessed Trinity head coach Tim McFarlin. “Give credit to Woodward and [head] coach [John] Hunt. They have some talented players over there and they played hard, but I think we kind of wore them down there in the second half.”
Hunt agreed.
“They’re built the right way,” Hunt said of the defending Class AAAA champions. “They’re physical up front and just bigger and stronger than we are. Their 180-pound guys are stronger than our 180-pound guys. Their 200-pound guys are stronger than our 200-pound guys. They were able to impose their will on us and it showed.”
Leading 15-14 at the half, Blessed Trinity appeared to have increased its lead on the Titans’ third play of their initial drive in the third quarter when quarterback Jake Smith hit Carson Harof down the far sideline for a 54-yard touchdown pass. But an ineligible man downfield penalty wiped out the play. Two plays later Blessed Trinity picked up an unsportsman-like penalty and the drive was thwarted.
After holding Woodward Academy on defense, the Titans missed out on another scoring opportunity when Smith missed a wide-open James Bryant down the middle of the field. But on Woodward’s next possession, Smith made up for it on defense when he snatched a tipped pass out of the air from his safety position and raced 35 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 22-14 midway through the quarter.
On the Titans’ next possession they used another big play to set up a score when on the first play from scrimmage from their 30-yard line, Smith hit Ryan Davis on a quick hitch in the far flat. Davis ran out of a tackle and raced 60 yards to the War Eagle 10-yard line. Three plays later, Steele Chambers scored from 4-yards out to make the score 29-14.
Woodward fumbled on the first play of the ensuing possession and Blessed Trinity recovered at the War Eagles’ 33-yard line. Chambers raced 21 yards to the 12 on the first play of the Titans’ possession, and score on the next play, running through the arm tackles of several Woodward defenders on his way into the end zone for a 36-14 lead with just :45 seconds left in the period.
After holding Woodward’s offense once again, Steele took the first play from scrimmage straight up the middle and outran the Woodward secondary for a 62-yard touchdown and 43-14 lead for Blessed Trinity.
Tahj Gary ended the scoring on the night with a 69-yard jaunt for Woodward, against a defense of made up of reserves for Blessed Trinity.
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