MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Trinity football team, looking to break a five-game losing streak, faced Tygarts Valley on Friday, and the Warrior’s focus was on generating offense. Of course, losing starting quarterback Drew Boczek three weeks ago has been a major contributor to its scoring struggles, requiring freshman running back Davon Eldridge to receive a crash course in signal calling.
For the first half, the Warriors lived up to their nickname, battling with the favored Bulldogs. But there’s only so much 13 first-time varsity football players can do, and the TV offense exploded in the third quarter to turn a 6-0 lead into a 36-0 dominating victory.
Trinity (2-6) turned the ball over at midfield on a fumble during their first possession, but the defense stopped the Bulldogs on fourth down to turn it back over. Penalties hurt the Warriors throughout the first half, stopping momentum and forcing punts despite some hard running and effective deep passing from Eldridge. TVHS (6-2) put together a 14-play, 85-yard scoring drive on their second possession, the last 27 yards on a corner route pass from dynamic quarterback Josh Bright to Aiden Row.
But despite an interception and a turnover on downs from the Warriors offense, the defense remained stout, forcing two straight punts. Freshman running back Levi Teets used his cutback ability to reverse field and get to the end zone on an apparent 47-yard TD run, but a block-in-the-back penalty brought it back.
Still, the second half began with the Warriors down by just one score, but the Bulldogs’ 65-yard opening drive resulted in a 4-yard scoring run from Daniel White to make it 13-0. Then TV scored three touchdowns on their next four offensive plays. White burst off tackle from the 30 after a failed fake punt resulted in a turnover, then running back Caden Boggs (who led all rushers with 150 yards on just 13 carries) blasted through a hole, swerved right to the sideline, and tiptoed in from 39 yards out. After another pick, Bright again found Row in the flat, and this time the wide receiver broke several tackle attempts by the exhausted TV defense on his way to a 47-yard catch and run score. The strong leg of Liam Depp tacked on a late 37-yard field goal for the final margin.
After the game, Warriors coach Marcus Law could not have been prouder of his team.
“We played a strong, gutsy first half,” he said. “Devon has taken so much on himself, stepping up when Drew went down, and he’s come so far so fast.
“We make no excuses, and injuries are part of the game, but it’s rough when it’s ‘next man up,’ but you’re running out of men.”
Trinity faces East Hardy on the road next Friday.
