South Tama lineman Diego Victor, center, celebrates after recovering a fumble in the end zone for the Trojans’ only touchdown on Friday night. PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY.

It was a different week but ultimately the same story for the struggling South Tama football team on Friday night, as the Trojans fought hard early and played West Delaware to within a single score for most of the first half before the Hawks pulled away and handed them a 53-9 loss on their home field.

STC (1-5) dropped its fourth in a row and battled key injuries as star running back Rudy Papakee missed the entire game, and quarterback/running back Gavin Bridgewater missed large chunks of the contest while receiving medical attention on the sideline. Tyrus Clegg, who took a majority of the snaps at quarterback in the first half, went down in the third quarter, forcing junior Jeramy Dolash to fill in down the stretch.

The Hawks (3-3) got on the board first when running back Logan Peyton scampered into the end zone from nine yards out, and although the Trojan offense went three and out to start, a great punt pinned West Delaware all the way back at its own two-yard-line.

From there, after a bad snap that landed near the back of the end zone, Bridgewater wrapped up West Delaware’s Will Ward for a safety and swung the momentum back to the Trojans, making the score 6-2 and giving South Tama possession.

It looked as if STC was primed to take the lead, but a fumble and subsequent recovery gave the ball right back to West Delaware, and shortly thereafter, Peyton notched his second TD of the night from 16 yards out.

South Tama running back Gavin Bridgewater (9) braces for impact with West Delaware’s Kaden Ryan (12) during Friday night’s game. The Hawks defeated the Trojans 53-9. PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY.

Again down but not quite out, the Trojans found some offensive mojo with Clegg as the signal caller and Bridgewater moving to running back, putting together a 78-yard drive that was unquestionably their best of the night.

Bridgewater was key in tough situations, picking up a first down on a fourth and one run, another on a third and six and another run for seven yards that became an even bigger play after a personal foul was called against the Hawks. Facing another fourth and inches at the West Delaware 24, Clegg picked it up himself this time, and a subsequent pass to Nolan Upah, who went up over the defense to snag the jump ball, put South Tama all the way down to the one-yard-line early in the second quarter.

Even this touchdown wouldn’t come easy, however, as a penalty and two stuffed runs made it third and goal. Clegg ran a sneak play, and although he appeared to have fumbled before breaking the pilon, lineman Diego Victor picked up the loose ball in the end zone for the South Tama score. Just like that, it was 14-9.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, it was the last time they would score. West Delaware quarterback Brent Yonkovic broke a 22-yard touchdown run, and he managed to do it again after the Hawks quickly capitalized on another Trojan fumble. By halftime, they had pushed the advantage to 26-9.

A completion to Seth Jackson set up a short rushing score for Ward early in the third quarter, and the senior then tacked on two more TDs on the ground to make it 47-9. Julio Webber rounded out the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to make it 53-9, which it would remain until the final horn.

South Tama receiver Ethan Cruikshank, right, is met by a trio of West Delaware defenders as teammate Nolan Upah, left, attempts to fend them off during Friday night’s contest. PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY.

Ward led West Delaware with 128 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and both Yonkovic (110 yards) and Peyton (91 yards) tacked on two scores apiece as the Hawks ran for a whopping 431 yards. Defensively, Peyton led West Delaware with 10 tackles.

By contrast, the Trojans finished with just 103 yards of total offense and especially struggled on the ground, gaining just 67 yards on 44 carries (1.5 yards per carry). Damion Castellanos was STC’s top individual rusher with nine carries for 30 yards, and Clegg completed 4-of-9 passes for 35 yards. Defensively, Bridgewater was the top performer with 6.5 total tackles including one for loss.

The Trojans are back at home this week for a homecoming contest against Center Point-Urbana (3-3) before hitting the road to play winless Charles City (0-6) on Oct. 14.

South Tama’s Gavin Bridgewater wraps up West Delaware’s Will Ward in the back of the end zone for a safety during Friday night’s game. The Hawks won 53-9. PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY.

South Tama lineman Diego Victor, left, and receiver Nolan Upah, right, celebrate after Upah made a key catch at the West Delaware one-yard-line during Friday night’s game. PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY.