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Trojans shut out in homecoming loss

A horde of South Tama defenders converges around CP-U quarterback Jackson Brincks as Ethan Cruikshank (11) takes him down during Friday night’s game. Photo by Robert Maharry.

The South Tama football team fought hard for a half, entering the locker room down just 6-0 against Center Point-Urbana in Friday night’s homecoming game, but the Stormin’ Pointers pulled away down the stretch and handed the Trojans a 21-0 loss, their fifth in a row.

“If I could fix it, I would,” Coach Nate Doran said of his team’s second half woes. “Mental toughness, sometimes, is a really big key to that. We’ve got a few kids that, when they get down, they decide to do stupid stuff and decide to make mistakes… It’s just coming down to we’ve got to finish. We haven’t played four quarters yet this year.”

Both teams got off to slow starts offensively as the first quarter ended with no score. CP-U (4-3) was in prime position to punch in an early touchdown after driving down a short field on their opening possession, but a fumble deep in the red zone gave STC (1-6) the ball back on the Trojan three-yard line.

The subsequent Trojan drive stalled out before they could reach midfield, and the Pointers took over at the turn of the quarter. Cole Werner, who finished the game with 122 yards, recovered his own fumble and later converted a crucial third and one at the Trojan 18, running all the way down to the five-yard line.

South Tama’s defense showed resolve with its back against the wall, stuffing CP-U on three consecutive running plays and bringing up a fourth and goal at the two. On that play, however, quarterback Jackson Brincks utilized a play action fake and found 6’6″ tight end Tucker Clark in the back of the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. After a missed PAT attempt, the Pointers led 6-0.

enter Point-Urbana quarterback Jackson Brincks (13) attempts to find a seam between South Tama defenders Gavin Bridgewater (9) and Rudy Papakee (10) during Friday night’s district matchup. The Pointers won 21-0. Photo by Robert Maharry.

A controversial fumble ended the next Trojan drive as the home crowd believed running back Gavin Bridgewater was down before the ball came out of his hands. Nonetheless, the STC defense continued to hold its own, pushing CP-U out of the red zone and forcing a fourth and 32 after a Kyan McBride sack on Brincks.

After another unsuccessful offensive drive, STC gave the ball back to the Pointers, but senior Nolan Upah came up with a crucial interception just before halftime to keep his team within six.

CP-U’s first drive of the third quarter ended with a three and out, but the Trojans once again could not capitalize. On a third and 25 from their own 10-yard line, quarterback Tyrus Clegg was intercepted by Thomas Taylor, and the short field set up a six-yard touchdown run from Werner. With a successful two-point run from Trevor Antes, the Pointers led 14-0.

The score remained the same heading into the final frame before another short field put the Pointers in prime position to score for the third time. After a failed Trojan fake punt run, CP-U’s Ben Hansen took a handoff and ran all the way down to the eight-yard line and subsequently punched it in from there, making the score 21-0. STC could not come up with any late game magic, and the final score remained the same.

“We held them. We stuck with them. We kept fighting, and then in the second half, it just kind of fell apart. We fell off the wheels with the fumbles and mistakes,” Doran said.

South Tama defensive lineman Kyan McBride (61) celebrates after sacking CP-U quarterback Jackson Brincks on Friday night. Photo by Robert Maharry.

South Tama finished the game with just 117 yards of total offense, 93 on the ground and 24 through the air. Klegg completed 3-of-7 passes for 24 yards, and Bridgewater was the top rusher with 51 yards on 19 carries. Cruikshank added 42 yards rushing on 10 attempts.

Bridgewater also anchored the defense with 11 total tackles, and the senior due of Cruikshank (7.5 tackles) and Papakee (seven tackles) were the other leaders on that side of the ball.

The Trojans did hold the Pointers to just 233 yards of total offense, and Werner was the top individual rusher with 22 carries for 122 yards and two scores. Brincks also finished with 53 yards passing, another 41 on the ground and one touchdown through the air.

Although star running back and linebacker Rudy Papakee returned to action for STC on Friday — and Bridgewater played the entire game after battling injuries the week prior against West Delaware — the Trojans were still without the services of one of their best linemen in Juan Robles. Doran commented on the injury situation especially as the team doesn’t have a huge roster to begin with.

“It is what it is. We’re trying to fight. These kids are fighters. They’re not gonna quit. It’s just frustrating because I know that’s not the team that they are,” he said. “They’re better than this. They work hard. They want it. It’s just mistakes. Mistakes kicked our butt tonight.”

South Tama’s Haydin Branan dives at Center Point-Urbana receiver Brandon Miller during Friday night’s game. Photo by Robert Maharry.

The Trojans are on the road at winless Charles City this Friday before wrapping up the regular season at home against Hampton-Dumont-CAL (4-3) on Oct. 21.

“We’ve got to stay together as a team. We’ve got to finish the season stronger than we started,” Doran said.

South Tama’s Gavin Bridgewater looks for separation while returning a kick against Center Point-Urbana on Friday. Photo by Robert Maharry.

STC running back Rudy Papakee elevates to secure a catch during the first half of Friday night’s game against Center Point-Urbana. Photo by Robert Maharry.