NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Ethan Page celebrates with his teammates after he recovered the opening kickoff that was muffed by Albia.

Head coach Nate Doran and the 2025 STC football team continue to chalk up victories that are redefining recent program history. After defeating Albia 26-14, on Friday, Sept. 19, the Trojans won back-to-back games for the first time since 2016. With the victory, STC also pushed their record to 3-1 on the season, the program’s best start since the 2015 season, when the team started 4-0.

On a night where the community celebrated Homecoming, Albia came to town for STC’s first district game of the season. The Trojans seized momentum right away as the Blue Demon’s muffed the opening kickoff. Sophomore Ethan Page recovered the ball for the Trojans at the Albia 23-yard line. Three plays later, junior running back Eric Medina thundered 16 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

After the Trojan defense held Albia to a 3-and-out, Medina was back at it on the next drive. Gaining 62 yards on the ground, and scoring his second touchdown on a 6-yard rush, Medina and the Trojans found themselves with a quick 13-0 lead.

“The biggest part of the game is setting the tone,” said junior co-captain Kyle Youngbear after the game. “We did that at the beginning of the game, scoring twice.”

But Albia wouldn’t go away, and they swung momentum in their favor towards the end of the first quarter. After the Demon defense stuffed STC on a 4th down and short, Albia took over on their own 38-yard line. Helped by a Trojan unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Albia rushed the ball five times, capped off with a 23-yard rushing touchdown. The Demons converted on a 2-point conversion and cut the Trojan lead to 13-8. On the next possession, Albia again stopped STC on 4th down and short and the Demons had the ball in great position at the Trojan 45-yard line. Six plays later, junior quarterback Ty Pickerell found junior wide receiver Isaac Helm for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Demons a 14-13 lead. Suddenly, the Trojans were in desperate need of some momentum.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior co-captain Kyle Youngbear records one of his 7.5 tackles on the night against Albia.

Like many times in this early season, that came in the form of the tough STC defense. After the Trojans were forced to punt, Albia’s offense took the field again looking to extend their lead before halftime. But STC junior co-captain Manny Cervantes stormed Pickerell and sacked him for a 9-yard loss. This was followed by a strong rush by Medina that looked like a strip-sack but was ruled an incomplete pass. Regardless, the defense held strong and kept the Albia lead at 14-13. STC would look to carry the momentum that the defense sparked into the second half.

“At halftime the coaches talked about doing our job, knowing our responsibilities, and communicating with each other,” Youngbear said.

The coaching during the break paid off, as the Trojan offense came out and scored quickly. On the first play of the half, sophomore quarterback Ryan Brant found junior wide receiver Michael Henry for a 47-yard gain. Two plays later, Medina ran 11 yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game, giving STC a 20-14 lead.

STC’s defense took over from there, as they held Albia scoreless in the second half. On all four of Albia’s second half possessions the Trojans stopped them on 4th down attempts (including twice on 4th and 1 yard to go). After Medina scored his fourth rushing touchdown late in the 4th quarter, Henry intercepted a Demon pass to seal the victory for STC, 26-14.

It was a hard-hitting, emotional victory for the Trojans and their coaching staff. Not only did it take STC to 1-0 in district play, but, for those who remember, it was a sweet victory over an Albia program that defeated STC in a hard-fought playoff game in 2015 (STC’s lone loss that season). But, for this year’s team, it was a key homecoming victory within the district.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT –STC junior Eli Cruikshank stops Albia quarterback Ty Pickerell.

“This is great,” Youngbear said. “We’ve been working really hard since the spring — it feels awesome.”

On the night, Medina ran the ball 34 times for a total of 204 yards and 4 touchdowns. Junior Eli Cruikshank chipped in with 7 rushes for 16 yards. The Trojan defense was led by senior co-captain Nick Upah, who led the team with 9.5 tackles. Other leaders in tackles included: Youngbear (7.5), Henry (6), senior Marcus Bear (6), and senior Garrett Surman (5.5)

Up next for the Trojans (3-1) is a home game and significant test against the Cedar Rapids Gazette’s 2nd-rated team in class 2A: Prairie City Monroe (3-1). The game will take place on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the STC High School football field.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior co-captain Manny Cervantes records a sack late in the first half against Albia that began to turn the momentum back towards STC's favor.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore quarterback Ryan Brant hands the ball off to junior running back Eric Medina. Medina carried the ball 34 times for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns against Albia.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Eric Medina storms his way to the endzone for one of his four touchdowns against Albia. He carried the ball 34 times for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns against Albia.