NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior Eli Cruikshank tackles Centerville quarterback Mack Murdock.

CENTERVILLE — In their first five games of the season, the STC football team did a good job of limiting the times they gave up the ball to their opponents. But turnovers doomed the Trojans when they traveled to Centerville to face the #6 rated Big Reds on Friday, Oct. 3. STC committed four costly turnovers on the way to dropping the contest, 34-13.

STC began the game with the ball and started marching the ball down the field, with junior running back Eric Medina leading the way. But their first turnover occurred when sophomore quarterback Ryan Brant threw an interception to Centerville’s Abram Decena, which he ran all the way back for a touchdown. After a failed point-after-attempt, the Big Reds were quickly out to a 6-0 lead.

After forcing a Trojan punt on the next possession, the Centerville offense finally took the field for the first time. Led by a running game that ate up big yardage, the Big Reds marched down the field with a 9-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. With a successful two-point conversion, Centerville pulled out to a 14-0 lead.

But STC showed determination on their next possession and got right back in the game with a scoring drive of their own. After gaining minimal yardage on their first three plays, the Trojans were forced to punt. However, Centerville was flagged for a penalty on the punt, giving STC a first down and fresh life on the drive. Two plays later, junior running back Michael Henry ran a halfback pass to perfection, finding senior tight end Nick Upah for a 15-yard reception. After that, Medina and the STC offensive line started to assert themselves. Running for 45 yards total on the drive, Medina capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, and the Trojans quickly cut the lead to 14-7.

For the remainder of the first half, the STC defense held strong in seeking to keep momentum on their side. On Centerville’s next possession, senior Josh Strong and Upah met at Centerville’s quarterback, Mack Murdock, and dropped him for an 11-yard sack. After Henry broke up a third down pass attempt, the Big Reds were forced to punt. But STC’s second turnover came on the following drive, as Brant dropped back for a pass and was hit and stripped of the ball, which Centerville recovered.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore quarterback Ryan Brant runs with the ball against Centerville.

But, once again, the defense held strong, led by a quarterback sack by Medina when the Big Reds went for it on fourth down. The Trojans got the ball in Centerville territory but were unable to convert on a 4th down. The teams went to the halftime break with the score remaining at 14-7.

Centerville received the opening kickoff of the second half and wasted no time driving down the field. An 8-play, 63-yard drive was seemingly capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run. But a holding penalty was called on Centerville and the touchdown was taken off the board. Now faced with a 4th and 11, the Big Reds went for it and failed to convert.

Once again, the Trojans were given a chance to tie the game. But Centerville’s defense buckled down and, on their next two possessions, STC was forced to punt and Brant threw his second interception of the game. In between those two Trojan possessions, the Big Reds added a score of their own, and they began to pull away, 21-7.

The Trojans continued to fight, however, and added a scoring drive of their own in the fourth quarter. Led by a big kickoff return by sophomore Izak Schroeder, STC took 5 more plays to score a touchdown on a 3-yard run by Brant. But Centerville added two more touchdowns in the half and pulled away to the 34-13 win.

On the night, Medina ran the ball 22 times for 101 yards. Brant added 25 yards on the ground, as well as 41 yards passing. Upah (26 yards receiving) and Henry (15 yards receiving) both had 2 catches for the Trojans. STC was led on defense by junior Kyle Youngbear, who recorded 13 tackles for the Trojans. He was followed in tackles by senior Marcus Bear (7.5), Henry (7), sophomore Sam Garcia (5.5), sophomore Ethan Page (5.5), and Upah (5).

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior running back Eric Medina breaks into the open against Centerville. Medina had 101 yards on the ground for the Trojans.

Up next for the Trojans (3-3) is their final home game of the season: a critical district match-up with Pella Christian (1-5). The two teams are battling for postseason position in Class 2A, District 7, with the top four teams in each district making the playoffs. STC and Pella Christian are currently in a 3-way tie for third place (along with Albia, all 1-2 in district play). The game will kickoff at 7 at the STC high school football field on Friday.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Izak Schroeder returns a kickoff against Centerville.

NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTO BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior running back Eric Medina finds the endzone for a touchdown in the first half against Centerville.