NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY STEVE BRANT – STC junior quarterback Ryan Brant runs with the ball in the first half against Albia.

ALBIA — Entering district play with a record of 2-1, the STC football team had to travel to a familiar ‘house of pain’ on Friday night, Sept. 18. With memories of a decade ago hanging in the air, the Trojans traveled to Albia — the site of the 2015 STC football team’s only loss in the last playoff game before reaching the UNI-Dome that season. Once again this year, the Blue Demons were not a welcoming host.

Albia jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, when senior quarterback Gage Chance found senior wide receiver Isaac Helm for a 40-yard touchdown pass on their first possession of the game. But on their next offensive play, STC junior quarterback Ryan Brant found junior Izak Schroeder on a 67-yard touchdown reception. After a successful two-point conversion run by senior Eric Medina, the Trojans had answered back to take an early lead, 8-7.

However, on the next drive, Albia went back to the same connection between Chance and Helm for a 47-yard touchdown pass up the same side of the field. The Blue Demons took a 13-8 lead midway through the first quarter. On STC’s next possession, a poorly executed punt gifted the Blue Demons starting field possession at the STC 27-yard line. Seven plays later, Albia punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to push their lead to 19-8 as the eventful first quarter ended.

The Trojans were in desperate need of some momentum–and they found it on the ground during their next drive. STC received rushing contributions from Medina (16 yards), Schroeder (19 yards), and Brant (40 yards) to put together a 13-play scoring drive capped off by a 1-yard Medina touchdown. Medina also punched in the 2-point conversion to help the Trojans cut the lead to 19-16 as the teams entered the halftime break shortly after.

The story of the second half was quite different. The STC offense had four possessions in the half and they found yardage difficult to come by. Two of their possessions ended with punts and the other two with a turnover on downs. Meanwhile, Albia scored two touchdowns in the half — one in the third quarter and one in the fourth — to give the Blue Demons a victory by the score of 34-16.

STC junior Edwyn Perez pursues Albia quarterback Gage Chance.

For the game, Brant finished 4/8 for 75 yards and a touchdown. He also had 10 carries for 45 yards. Medina logged 23 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown. Schroeder ran 11 times for 27 yards and his 67-yard touchdown reception. On defense, senior Kyle Youngbear led the Trojans in tackles with 11.5. Other leaders in tackles included: senior Chanden Graybeal (8), senior Eli Cruikshank (5.5) and senior Manny Cervantes (5).

The Trojans will travel to Monroe on Friday night, Sept. 25, to face the PCM Mustangs. PCM comes into the contest with a record of 1-3, having beaten Pella Christian and with losses to Sigourney Keota, Nevada, and Williamsburg. STC will be looking for a measure of revenge, as they lost last year’s contest to PCM by a score of 41-7.

STC junior linebacker Ethan Page brings down Albia running back Cale Votrobeck.

STC junior Izak Schroeder returns a punt against Albia.

STC senior running back Eric Medina converts a 2-point conversion against Albia.

STC sophomore Jet Chyma (4) and senior Eli Cruikshank (right) bring down Albia wide receiver Bryson Reed.