September 14, 2018
Sometimes it only takes one play to change a game. That was the case on Friday night at Ron Hurst Field as the Tusky Valley Trojans received a key interception at the goal line on the final play of the third quarter and rode the momentum to a 31-7 victory over the Strasburg Tigers.
The play of the game came with the Tigers trailing 11-7 but with all of the momentum. The Tigers had trailed 11-0 but the playmaking of sophomore quarterback Kape Shupbach had Strasburg on the verge of taking the lead. The Tigers were facing a 2nd and 7 from the Trojan 20-yard line when Shupbach used his legs to escape the pocket. On the run, Shupbach saw Christian Miller in the middle of the end zone and fired the ball towards his receiver but the ball sailed over Miller’s head and Jalen Sharp intercepted the ball to stop the Tiger drive.
Tristin Tesch delivers a stiff arm on his way to an 80-yard run. Tesch finished with 151 yards on just six carries.
The Trojans took over possession of the ball at their own 5-yard line. Riding the momentum of the defensive stop, the Trojans would break off an 80-yard run on the ensuing play as Tristin Tesch raced down the Trojan sideline before being chased down at the 15-yard line. On the next play Noah Love would power his way through the middle of the Tiger defense and break free for a Trojan touchdown and Tusky Valley went from the verge of trailing to a 17-7 lead in just three plays.
Early on it seemed unlikely that the game would ever be in doubt in the second half. A Luke Herron interception on Strasburg’s opening drive gave Tusky Valley possession at the Tiger 33. Four plays later the Trojans would take the lead as Ethan Love scored on a one yard run. The Trojans would then use some trickery on the extra point as they faked the kick and Ethan Love found Tristin Tesch alone in the end zone for a 2-point conversion and it was 8-0 Tusky Valley.
On their next possession the Trojan offense once again moved deep into Strasburg territory. Unfortunately, the red zone problems that have plagued the team all year appeared again as Tusky Valley had four penalties inside the Strasburg 20 and had to settle for a 27-yard field goal from Sam Ray to extend the lead to 11-0.
The Tigers would respond by putting together their best drive of the half behind the playmaking of Shupbach. The drive was sparked when Shupbach escaped the pocket on third and 17 and found Christian Miller along the Trojan sideline for a first down to keep the drive alive. Shupbach scrambling led to another big play as this time he found Jerrod Willoughby and Willoughby took the ball all the way to the Trojan 17-yard line. The Tigers would get on the scoreboard when Shupbach found Tayshaun Curtis on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds remaining in the half and it was 11-7 Trojans at the break.
The score would remain 11-7 Trojans late into the third quarter. However, the Tigers were threatening to take the lead when Sharp’s interception changed the momentum.
Following Love’s touchdown to extend the lead to 17-7 the Trojan defense forced a three and out. On the second play of the series, Tristin Tesch broke free up the Trojan sideline and used a key block from Ethan Love to find the end zone from 43 yards out. Sam Ray’s extra point made it 24-7 Tusky Valley.
The Trojans would add another late touchdown on Isaiah Schlegel’s one yard run and would go on to a 31-7 victory.
The Trojans finished with 310 yards on 32 rushing attempts. Tesch led the way as he ran for 151 yards and a touchdown on just six carries while Ethan Love and Isaiah Schlegel added 49 yards each.
The win increased the Trojans all-time series lead over the Tigers to 15-3-1.
Tusky Valley will return home for the first time since opening night as they host the East Canton Hornets on Friday night. Both teams will enter the game at 2-2 and in need of a victory as they chase playoff points. Kickoff will be at 7:00 PM.