Already down three starters against the powerful Lathrop Mules going into Friday night’s season opener, the Trenton Bulldogs had the realization that they would have to play very well to compete against Chris Holt’s team, and likely need a handful of turnovers to swing an upset at the Lathrop Athletic Complex. Friday night, as it turned out, did bring turnovers, but all eight were committed by the Bulldogs, in a lopsided 55-7 loss, broadcast live on Hot Country Z 101.7.
The difficulty of the evening for Trenton showed itself early, as Lathrop’s Justin Burns returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a score. By the time the first quarter ended, THS was down four touchdowns, with Hunter Sloan scoring on a six yard plunge, Seth McKnight gashing the Bulldogs on a 55 yard scamper, and Burns catching a 26 yard scoring strike. In going from bad to worse in the second quarter, Trenton gave up three scores in close proximity, most set up by Bulldog miscues. A three-run fumble recovery off a mishandled punt, a 15 yard return off of defensive pressure that created a Trenton mishandle on the option, and a 51 yard run by Justin Wright, made the score 49-0 Mules with nine minutes remaining in the half.
A 35 yard touchdown run up the hashmarks by backup running back Tanner Dalinghaus extended Lathrop’s lead to 55-0 (missed extra point) with 9:27 remaining in the third quarter.
Trenton, playing for pride over the final three quarters of the game, avoided the opening night shutout midway through the final quarter, with junior quarterback Sam Schilling providing the points. Tom Johnson had the play-by-play call:
Trenton, 0-1 to open the season, will host the Lexington Minutemen this Friday night at C.F. Russell Stadium. Lexington, playing on the home turf of Gil Rector Stadium on Friday night, beat Notre Dame (Quincy, Illinois) 32-22. The game, on the final night of August, can be heard on the season long “Home of the Bulldogs”, Hot Country Z 101.7.
Lathrop, a squad that looks fully capable of challenging for the KCI Conference title and perhaps make a deep playoff run in Class 2 later this fall, takes their 1-0 record to Bethany this week, to play the South Harrison Bulldogs.
Here is the complete scoreboard from Friday, August 24, 2018 (Week 1 of the high school football season):
Milan 41, Plattsburg 14 (on KTTN FM 92.3)
Mid-Buchanan 40, Princeton 14
Gallatin 31, North Platte 6
Penney 43, Maysville 14
East Buchanan 32, South Harrison 22
Putnam County 26, LeBlond 12
Christ Prep 47, Polo 0
Lawson 32, Oak Grove 17
West Platte 46, Lone Jack 0
Santa Fe 18, Slater 0
Marshall 16, Chillicothe 0
Macon 34, Kirksville 27
Blair Oaks 38, Maryville 35
Odessa 48, St. Pius X 0
Cameron 40, KC Northeast 0
Grain Valley 34, Savannah 6
Lafayette 48, Clinton 0
Winnetonka 34, Benton 20
Palmyra 7, Brookfield 6
Marceline 43, Scotland County 13
Monroe City 38, Centralia 0
Bowling Green 43, North Shelby 24
Westran 53, Salisbury 7
Knox County 14, Schuyler County 8
Paris 45, Harrisburg 8
Fayette 34, Carrollton 0
Higginsville 41, South Callaway 20
Lexington 32, Notre Dame (Quincy, IL) 22
Knob Noster 68, Versailles 30
Holden 36, Sherwood 0
Stanberry 48, Braymer 2
Albany 64, Veritas Christian 6
King City 40, North Andrew 8
Pattonsburg 68, St. Joseph Christian 12
Worth County 74, South Holt / Nodaway-Holt 28
Mound City 58, Platte Valley 0
Stewartsville 50, Northwest Nodaway 0
Rock Port 40, DeKalb 14
Southwest Livingston 52, East Atchison 42
North Shelby 66, Northwest (Hughesville) 26
Norborne / Hardin-Central 40, KC East Christian 0
Orrick 52, Chilhowee 8
