The unbeaten Trenton Bulldogs received a good-sized challenge from upstart program KIPP Legacy out of Kansas City on Friday night, with the visiting Gators scoring an early touchdown to keep the game even, and outscoring THS 8-0 in the third quarter, cutting the Bulldogs lead to 20-14.
However, the Trenton defense, with KIPP driving for a potential go-ahead score early in the fourth quarter, picked up a fourth-down stop inside the 25 yard line, and that flipped the momentum back to THS for the remainder of the contest, with the Bulldogs winning 36-14, improving to 3-0 on the season while dropping KIPP Legacy to 1-2.
After the Bulldogs received a gift to open the game, as the Gators kick return unit muffed the opening kickoff, giving Trenton the ball in Gator territory, Gabe Novak opened the scoring with 6:42 left in the opening quarter, with the failed PAT leaving the score 6-0.
However, the Gators answered quickly, as three runs by quarterback DeAngelo Bayliss, the final one a 24 yard scamper, tied the game at 6. Trenton retook the lead late in the first quarter on another Novak scoring run, this one from 2 yards.
The Bulldogs seized more control of the game by the half, as Braden Hughs scored on a five yard scamper with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter, leaving the halftime edge 20-6.
The visiting Gators grabbed third quarter momentum, using their athletic ability to frustrate Trenton tacklers, gaining yards in bulk before a 26 yard scoring run by Fleming cutting the lead to 20-14.
In the fourth quarter, Hughs scored from 11 yards with 8 minutes to go, with Mason Rongey clinching the win on a 1-yard sneak with 2:38 to go. Novak had a two-point conversion run and Rongey a two-point conversion run in the final quarter.
Novak finished with 29 carries for 182 yards, with Hughs 12 carries for 90 yards. For the Gators, Bayliss had 14 carries for 146 yards.
Penalties became a major storyline in the contest, as a youthful Gator squad, without a senior on the roster, was flagged 18 times for 139 yards. Trenton had nine penalties for 78 yards.
Here is the scoreboard for Friday, September 8, 2023:
Milan 36, Putnam County 6 (on KTTN FM 92.3)
Princeton 96, Pattonsburg 92
South Harrison 28, Gallatin 26
Polo 37, Maysville 24
Penney 30, Maysville 27
Mid-Buchanan 62, West Platte 25
East Buchanan 23, North Platte 14
Lathrop 30, Salisbury 14
St. Michael’s 38, Lexington 6
Higginsville 27, Warsaw 22
Richmond 18, Marshall 14
Sherwood 30, Carrollton 6
St. Pius X 49, Cameron 8
Maryville 50, Chillicothe 0
Lafayette 26, Benton 14
Savannah 42, Kirksville 0
South Shelby 51, Brookfield 6
Harrisburg 28, Marceline 20
Westran 36, Fulton 20
Worth County 54, North Andrew 16
Albany 58, St. Joseph Christian 48
Stanberry 38, King City 16
Platte Valley 60, Mound City 36
Nodaway Valley 44, East Atchison 22
Rock Port 70, Stewartsville/Osborn 18
South Holt 69, DeKalb 6
Braymer 84, Sweet Springs 68
Norborne/Hardin-Central 70, Slater 34
Southwest Livingston 56, Santa Fe 14
Bishop LeBlond 56, Knox County 22
Plattsburg 86, Schuyler County 56
Concordia 36, Orrick 14
