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Arcanum
junior Daniel O'Donnell runs the ball for the Trojans Friday
against Ansonia. It was a big
night for the Arcanum quarterback as
O'Donnell threw for two touchdowns with one being a school record of
87
yards. The Trojans won their homecoming game, 45-29. CNO Photos by Brad
Troutwine
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Trojans score
big homecoming victory over Ansonia
By George Starks
ARCANUM- Defending your home turf is always a must on football night.
It’s even bigger on homecoming night.
Ansonia threw everything it had at the Trojans, including the kitchen
sink, but in the end it was a successful homecoming for the Trojans.
Arcanum junior quarterback had two scoring passes, one a school record
of 87 yards, a school record, and a 67 yard scoring run as the Trojans
prevailed, 45-29 in a Cross County Conference battle as O’Donnell
strapped the team on his back, willing the team to victory.
“He had a great game tonight,” admitted Arcanum coach TJ Powers. “We
are an option offense and it worked well tonight. The offensive line
played really well tonight. I had no idea that pass was a school
record.”
“Homecoming is something special and they’re all special,” said
Powers continued. “We’ve pumped this game up all week and there’s a lot
of festivities and a lot of things that go into it. There’s nothing
like fall and homecoming at a football school and getting that ‘W’ on
homecoming night. Our seniors go out with a homecoming win
While the efforts of O’Donnell was a big part of the victory, it was a
defensive play that drove the nail in the coffin of the Tigers.
In the battle of the turnovers, Arcanum prevailed but none bigger than
a pick six by Colton Troutwine.
With the score showing the Trojans up by a 36-21 count, the Tigers took
control of the ball, 1st and 10 at their own 27, Peters found a
receiver but the uniform was not a white one but black with Arcanum’s
Colton Troutwine doing the honors. Troutwine ran the ball back for the
score, giving the Trojans a 45-21 lead with 9:17 left in the game.
“I was so happy for Colton on that play because he had been burned a
couple of times on that same play,” said Powers. “He kept plugging away
and he made one heck of a play on that ball. He was up on the line of
scrimmage and had the receiver, man to man and made a heck of a play on
the ball.”
Despite the lopsided score, things didn’t start out so good for the
Trojans.
While Arcanum was on a five game losing skid, the Tigers got their
first win just a week before and wanted the second.
On its first drive of the games, Ansonia went 80 yards on six plays,
ending with a eight yard scoring pass from Peters to junior Dane
Wentworth with 8:17 left in the opening quarter and a 6-0 lead after
the failed two point conversion.
On its second possession, Arcanum got on the board at the 3:45 mark
when O’Donnell hooked up with Joseph Henning on a 18 yard pass play.
The two teams traded scores, despite the 87 yard bomb from O’Donnell to
Dalton Lindemuth at the 11:33 mark of the half.
With things knotted at 14-14, the Trojans got on the board again on a
22 yard run from Daniel Coats at the 6:05 mark of the half.
When the first half ended, the Trojans were holding a slim 21-14
advantage.
“We showed a lot of resilience tonight,” Powers said. “Ansonia’s a good
team and they’re very well coached. They play hard and they’ve scored
points on everybody all year and we knew that. We had trouble stopping
them in the first half. We made some adjustments at halftime and we did
a much better job slowing them down. The defense in the second half was
much better because they were lining up so fast, we were having trouble
getting lined up. We stepped up and got the job done. We had trouble
stopping them in the first half.”
Despite playing well, Ansonia dropped to 1-6 but Tiger coach Eugene
Hoening was quick to give Arcanum the accolades it deserved.
“I would like to congratulate coach Powers and Arcanum,” said Hoening.
They executed their offense well and when they had to rally their
defense, they were able to do so. Arcanum has some good athelets and
the coaching staff puts their athletes in positions the team.”
The Tigers shined on offense while the defense struggled.
It was all about turnovers for the Tigers.
“At times, we looked like world beaters,” said Hoening. “Then there
were the other times. Turnovers hurt us and Arcanum made some big plays
early. Our offense puts up good numbers but our defense allowed 40 some
points. We just need to stop the big play.”
Now 2-5, Arcanum will host Middletown Christian while the Tiger will be
at home wit Mississinawa Valley. The Blackhawks are 0-7 this season.
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Ansonia
running back Jerrod Newman run for the Tigers.
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Arcanum
Homecoming king and queen are Chase Grostomsky and Morgan Ellis.
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