(Carroll) Atlantic evens their record to (1-1) with a 21-10 over Kuemper, Catholic, Carroll at Carroll Stadium on Friday night.
Bodie Johnson scored on a 13-yard TD run, Korey Parrott raced in from five yards out, and Garrett McLaren connected with senior receiver Colin Mullenix on a 20-yard TD pass to account for the three Trojans scores. For Kuemper, Logan Sibenaller scored on a two-yard run, and Simon Wagner kicked a 40-yard field goal.
The Trojans totaled 281-yards of offense, 192 yards rushing and 82 yards passing. Garrett McLaren completed 4-of-5 passes for 48-yards and one touchdown. Caden Andersen connected on 4-5 passes for 41-yards. Colin Mullenix caught two passes for 33-yards and a touchdown, and Garrett Reynolds snagged two passes for 27 yards. Korey Parrott and Bodie Johnson led the Trojans rushing attack. Parrott carried the ball 16 times for 76 yards, and Johnson, 12 carries for 73-yards.
The Trojans set the tone early and marched 85-yards on their opening drive, chewed up 5:36 off the clock, and Trojan senior fullback Bodie Johnson scampered in from 13-yards out, Lane Nelson kicked the extra point and the visitors led 7-0.
“This was huge for our football team,” said Atlantic Head Coach Mike McDermott. “I told our guys that last week we out-coached ourselves, chose to defer and got off on the wrong foot. This week we went back to what works for us and took the football.
“Our guys responded and that is what we saw all week in practice,” said McDermott. “They responded in practice and responded in all facets of the game. We still have work to do, but it was good to see their response.”
On the ensuing kick-off, the Knights marched to the Trojan 22 yard line, but the Trojans defense pinned their ears back and turned the home team away on a fourth down. Atlantic answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Colin Mullenix followed by Nelson’s extra point to give the visitors a 14-0 lead with 7:06 to play in the second quarter.
Kuemper’s offense came to life and capped off a long drive on Logan Sibenaller’s two-yard run. Wagner’s extra point sliced the Trojans lead in half to 14-7. Kuemper inched closer with 1:23 left in the third quarter on Simon Wagner’s 40-yard old field goal to move the score to 14-10.
The momentum switched back to the Atlantic side. Cael Pulido’s blocked punt early in the quarter put the Trojans in excellent field position, and Korey Parrott burst into the end zone from five yards out to extend the Trojans lead to 21-10 following Nelson’s PAT, to seal the deal.
“The turning point for us was at halftime,” said McDermott. “Our defense was on their heels and it looked like the game was shaping up to be a heavy title fight. When the bell sounded to start the second half it appeared to be the case. But all of sudden our defense responded. We told the guys it was their game to take control of, and they did just that in the second half.”
Atlantic opens up district play at Greene County next Friday night. Kuemper hosts West Central Valley.
