(Atlantic) The Atlantic Trojans, led by Head Coach Joe Brummer, delivered their pre-season promise to focus on running the football with a 48-30 victory over Council Bluffs, Jefferson, in a Week Zero match-up.
The Trojans amassed 375 yards of offense, including 318 rushing yards and 57 passing yards. Tyson O’Brien led the way with 204 rushing yards on 25 carries, supported by a solid offensive line and fullback Gavin McLaren. McLaren carried the ball 13 times for 78 yards and scored four touchdowns, while Ethan McNeal contributed a 40-yard touchdown run. Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer admitted he did not expect his team to score 48 points in the season opener.
After Council Bluffs, Jefferson’s opening drive ended in a three-and-out, the Trojans responded with a 12-play, 64-yard drive culminating in a four-yard touchdown run by McLaren. Atlantic then mounted another successful touchdown drive, featuring passes of 38 yards and 19 yards to Jarrett Hansen and Brock Goodrich, respectively, before McLaren scored another touchdown, resulting in a 13-0 lead after a missed extra point. Council Bluffs, Jefferson narrowed the gap late in the first half with a four-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Fuji to Mayson Kramer, narrowing the gap to 13-6 at halftime.
Jarrett Hansen brought the Trojan fans to their feet to start the second half with an 86-yard kick-off return to the Yellow Jackets’ two-yard line. Coach Brummer credits Hansen for a great return, and blocking support from Ethan McNeal and others.
The Trojans extended their lead to 27-6 in the third quarter with a three-yard touchdown run by McLaren and a 40-yard touchdown run by backup tailback Ethan McNeal. Council Bluffs, Jefferson responded with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Parks, successfully converting the two-point attempt to make the score 27-14. Atlantic then extended their lead to 34-14 with Tyson O’Brien’s 21-yard TD jaunt.
Despite the two-touchdown deficit, the visitors kept grinding away, maintaining pressure on the Trojans. Fuji fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Ross-Cotton. The Yellow Jackets converted for two, narrowing the score to 34-22. The Trojans sealed the win with back-to-back touchdown runs from Tyson O’Brien and Gavin McLaren of 21 and four yards, respectively. The Yellow Jackets tacked on a 40-yard pass from Daulton Garrison to Mayson Kramer with eight seconds left to play, with the final score of 48-30.
Coach Brummer gave kudos to his offensive line despite being undersized; they can get out and go.
Council Bluffs, Jefferson had 372 total yards, 291 passing, and 81 yards rushing. Jayden Fuji completed 14 of 21 passes for 241 yards. Braxton Parks caught six passes for 125 yards, and Mayson Kramer hauled in five passes for 112 yards. Jayce Shanno led the Yellow Jackets with 14 carries for 47 rushing yards.
