(Atlantic) – Three different running backs each rushed for over 100 yards as Atlantic powered past Perry, 49-7, during the Trojans’ homecoming game Friday night.
Atlantic piled up 431 rushing yards in the dominant win. Ethan McNeal led the charge with 152 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Gavin McLaren added 107 yards and a touchdown on just six carries, while Zander Killion racked up 103 yards and two touchdowns on five attempts. Freshman Benton McLaren also contributed three carries for 18 yards and a touchdown.
The Trojans jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. McNeal broke free for touchdown runs of 20 and 55 yards in the first quarter to make it 14-0. Killion opened the second quarter with a 38-yard TD run, and McNeal capped the first-half scoring with a 9-yard touchdown, giving Atlantic a 28-0 advantage at halftime.
Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer….
Coach Brummer was pleased to see his squad keep its foot on the gas early in the third quarter. The Trojans kept their momentum rolling in the second half, scoring on back-to-back drives to start the third quarter. Gavin McLaren broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. On Atlantic’s next possession, Zander Killion found the end zone again, this time on a 52-yard run—also on the first play of the drive—extending the lead to 42-0. With a commanding lead, Atlantic’s starters got the rest of the night off.
Perry got on the board with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Ian Fisher to Phillip Gray.
Brummer rested his starters for much of the second half, and the backups made the most of their opportunity. Freshman backup running back Benton McLaren capped the scoring for Atlantic with a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:55 remaining. Killion was perfect on extra points, going 7-for-7 on the night.
With the win, Atlantic improves to 2-0 in district play and 4-2 overall. Perry falls to 0-6.
Next Friday, the Trojans hit the road to face Greene County, while Perry travels to Harlan.
