(Atlantic) Atlantic carries a three-game winning streak into its Friday matchup against Greene County. Over the past seven seasons, the two teams have met five times. The Rams won the matches in 2018, 2019, and 2023. Meanwhile, the Trojans secured a 31-18 victory in 2020 and narrowly defeated the Rams 21-17 in the previous season. Both teams have 4-2 records heading into this contest. Atlantic is currently 2-0 in district play, while Greene County is 1-1.
Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer delivered two key messages to his team this week — one aimed at the younger players and the other for the Varsity squad.
After an impressive 28-0 lead at halftime, the Trojans went on to secure a dominant 49-7 victory against Perry. They restricted the Bluejays to just over 60 yards in passing and a little over 60 yards on the ground. Brummer warns that this week’s matchup will be a different challenge. Brummer says from here on out it’s playoffs.
The Trojans have proven their resilience with a challenging non-district schedule and a last-second victory against Creston two weeks ago. They understand what it’s like to face tough competition and respond to adversity.
The Trojans have faced several strong quarterbacks over the past six weeks, and they will encounter another challenge on Friday when they defend against first-year starting quarterback Zach Stalder. The senior has completed 57.3 percent of his passes, totaling 958 yards, with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. In addition to his passing skills, Stalder contributes significantly to the running game. He is the second-leading rusher for the Rams, with 61 carries for 281 yards and five touchdowns.
The Rams’ primary running back, Christopher Daugherty, averages 5.3 yards per carry, amassing 303 yards and six touchdowns.
Overall, the Trojans’ running game has been impressive, accumulating 1,398 yards at an average of 6.3 yards per carry, with contributions from three backs. Ethan McNeal leads the group with 130 carries for 805 yards and seven touchdowns. Gavin McLaren has 57 carries for 386 yards and eight touchdowns, while Zander Killion has six carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Jake Wailes leads the Trojans defensively with 42 tackles, 28 solo stops, two sacks, and six tackles for loss. Carter Hadley, 27 tackles, 13 solos, and two tackles for loss. Colin Rudy has 26.5 tackles, 17 solos, three sacks, and five tackles for loss, and Brock Goodrich has 20 tackles.
