Call him Snake (as in Stabler) … Call him the Comeback Kid … Call him 2-0.
For the second straight week, Soddy Daisy junior quarterback
Hunter Maynor led a second half comeback as the host Trojans defeated long-time
rival Red Bank, 21-7, Thursday night at newly named Robert Talaska Field.
After a mistake-filled first half - three turnovers by the
Trojans and two by Red Bank – Maynor and the Trojans avoided drive-killing
errors to score three times in five possessions to move to 2-0 on the young season
for the first time since 2008.
On a night when the Trojan faithful honored longtime team manager Robert Talaska with his name on the scoreboard and a week when Soddy Daisy coach Justin Barnes and his wife welcomed their second daughter into the world, the Trojans capped the week with the big win.
Red Bank Led at Half: Capitalizing on the Trojans third
turnover of the half, Lions senior quarterback Michael Robinson capped a 40-yard
drive by scampering the final 28 yards past the Trojan defense for a 7-0
advantage with 26 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
But the final two quarters were controlled by the Blue and
Gold.
“We didn’t change anything at halftime, but the key was our offensive
line played great in the second half and controlled the tempo,” said Maynor who
was 20 of 31 (11 of 16 in the second half) for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Second Half Comeback: After a Red Bank 90-yard kickoff
return for a touchdown by Shawn Caldwell called back due to a block in the back
to open the second half and a stalled drive at the Soddy Daisy 28, Maynor and
company moved 72 yards as he was a perfect 4 of 4, including a game-tying 12-yard
scoring toss to senior Alex Roberts followed by the first of three Parker Smith
extra points.
While the Lions were stopping themselves with penalties and
fumbles (lost two of nine for the game), Maynor continued to move the offense
and connected with sophomore Tre Carter for scoring plays of 59 and 35 yards in
the fourth quarter for a 21-7 advantage.
But the Lions were not dead as Robinson found Malik Davis in
the end zone with three minutes remaining in the game to pull within one score at 21-13,
only to have the touchdown nullified by an ineligible receiver down field.
While the Lions had 240 yards in total offense with two
scores called back on penalties and a dropped pass in the end zone (second
quarter)
They could only manage 86 yards in the second half
Tough Post Game Speech: “They just whipped you,” said Red
Bank coach E.K.
Slaughter to his players in a post-game, team meeting on the field.
“They executed better, they were tougher, made better
adjustments and cared about the game more than you.”
But, we can still do well in our district which starts next
week (at home vs. Brainerd).
Good Trojan ”D”: “We made too many mistakes in the first
half, but fortunately we played great D,” said Trojan coach Justin Barnes.
And our defense got after them a little more in the second
half.”
Slow Start: “But we have got to play better in the first
half.”
In last week’s 28-7 win against Hixson, the host Wildcats
led 7-0 at halftime and were on the Trojan 3-yard line twice but failed to
score points before the Trojan rally.
Red Bank Alum: “Red Bank will always have a special place in
my heart, but it was a good win for us to move to 2-0,” Barnes stated.
New Born: While coach Barnes tried to focus on the Red Bank
game, last Monday afternoon, his wife Becca gave birth to their second daughter,
Brinkley.
Alma Mater: After the final whistle, the Trojan players ran to the stands and sang the alma mater. "We missed doing it last week, but we will sing the alma mater, win or loss, home or away after each game," said coach Barnes.
Red Bank 7 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 7
Soddy Daisy 0 - 0 - 7 - 14 -- 21
RB - Michael Robinson, 28 run
SD - Alex Roberts 12 pass from Hunter Maynor (Parker Smith kick)
SD - Tre Carter 59 pass from Maynor (Smith kick)
SD - Carter 35 pass from Maynor (Smith kick)
Records; Soddy Daisy (2-0), Red Bank (0-2)
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net