Trotwood football has made great strides

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 3:11 AM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Two seasons ago, the Trotwood-Madison High School football team lost a second-round playoff game to Cincinnati Turpin with a load of talent but questionable line play.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Rams showed how far they’ve come in two seasons.

In wiping out Turpin (ranked No. 2 in the state and unbeaten) 43-7 in a Division II, Region 8 semifinal, Trotwood displayed a discipline and execution that had been absent in previous seasons.

Because of that, the Rams (9-3) advanced to Friday’s regional final against another Cincinnati team, Winton Woods (10-2), which finished No. 6 in the final state poll.

Trotwood coach Maurice Douglass addressed the differences on the field after his team continued its deepest playoff run since 1981.

“They listen, they’re attentive to the things that we say, they pay attention to details, they’re a group of kids that they listen to what the coaches say and they believe it,” Douglass said. “More than that, they do a great job of getting in their playbooks and scouting reports during the week.”

Of course, talent also helps, and Trotwood got 263 yards from its junior running back, Antwan Gilbert. With that, he increased his season total to 2,538 yards, 24th on the state’s all-time single-season list.

Gilbert trails by 318 yards Miami Valley leader Ryan Brewer, who gained 2,856 yards for Troy in winning Ohio’s Mr. Football award in 1998.

“We don’t get a lot of credit for our linemen up front, (people) always talk about (them being) big and fat,” Douglass said. “Those guys are just big guys who do a good job of sustaining blocks, and they have a good running back and good fullback.”

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WE GOT THE BEST BACK IN THE COUNTRY! THE FASTEST TEAM IN THE STATE. AND 2 FORMER NFL PLAYERS AS COACHES. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE ME AND DRE HUTSON BROKE RECORDS. GO RAMS! WIN STATE, BUT BEAT WINTON WOODS FIRST. MUCH LUV 2 MO AND JEFF.

LARRY 97
7:35 PM, 11/18/2009

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Darrell, I appreciate your admiration of our coach, but Coach Dog came to TM to do something special. And he is.It's not up to local media and surrounding fans to be the judge, that decision is left up to GOD and the young men's lives he touches everyday. GO RAMS! ALL THE WAY TO STATE!!

get real
12:06 PM, 11/17/2009

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A few weeks back when Mo Douglass was suspended, and Jeff Graham held the reigns I made a comment that still holds, Coach Douglass if they don't realize that you are a dedicated,experienced, love of the student-athlete, great football coach, the offer is still open down here in Texas. Coach they will love you down here! Down here, all over here, they eat, breath,live high school football,football period. Trotwood you better recognize what you have.

Darrell
10:17 AM, 11/17/2009

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Maurice Douglass had his controvery, but is a good coach. In high school you need a coach who is commited to the kids and the progam to succeed. While I was at Trotwood 91-95, there was a different football coach all four years.

Lee
8:30 AM, 11/17/2009

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