Cold weather arrives
2008 World AIDS Day
Canine Christmas
Northmont 38, Trotwood 8
Rams no match for T-Bolts
Northmont is still in the playoff hunt after a dominating performance against its GWOC rival.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
CLAYTON — Most expected a close contest. Some even picked Trotwood-Madison High School to win.
Northmont had its own ideas Friday night, smothering its Greater Western Ohio Conference neighbor 38-8 at Good Samaritan Stadium to clinch the North Division and keep its playoff heartbeat thumping.
Extras
That Northmont should prevail was less of a surprise than its thoroughness. It was 38-0 with 10 minutes remaining, and aside from a cosmetic touchdown at the end, Trotwood barely threatened.
"I didn't expect (a blowout), but we knew we were going to score," Northmont quarterback John Nussman said. "We have a great offense."
Junior Mark Mays scored three touchdowns and had 152 yards on 16 carries as Northmont rolled up 302 yards on the ground and just about doubled Trotwood in total yardage, 423-216.
Northmont (6-3) clinched the GWOC title when Troy beat Piqua, but beating Piqua next week remains central to any playoff hopes. "If we win next week, our coach says we're in," Nussman said, posing for pictures afterward.
Northmont's 10-0 halftime lead felt bigger because Trotwood (6-3) had only one first down and had run three plays the entire second quarter.
"For some reason, mentally or whatever, we just didn't execute," Trotwood coach Maurice Douglass said.
Jordan Rose, recently recruited from the soccer team, kicked a 24-yard field goal late in the first quarter, adding to the 7-0 lead produced by Mays' 32-yard run. TDs on Northmont's first two possessions of the third quarter broke it open.
Northmont's defense, led by linebacker Kevin Moore and defensive backs Daren Youngberg and C.J. Barnett, kept Trotwood's spread offense at bay. Trotwood running back Michael Shaw, who averages about 70 yards on the ground, gained 27 on 12 carries, and quarterback Domonick Britt never got much going.
"We tried to do things we weren't coached to do," said Britt, who had at least seven passes dropped.
Northmont's early field goal resulted from the game's most spectacular play, a 47-yard pass hookup from Nussman to his best friend, Nate Wilburn-Ogletree, who made a one-handed catch down the right sideline and ended up at the Trotwood 9.
These rivals go their separate ways next season. They won't be in the same division.
"It's a shame to see a great rivalry come to an end," Northmont coach Lance Schneider said. "But this was a great victory for us."
Contact this reporter at
(937)
225-2408
or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.
