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Arcanum
junior Jacob Weaver (22) runs the ball for the Trojans as
Mississinawa Valley’s
Dustyn Whitesel defends for the Hawks. CNO Photo
by Brad Troutwine
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Trojans clip Hawks
wings
Arcanum still in play-off hunt
By George Starks
ARCANUM - At the start of play, entering week eight, four Darks County
teams were still in control of their own destinies for a shot at post
season play.
Arcanum was one of them.
After a disastrous loss to Bradford a week ago, a game that may have
knocked the Trojans out of any kind of contention, Arcanum coach Jason
Stephan had to have a win over the winless Mississinawa Valley
Blackhawks.
Stephan got what he needed as the Trojans rolled to a 38-0 Cross County
Conference victory Friday night over the Hawks.
“We had to definitely win this game tonight,” said Stephan. “I’m proud
of our boys’ effort tonight. We played well on defense and we ran the
ball hard on offense.”
By the end of the first quarter, and Arcanum up 16-0, it was obvious
how it was going to end. The only thing to be determined was the final
score.
After Mississinawa Valley went three and out, Trojan quarterback Dallas
Johnson and the Trojan offense went to work.
A six play drive that started at the Arcanum 35, ended with a six yard
run from senior Kody Smith at the 7:44 mark of the quarter.
Less than three minutes later, 4:47, Smith would rumble for 87 yards
and the score, giving the Trojans the 16 point budge after both two
point conversions were good.
Arcanum would strike again at the 9:44 point of the second frame on a
six yard pass from Johnson to Parker Burhman in the right corner of the
end zone.
With the other three teams still having play-off hopes being Ansonia
and Bradford in the CCC and Versailles in the MAC, Stephan told his
kids what needed to be done at the start of the night.
“I told them they had to stay focused and play smart football,” Stephan
pointed out. “We can’t think about the other teams and what they are
doing. We have to go out and win our games from here on out. We did
that. The pass play to Parker Burhman there in the second half was huge
for us.”
On two different occasions in the first half, the Hawks were driving,
looking to score but the Arcanum defense rose to the occasion with
interceptions of junior Brandon Byers.
“It all came down to our defense,” Stephan remarked. “When it came down
to it, our guys stepped up defensively and I’m very proud of their
effort.”
Standing now with a 4-4 record, the final two games of the season will
pit the Trojans against Bethel who lost to Ansonia, 24-21 Friday and
Covington, 7-0, in the season finale.
Two teams that will not be easy to get by.
“One game at a time but neither one of these teams are easy to beat,”
Stephan said. “They are two very good football teams and we have to
give it our best effort.”
For the Hawks, it was big plays that got drives going and big mistakes
that ended them.
“We do this every week,” said Hawks coach Brandon Mock. “We find
ourselves moving the ball and then we shoot ourselves in the foot. We
had a 50 yard run then we have a penalty or interception. We have to
fix that. You can’t win football games with just one big play per
series. You have to have one good play after another. Wanting to win
isn’t enough. You have to have the will to win and that starts in the
heart. Right now, we look like want to be football players.”
Arcanum will play at Bethel next week and will close out the season at
home against the Buccs while Mississinawa Valley will host Bradford and
close out at home with Bethel.
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