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Buckeyes and Tomcats
ready to do battle
Trimble tries to get
in win column, N-Y going for third straight
JOE
HIGGINS
Messenger staff writer
Football Christmas comes two
weeks earlier this year.
The annual Athens County showcase game between the Trimble Tomcats and
Nelsonville-York Buckeyes, normally reserved for play in week five, is
happening tonight at Glouster Memorial Stadium. The sheer enticement of this
epic athletic contest made authorities place the game on a Saturday to better
accommodate the masses wishing to take in this spectacle.
Both teams bring a lot to the table in the quest for The First National Bank
Trophy.
Nelsonville-York's running game revolves around an impressive line manned by
Trevor Polley, Patrick Norway, Nathan Johnson, Randy Dennis, tight end Conner
Bunting and a host of young athletes competing for a job.
Benefiting from the emerging protection are bruising fullback Zach Talbert
and the dynamic Derek Arnold. Arnold, only a sophomore, has been a pleasant
addition to the backfield, amassing 406 on the
ground in just two games.
Trimble's offensive line is young and inexperienced and will have a difficult
time matching up with the Buckeyes.
However, running back Scott Bycofski and quarterback Isaac Standley have
unmatched talent as the leaders of the Tomcats.
Slasher Joe Eing can line up anywhere on the field and will be used in
multiple spots to try to keep the Nelsonville-York
defense guessing.
Nelsonville-York is coming off a 41-14 drumming of River Valley, highlighted
by Arnold's 218 rushing yards. Trimble lost a heart breaker last week at
Alexander when a last-second two-point conversion handed the Tomcats a 15-14
loss. Looking at the records, the Buckeyes are 2-0 while Trimble stands on
the opposite end at 0-2. Though fans of the two clubs know when the 'Cats and
Bucks meet, records no longer matter.
"It's the cross-town game.
The kids know each other and both teams are going to leave it all on the
field," said NYHS coach Dave Boston.
The Buckeyes will look to feed off the ever-improving line play and continue
to get positive contributions from their backfield.
Defensively, Boston expects Trimble to throw the football around and spread
the field so he hopes his team's speed can compensate.
"They'll test us. They have a nice backfield," said Boston.
"They may not be clicking the way they want to right now but be assured
they'll be ready to go.
They still have some kids that shut us down last year in the first half and
now those kids are bigger and stronger. Hopefully we'll step up to the
challenge."
The Tomcats have another chance at history. No Tomcat team has ever defeated
the Buckeyes in three of four years.
Trimble has won two of the past three contests and the squad is champing at
the bit to get this win.
"Getting a win would be huge for us and doing it over Nelsonville-York
is a big plus," said Faires. "Our seniors aren't very vocal but
they've told our younger guys how they were there for those two wins over
them and how much they want to get this one too. They're getting everyone
excited to play this game."
Though not exactly thrilled about the Saturday venue, both Boston and Faires
understand the reasons. "It's exciting for the communities and for the
people outside of Trimble and Nelsonville," said Boston. "It gets
us out of our routines but it does give us another day to practice and game
plan. It's a different atmosphere, both teams have to deal with it."
Faires added, "It's the biggest game of the week, maybe the year. It's a
nice atmosphere. I don't like Saturday games too well, everyone who wants to
can scout you but it's good for the kids and good for the communities."
With fans from both schools and beyond likely in attendance tonight, it's a
sure bet the Buckeyes and Tomcats will do everything in their power to
deliver a performance to remember.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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