Final TIU Football Game

This is a story I wrote for my school's football team on their final game of the 2011 football season.

Trojans Triumph Over Warriors in Finale

Forest City, IA—In the final game of the season, the Trojan football team emerged with a dramatic 21-17 win on the road over the Waldorf College Warriors on Saturday afternoon. 

The Trojans were able to get on the board first in the game on a five-yard touchdown run by Donnie Irving (FR Arlington, TX) to go up 7-0.  The Trojans were able to get the ball back as Thomas Denne (SR San Jose, CA) forced and recovered a fumble.  However, the Trojan drive would stall out on a missed 46-yard field goal.  The following drive, Warriors receiver James Loydd would catch a 39-yard touchdown from quarterback Ryan Young to tie the game up at 7-7.

Neither team would score in the second quarter  until the Warriors were able to convert on a 28-yard field goal just before the end of the first half to take a 10-7 lead into halftime.

The Trojans offense methodically plodded down the field to start the third quarter as it went on a 16-play, 70-yard drive capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Morgan Hall (JR Fresno, CA) to Nigel Pinson (JR Chicago, IL) in a key third down situation.  An extra point by Jason Owens (SR Chicago, IL) gave the Trojans a 14-10 lead following this drive that took 9:44 off the clock to start the half. 

Loydd would strike again for the Warriors as he would take the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the end zone for a touchdown to put the Warriors back on top 17-14.  Four of the next five drives for the Trojan offense would end in turnovers, two of those being interceptions and two fumbles.  However, the defense would hold strong, including forcing a fumble recovered by Ernie Escarcega (JR Tuscon, AZ).

The Warriors would punt the ball back to the Trojans with 4:07 remaining in the game.  The Trojans would have to go 65 yards to take the lead, and they delivered just that, taking nine plays to score as Hall found Jonathan Salgado (SR Riverside, CA) for a five-yard touchdown with just 1:02 to play.  An Owens extra point would put the Trojans ahead 21-17.

The defense would hold one more time, forcing a turnover on downs.  The Trojans were able to kneel for the victory.  The win moved the team to 2-8 on the year as the Trojans finished the season in exciting fashion.