The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Zuzak Scores 6 TDs as Trojans Win Tri-County South 49-20 at Carmichaels @nathagrella

Tagged under: District 7, Game Photos, News

| October 17, 2020

Picture- @sykotyk

For both the Mikes and the Torjans, it’s been nothing but perfection the whole year and for a Saturday night clash, the Tri-County South came down to Carmichaels and California. Led by Jaeden Zuzak, the WPIAL leader in both rushing yards and touchdowns, California was poised to win it’s first outright section title since 2017 while Carmichaels had not won since 2016.

The biggest story heading into the game was the health of Carmichaels QB Damani Stafford. Stafford exited last week’s game against Jefferson-Morgan in the second quarter with a rib injury and was questionable heading into the title defining match with the Mikes. Stafford started the opening play for California and there was no looking back for the Trojans offense.

California opened up the game with a methodical 3 minute drive, moving down the field at will before Zuzak scampered into the endzone to make it 8-0. Almost immediately Carmichaels responded with a long pass of their own before pushing it in to tie it up. Right off the bat that game looked to be a shootout.

All night there would be no stopping a brutal California rushing attack. Damani Stafford walked into the endzone to respond and put the Trojans up by 7.

Carmichaels did the same with a Bailey Jones run on the goal line, however a missed extra point put the score at 15-14 in the mid 2nd quarter.

On the following California drive, Coach Ed Woods would draw up a RB pass from Zuzak to a wide open Matt Trunzo in the endzone, however a missed extra point put the score at 21-14. It would be all Trojans the rest of the way.

The Trojans opened up their first two offensive drives with two rushing touchdowns, both courtesy of Jaeden Zuzak. And with a kickoff fumble by Carmichaels between the two, the score would be 35-14 near the end of the 3rd quarter.

Carmichaels wouldn’t be put down. On the following drive, the Mikes methodically moved down the field and put it in for 7, then on the next defensive drive, turned the ball over with a Zuzak fumble.

On the next play Ethan Fike stripped Bailey Jones and California once more had the ball offensively. Stafford gave the ball to Zuzak off the bat on the line of scrimmage, and Zuzak would not make the same mistake he made the drive before.

With the clock expiring, Zuzak would put in another touchdown making his 6th of the game, and his 4th consecutive game of 5 touchdowns or more.

The California Trojans, with the win, win the Tri-County South conference title and will most likely be seeded either 2 or 3 in the WPIAL Playoffs, moving them on the opposite side of title favorite Clarion. Carmichaels will finish the season second in the conference and will open up the playoffs on the road against either Jeannette or Shenango depending on seedings.

Photos of the Game:

For more, and larger, photos from this game, click HERE.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x