ARCANUM 20 NATIONAL TRAIL 17 OT @PaFootballNews @NationalTrailAD @ArcanumTrojans #BEYONDTHEKEYSTONE

Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos, Gameday Hub

David Burnworth | September 21, 2019

Yesterday I ventured to Arcanum, Ohio to catch the National Trail (3-0) at Arcanum (3-0) game. After sitting in Columbus rush hour traffic plus major construction for almost an hour, I started to find another game to go to. I am glad I did not because this game, so far turned out to be the best game I have caught all year. For a division six region twenty four game, which is small school football, the crowd was very good and into the game.

Just thirty seconds into the contest Caleb Brinkley a 6-5, 280 pound monster for National Trail introduced himself to Bryce Schondeimyer holding the talented quarterback, who wears #42 to a two yard gain. The hit was a mean, hard legal hit that the 5-11, 175 pound Schondeimyer took like a true champion. Schondeimyer would find the end zone on a fine twenty yard run, then following the PAT by Joe Beck the Trojans had a 7-0 lead, at the 7:58 mark. The Trojans recovered the onside kick on the ensuing kickoff to keep Uncle Mo. on their side. Myself, not the P.A. announcer was able to see who came out of the pile with the ball. Schondeimyer hit Brennan Troutwine for a thirteen yard score, after the PAT we had a 14-0 score, with 3:51 left in the opening quarter and National Trail had not ran one offensive play up to this point.

The Blazers closed to within 14-6 on a three yard Dallas Smith run. Cory Ross was able to block the PAT to keep the lead at eight. Little did we know how big the Trojans special teams would become by the time this game ended. The coach who works with the Trojans special teams unit deserves a LICKING COUNTY FAN GAME BALL, for the job he did.

Peyton Lane, who up to this point is one of the best two way players I have watched this season was able to pick off a Schondeimyer pass, with 5:34 left in the half. Colton Toms used his foot to make this a 14-9 game by nailing a twenty five yard field goal and that would be all of the scoring in the very entertaining first half.

Lane would send the big Blazer crown into a frenzy with his 70 yard plus kickoff return for a touchdown to open the third quarter. A two point conversion was successful on a Smith to Zach Woodall completion. Woodall is a 6-5, 200 pound receiver to put the Blazers up 17-14. Woodall,who is one of the finer receivers in the entire state. The kid needs the ball in his hands one way or the other 15 times a game, if not more in my opinion. The last big play of the third came when Jayden Helsley sacked Smith for a eight yard loss.

The Blazers, who shot themselves in the foot on numerous occasions with penalties and turnovers would see a long touchdown called back and then on the same drive Smith, who was trying to make something out of nothing coughed the ball up and coming up with it for the Trojans was Cory Ross. I thought Smith had thrown the ball and Ross picked it off, but my vantage point was blocked by the Blazers bench.
Ross, another sensational two way player would pick up fifty yards on a run that showed power, speed and nice field vision to set up the Trojans with a first and goal from the Blazers ten yard line. The Blazers defense would hold tight from there and force a twenty yard field goal from Beck. Beck has a strong football, especially for a small school program. The kick locked this one up at twenty, with 5:31 left. The game remained that way as regulation played came to a close and we, the fans were treated to overtime.

In overtime, each team gets a shot to score from the twenty. The Trojans won the toss and elected to go on defense first as this is the norm, when it comes to overtime. The Blazers would elect to go for a go ahead field goal on fourth and three. The whole play looked a little off time and the kick really never got air born, which made for an easy block by the Trojans special team unit. After getting the ball for their overtime possession, the Trojans would get a first down, on their first play, but the Blazers defense held strong from there and forced Beck to come in to try a game winning twenty five yard field goal for the win. Beck step back looked at the ball and then his holder Tyler Huber before he made like former Ohio State great kicker, Mike Nugent and nailed the game winning kick.

UNOFFICIAL STATS
ARCANUM 63 PLAYS
273 YARDS
PASSING 9-15 1 TD, 1 INT

NATIONAL TRAIL
56 PLAYS
245 YARDS
PASSING 8-15