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Trojans avenge 28-0 loss in barnburner with Warriors
CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Go ahead and call it one of the season’s best football games considering how Cambridge and Arapahoe battled Frday evening.
The Trojans triumphed, 26-24, thanks to junior Kohan Grindle scoring touchdowns on a run, pass reception and kickoff return.
“Just a superior athlete,” coach Catlin Rice proclaimed as Grindle also caught a final fourth-down pass from the nearest defender’s grasp that clinched this amazing win.
Quarterback Carson Trompke completed this throw even while being flung to that home turf.
The Trojans had just enough other heroics to avenge last year’s 28-0 defeat at Arapahoe.
“They stuck it to us last year, no doubt about that,” Rice said. “They had a heckuva plan and a very good team that went on to go 9-1.”
“But now our guys have bragging rights for 365 days,” he added. “I am just so proud of them.”
The rivals traded punches from opening kickoff where defenses amazingly forced five consecutive punts.
Arapahoe (3-2 record) took lead at 18-14 before Trojan junior Kohan Grindle took that kickoff 77 yards to another thrilling score.
The Warriors (3-2) always seemed to have an answer as quarterback Trenton Roskop for all four touchdowns from 43, one, five and 11 yards.
“We thought he was the one we could live with making plays out of their three backs,” Rice acknowleged.
Grindle ran 10 yards for the game’s opening TD, then caught a perfect 23-yard fade pass following his six-point kickoff return.
Grindle’s catch just beyond a defender’s grasp made it 26-18.
Ben Hobarty also caught a 23-yard scoring strike from Trompke.
Arapahoe always seemed to have an answer and the Warriors would later force a huge Trojans fumble.
Yet Cambridge stepped up to make some great stops including senior Adam Corbett’s threat-ending quarterback sack.
It was the first big step in what will likely be one tight district title chase.
“Our guys just kept fighting and playing,” Rice concluded. “Now we have to do against Alma this week.”