Gone Too Soon: Tosa West Gridiron Season Ends with 14-13 Loss at Greenfield

It’s difficult to say what was most disappointing point during the final game of the 2014 Tosa West football season. Maybe it was a Trojan screen pass that fought against a strong wind until it drifted to the arms of a Hawk defender. Maybe it was the Trojan’s failure to defend against Greenfield’s QB run – option, a circled “must do” for success. Maybe it was our dependable extra-point kicker who wasn’t called on to kick extra points.

Or maybe it was the stormy weather that blew rain, and then just blew from the north and made the final game of the season that much more frustrating. The Trojans fought hard. But the hurt of this loss will linger.

On Friday night Oct 17 in Greenfield, the Trojans lost to a team that played to its strengths and knew how to defend. The game began with several punt exchanges. Penalties and stout Hawk defense stopped the Trojan offense.

For the most part, the Trojan defense played well. The 1st quarter saw solid solo tackles delivered by seniors Andrea D’Aquisto and Zach Veit, and junior CJ Fields. A swarming QB sack came from seniors D’Acquisto and Blake Braxton, along with sophomores Jacob Cieszynski and Javaree Jackson.

As the 1st quarter ended the Hawks shanked a punt that traveled 10 yards and the Trojans took over on the Greenfield 35. Demaris Purifoy woke up the Trojan’s sleepy offense. He needed only a seam to score on a quick-hitter up the middle, as he broke an arm tackle and went 35 yards to the house. Junior Jake Hronek was in as a replacement kicker for Tosa West, and after he split the uprights, the score was 7 – 0.

The 2nd quarter started with Greenfield stalling on offense and executing the first of several “quick-kicks” where their punter – their QB - started in the shotgun and they stepped back, received a longer snap and punted it with no one back to even attempt a return. Nice coaching move, as this pushed the Trojan offense back inside their own 10-yard line.

Two Trojan runs gained little and on third and long sophomore Trojan QB Rayvon Bartlett Jr. dropped back to attempt a tight-end screen to the left. When the ball sailed over the head of intended receiver Javaree Jackson, a Greenfield defender made a diving interception at the Tosa West 14 yard line. Four run plays later the Hawks scored and it was 7 – 7.

Tosa West seemed to have something going on offense just before the half. Junior running back Truman Tyson ran wide left for 12 yards behind the escort of pulling guard Christian Morzinski who made a nice kick-out block. Next, Bartlett Jr completed a right sideline pass to senior Arrion Dixon for a 14 yard gain. Sadly, for the third time in the half, Trojan penalties stopped the drive and the Trojans punted, with the score 7 – 7 at the half.

As the 3rd quarter started there was a change in the weather. The rain quit but the wind continued howling. Hats off (pun intended) to the Hawks – whose half-time adjustments included defensive blitz packages that disrupted the Trojan offense. They also seemed to cue their QB to run the ball on the run-option, and that paid off big time. The first score of the second half came with 5 min left in the 3rd, when the Hawk QB ran the option for 30 yards and a score to make it 14-7.

But on the next Tosa West possession they were quick to answer. Purifoy got 40 yards up the middle, and the Trojans were in the red-zone at the Hawks 14. A fake handoff to Purifoy and quick sweep to junior Paris Howell resulted in a first down.

With the Hawks stacked to stop Purifoy near the goal line, the handoff went to Tyson who swept wide to the left sideline and hit pay dirt. But in what turned out to be a pivotal error, Tosa West had their extra point attempt blocked, and stayed behind 14-13 as the quarter ended.

When the Hawks got the ball back the Trojan defense had their hands full. After two short runs the Hawks ran another QB keeper, and this time it covered 48 yards to the Trojan 15 yard line.

The Trojans needed to keep the Hawks out of the end zone, as the 4th quarter was now underway. From inside their own 10, senior Matt Lundell plugged the off-tackle hole and dragged down the Hawks running back. On 4th down a crucial team sack led by Braxton, Lundell, and junior James Canady gave the ball back to the Trojan offense at their 8 yard line.

From their own 8, the Tosa West offense appeared to be on the move again. Bartlett Jr completed a pass in the flat to Tyson for a first down. Purifoy drove through tacklers for a first down run, followed by an off-sides penalty that gained a first down. But this time the drive stalled on two passing misfires, and the Trojans punted again.

Tosa West was back on defense, trying to get the ball back with just over 4 minutes left. Greenfield seemed to want to help out, as they had a penalty on one play and a backfield miscue on another. On fourth and two from about mid-field, they looked like they were going for it. Instead, the Hawks executed another “quick-kick” to perfection, pushing the Trojans inside their own 20.

Now Tosa West had 85 yards and 3 minutes on the game clock to extend their season.

As he has done all season and throughout his Tosa West career, senior Demaris Purifoy gave the crowd a thrill. He took the first down handoff and sprinted off the left side with a pounding, Melvin Gordon - type run that covered 25 yards. Overall, Demaris finished with 137 yards on 20 carries. But another run and three passes failed to get a first down. The ball went back to the Hawks and the Trojan season ticked away.

The Trojans ended the 2014 season with a record of 2-4 in the Woodland Conference and 5-4 overall. As written previously, the Tosa West seniors have a strong winning tradition and should be proud of their overall record. But Tosa West’s short string of two state playoff post-season selections came to an end. That was a disappointing surprise to all Tosa West fans. Stay tuned for an end of year wrap up around the time of the Trojans November football banquet.