Tosa West Holds Court in Homecoming Victory, 27-20 over Shorewood-Messmer

Let’s face it, last year’s first try at end-of-season crossover games between the Woodland Conference East and West divisions didn’t work as planned. The games were intended to create more competitive matchups between teams with similar records. But while Tosa West had a record similar to its Woodland East competitors – the Trojans won their two 2013 crossover games by combined scores of 104 – 0. The lesson learned was that the West division was much stronger than the East.

Fast-forward to 2014. Friday night Oct 10 the Tosa West Trojans fought off a valiant comeback by the Shorewood-Messmer Greyhounds and scored late in the game for the victory. The lesson learned this year: don’t underestimate crossover games with the Woodland East.

Tosa West received the opening kickoff. In what would have made the Sports Center Top 10, senior Arrion Dixon returned the kick 74 thrilling yards for the score. Dixon sprinted, changed directions, slowed for his blockers, cutback, waited for blockers again, then outran everyone to the end zone and it was 7-0. (Lesson for Trojan fans: Don’t arrive late for the game!).

On defense the Trojans worked fast to get the ball back. And it was Arrion Dixon again – this time with a pick of a Greyhound pass at the 25, which he returned to the Shorewood-Messmer 12 yard line. But instead of progress, the Trojan offense went backwards due to penalties. The possession ended with a Zach Veit miss of a 34 yard field goal attempt.

Tosa West defense made it difficult for the Greyhounds, as seniors Christian Cagle and Christian Morzinski piled up runners at the line of scrimmage three plays in a row. Cagle had a great stop back on the Greyhound 2 yard line, and they punted as the quarter came to an end.

In the 2nd quarter the Trojans continued their solid defense. After the Trojans offense sputtered, Zach Veit helped set up the defense with a great pooch punt that settled at the Greyhound 2 yard line. Excellent d-line play by Blake Braxton and Javaree Jackson pumped up the defense. And up pops Arrion Dixon again, with his second interception at the Shorewood-Messmer 40. He crisscrossed the field and sprinted down the sideline and was stopped within a yard of paydirt. Demaris Purifoy ran it in and the score was 14-0.

As the half approached, the Greyhounds showed they could move the ball on the ground, even against stout defense. Trojan junior Jake Hronek and senior Andrea D’Acquisto teamed up for one solid stop, and sophomore Jacob Cieszynski made two sure open field tackles. Junior Jimmy Vento was a disruptive presence in the middle of the defense. On the last play of the half, a desperation pass to the goal line resulted in the 3rd interception and 4th major highlight of the half by Arrion Dixon, and the Trojans up 14-0.

Shorewood-Messmer made adjustments at the half. The installed a faster–paced, no-huddle offense that moved the ball with a variety of productive runs. They ended a ball-control possession by scoring on a quick-pass to the flat to pull to 14-7.

The Trojans answered with an impressive run-dominated drive, capped by Truman Tyson’s 12 yard sprint around the left edge. After blocked extra point attempt was blocked, the score was 20-7.

At the start of the 4th quarter the Greyhounds continued to grind their run game and they scored on a one-yard run to pull within 20-14, with 9 minutes left.

With an answer needed on their next series, the Trojan offense was quiet. Give credit to the Greyhounds for being strong on the edges and bottling up the Trojan run and pass game.

After a Tosa West punt, Shorewood-Messmer marched quickly down the field and scored on a five yard QB keeper. The Trojan’s Christian Cagle got a hand on the extra point attempt and knocked it off-course, to the relief of the Tosa West fans. And with just over 5 minutes left in the game, the score was tied 20-20.

With urgency growing, Trojan Homecoming fans were wondering “where is the big offense?” The answer was in the form of a familiar star. But first, sophomore Paris Howell, Purifoy and Tyson took turns with carries and a huge first down. Then conference rushing leader Demaris Purifoy cruised to the right behind a solid block by pulling guard Norberto Pliego. The play was perfect and Purifoy’s breakaway speed took him 46 yards to the house.

Now with the lead 27-20 and 4 minutes left on the game clock, the Trojan defense had to do something they hadn’t done all quarter – stop the Greyhounds and prevent a crossover upset.

After the kickoff, the Trojan defense dug in. Braxton shed his blocker and tackled the Greyhound back for a 3-yard loss. On second down, Dixon made a great would-be interception – his 4th of the night – but his catch was ruled out of bounds and incomplete. Next the Trojans stuffed a QB keeper. On 4th and 3, a team tackle featuring Cieszynski, Hronek, Veit and junior CJ Fields stopped an inside run for no gain and ended the threat.

Congratulations to Arrion Dixon (coach, let’s throw him the ball!), and all the seniors on this Senior Night victory. Now the Trojans prepare for a must-win game to retain eligibility for the state Division 2 playoffs, as they take on the Greenfield Hawks in Greenfield on Friday Oct 17.

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