Tosa West Trojans Deliver Big Win Over New Berlin Eisenhower 31-7

The Trojans played in front of a large crowd on Friday night, Sept 19. It was Parent’s night and Junior Trojan night. The half-time show featured the Tosa West marching band and a colorful dance squad. And the football team did their part to satisfy their fans with a convincing victory over the New Berlin Eisenhower Lions.

After a slow start by both teams, the Trojans got their first defensive break of the game when senior Christian Morzinski put a big hit on a Lion running back to force a fumble – recovered by Tosa West.

On offense, the Trojans are accustomed to opponents attempts to stop their marque back Demaris Purifoy. Wisely, the Trojans started the game by distributing the ball to sophomore Paris Howell and junior Truman Tyson – and they both stretched the edges of the field and made smart cuts into the Lions defensive backfield. On the night – Trojan runners not named Purifoy carried the ball 22 times for 160 yards. Demaris still had a dominant performance, slicing through the interior of the Lion defense for 216 yards on 20 carries. KUDOs to the Trojan line and outstanding play of guards Morzinski and junior Norberto Pliego, sophomore center Cameron Rosario, senior tackles Isaiah Randolph and Olu Smith.

With about 5 minutes left in the first quarter the Trojans scored on a Purifoy run of 15 yards and the score was 7-0. The Lions next offensive series ended when they fumbled again, this time Trojan senior Matt Lundell pounced on the loose ball. The Lion defense was strong and Zach Veit was called upon to punt, with the long snap perfectly delivered by sophomore Logan Scharf.

Quarter 2 started with New Berlin controlling the ball with a steady running game. But the Trojans made a great defensive stand when Lundell and fellow senior Orin Eckes teamed up to sandwich the Lion back for no gain, followed by a QB sack by senior Andrea D’Acquisto and junior CJ Fields. On 3rd down senior Christian Cagle’s bull rush pressured the Lion QB who threw incomplete, leading to a punt.

The next Tosa West offensive series started with spinning runs by Purifoy and Tyson, followed by a completed pass by sophomore Rayvon Bartlett Jr to junior Jake Hronek near midfield. Then things went bad when the Trojans lost a fumble, a Lion defender scooped up the ball and a sprint was on, with Purifoy in pursuit. Near the 10 yard line Demaris stealth-hit the ball carrier from behind and jarred the ball loose, only to be picked up by a Lion who ran it in for a score, and we were tied 7 – 7.

In the second quarter, Trojan QB Bartlett Jr found some rhythm with his receivers and completed short, confidence-building passes. On the night, Ravon was 7-14 for 88 yards and one interception. Top Tosa West receivers with two catches each were Seniors Zach Veit and Arrion Dixon.

The half ended with more stifling defense by the Trojans and two scores that put the home team up for good. Purifoy scored on a twisting and churning run of 55 yards, and Zach Veit kicked a 38 yard field goal – which may have made it to the Tosa West record books. The score at half time was 17-7.

In the second half Tosa West kept control of the game with continued great defense and a solid offensive mix. On defense, team tackling by Lundell, Cagle, Hronek, Morzinski, Devin Tucker and Veit continued to shine. The only offensive score the Lions would muster all night was a 30 yard field goal.

As noted above, the Trojan running game did very well behind outstanding line blocking. Early in the 4th quarter, sophomore Howell scored from inside the five yard line after alternating carries with Tyson, and the score was 24-10.

On their next defensive series, Tyson made an outstanding interception of a New Berlin pass, but the Trojans stopped themselves with penalties and gave the ball back to the Lions. The Trojan defense stopped the Lions again, followed by an impressive series of runs by Purifoy. Next, Truman Tyson powered the ball into the end zone with 5 minutes left. After Zach Veit’s kick, the final score was 31-10.

This week the Trojans will need to continue strong, all-around play as they travel to take on the undefeated Greendale Panthers. The last time the Trojans visited Greendale they turned in a classic performance, earning an overtime victory. Highlights can still be found at http://greendalefootball.com/12archive.htm