09/01/2006

State champ Rockford handles hobbled Trojans

FROM STAFF REPORTS

ROCKFORD — The good news is, Traverse City Central held Rockford to its lowest total since the split.

The bad news is, the Trojans didn't score.

TC Central dropped to 0-2 with a 35-0 loss to the defending Division 1 state champion Rams, who scored all 35 of their points in the first half.

"I love our kids to death and they played their hearts out," Trojans coach Kelly Clark said, "but we just don't have the horses they do."

It didn't help that Central lost three key players in the first half to injuries. Quarterback Sam Martin left with a shoulder injury, tailback Jack Begley re-aggrevated a strained hamstring and safety Lee Spanski suffered a leg injury.

Senior Ian Prokes came in at quarterback for Martin and the Trojans were able to move the ball on offense in the second half, but were prevented from reaching the end zone.

TC Central (0-2) opened the Big North Conference slate with its first home game of the year next Friday against Alpena.

"It's a new season starting up, with league play, so it's a chance to start over from scratch," Clark said. "Hopefully our guys have learned a few things."

Clark said linebacker Gavin Gurnsey and defensive end Jared Wolf led the defense.

Rockford had defeated TC Central by a combined margin of 210-61 in the four previous meetings since 1999.

The Rams lost 19 seniors and seven starters on offense from last year's team.