NEW PARIS – It wasn’t Friday night lights as National Trail hosted Arcanum Saturday morning at 10am due to a delay from high winds by hurricane Helene. A soggy, wet and muddy field with constant drizzle didn’t dampen the play, making the game in the trenches maybe a bit more difficult and in the end big pass plays would be the deciding factor as Arcanum came from behind to win 14-13.
Neither team was able to score in the first quarter in a game that was being played out in the trenches.
Heading into the 2nd quarter Arcanum finally moved into scoring position but faced a fourth down and a yard to go. Senior quarterback Landon Wagner on a keeper followed his o-line across the goal line to give the Trojans the first score and 6-0 lead at 7:32 of the 2nd quarter.
In just a matter of minutes National Trail would match and take over the lead on the impact play of freshman wide receiver Talan Bousman.
National Trail senior quarterback Cooper Smith on their next possession connected with Bousman over the middle he broke a few tackles and outran everyone chasing him to the endzone for a 55-yard score and with the extra point the Blazers took the lead 7-6.
On the ensuing kick-off junior kicker Jacob Farno popped the kick up over the front line angled toward the right side … but just short of the secondary receivers. It hung up long enough to allow Bousman to catch it on the run stealing it away from Arcanum.
The very next play Smith hooked up again with Bousman for 29 yards and he broke a tackle at the one-yard line to score again stealing the momentum away from Arcanum to go up 13-6.
After not scoring for 15 minutes, the two teams scored 19 points in a matter of two minutes.
After making three straight impact plays Bousman wasn’t finished,on Arcanum’s first play on the next possession he intercepted a pass at midfield for a 4th straight impact play.
Arcanum coach Matt Macy knew halftime couldn’t come fast enough to give his team time to regroup … and was thankful they stopped the Blazers from scoring before the end of the half.
“We knew we could have issues with number 10, he’s a heck of player, just a freshman so we’ve got to deal with him for three more years,” Macy stated.
“He had been playing a lot at quarterback coming in and they hadn’t thrown the ball to him very much, then two straight plays they throw a touchdown pass to him,” Macy said.
“We could have played it better, we were playing man, and we weren’t in the best position and that’s on the coaches and we adjusted playing more inside,” Macy commented.
Bousman’s impact was huge especially for a freshman to make 4 straight impact plays and the Trojans would have to keep him in check in the 2nd half.
The Blazers received to start the 3rd quarter and moved the ball inside Trojan territory after a big 35-yard catch from senior tight end Gavin Vance that could have gone for TD if not for a saving tackle by junior linebacker Wyatt Schwartz.
Arcanum then dug deep and was able to hold Trail that helped shift the momentum a bit giving them some confidence.
“We were a little bit down at halftime. I was worried coming out, and when they moved the ball down the field I told our guys somebody’s got to make a play, we have really good leadership and we ended up getting them behind the sticks to get the ball back and that was big,” Macy explained.
Much like the first quarter it was a game played in the trenches neither team scored in the third frame heading into the final period and Arcanum was maybe going to have to take to the air.
“This is the first team that instantly kind of matched up size and strength wise, we’re used to moving guys off the line, but everything was a stalemate, so nothing inside was working. We were able to get on the edges a couple times and it really loosened them up,” I’ve got to be a smarter coach and get #4 (Lucas Miller ) the ball more, ”Macy offered up.
It turned out be the answer as sophomore QB Bishop Cartwright threw one down the line of scrimmage to the sideline hitting Miller in stride and he broke a tackle then it was a footrace up the sideline, Miller won that sprint with four trail defenders in tow for 56-yard catch and score.
“We motioned our big tight end, Truman Knaus, and they were blitzing so we threw it right where the guy blitzed. Miller is a special player and after five yards, I knew there was zero chance anybody was going to catch him, because Bousman wasn’t in the game,” smiled Macy.
Arcanum still trailed 13-12 and had a decision to make, to go for the tie with an extra point or go for the lead with a two-point conversion.
On the road Macy opted to go for the lead with Cartwright rolling to the right and tight end Truman Knaus releasing right and to the back of the endzone and he would haul in the catch for the two-points giving Arcanum the lead 14-13 at 7:38 in the 4th quarter.
National Trail wasn’t able to move the football on their next possession and Arcanum went into game and clock control keeping the ball on the ground eating clock and winning the battle in the trenches late to salt the game in a comeback win between two 3-1 WOAC teams.
National Trail falls to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the league while Arcanum improves to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
It’s been a few years since the Arcanum football team has started 4-2 and 4-1 in the league and the first time since Macy has been at the helm.
“I’m really happy for this team and it helps set us up for next week, referring to their game at home with Tri-Village. That’s the game that can make or break a program and tell us if we’re turning the corner. We’d like to sort of give it back to them like they have too us for a couple of years now,” Macy concluded.
