FRANKLIN -- The Sacred Heart Trojans pounded out 380 yards on the ground and controlled the entire game, as they blew past Hanson Memorial 27-7 here Friday night.
With the win, Sacred Heart improves to 6-3 on the season and picked up 10 more vital power points toward their goal of hosting a first round playoff game. The Trojans will host Westminster this Friday night.
Coming into the game, Sacred Heart found themselves at No. 11 in the latest power point ranking. The Trojans must be in the top eight in order to host a game in the first round of the post-season.
After the game, Sacred Heart head coach Josh Harper talked about just how big this win was to his team.
“Our focus down the stretch has to be on ourselves and finishing out the season strong,” stated Harper. “We knew we had to have this win in order to stay within reach of that eighth spot in the power ranking. We were just more physical than they were, especially early on in the game. We kind of got a little sloppy in the second half with our technique. We are going to have to clean some things up and prepare ourselves for the playoffs”
Sacred Heart showed that they were in control of the game, despite not scoring on their opening possession of the game. After forcing the Tigers to punt the ball on the very first drive of the game, the Trojans took over at their 42-yard line.
Sacred Heart moved the ball on the ground very efficiently, but stalled at the Hanson 36-yard line. A 22 yard punt put the Tigers deep into their territory, as Hanson had to start the next drive at their 14-yard line.
A three and out series forced the Tigers to punt the ball back to the Trojans. Sacred Heart regained possession on their 39-yard line and was quickly able to put up the first points of the night.
On the very first play from scrimmage, Wesley Launey found some space on the right side of the offensive line, cut back against the grain and sprinted 61 yards for the touchdown. Launey added the extra point and with 2:42 to go in the first quarter, the Trojans led 7-0.
The Sacred Heart defense got into the act on Hanson’s follow up possession. Taking the ball at their 28-yard line after the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers drove down to the Trojan three-yard line where they faced a second and goal situation.
Trying to hit the quick slant, Hanson quarterback Stephen Rosamond was a tad late on the his release, which allowed Sacred Heart’s Jalen Deville to step in front of the ball and pick it off in the end zone, thus giving the Trojans the ball at their 20-yard line on the touchback.
Sacred Heart’s next drive did not go smoothly at the very start, as the Trojans committed two penalties that set them back to their 18-yard line. On third down, Alec Gotro broke free for a 17 yard gain and a first down, giving Sacred Heart new life.
Two plays later, Gotro got loose once again and dashed his way to a 59 yard touchdown run to put the Trojans up by two scores. Launey tacked on the extra point giving Sacred Heart a 14 point lead with 8:19 to go in the second quarter.
The Trojans were not done putting up points in the first half. Holding Hanson to an initial first down on their next drive, the Sacred Heart defense shut down the Tigers, forcing another punt.
With the ball now in the hands of the Trojan offense and a little over four minutes to go before half, Sacred Heart methodically began marching down the field. Seven running plays later, the Trojans had gobbled up 48 yards and found themselves at the Tiger six-yard line.
Two snaps later, running back Nick Perry slashed his way untouched into the end zone for the third Sacred Heart score of the night. The extra point was blocked, but with 30 seconds to go before intermission, the Trojans led 20-0.
Sacred Heart got the ball to open the second half, but three 15 yard penalties on the Trojans pushed them back to the Hanson 41-yard line, where they had to punt the ball away. The two teams traded possessions throughout the third quarter and into the fourth quarter of play.
Sacred Heart got the ball back early in the final quarter and once again found their rhythm on the offensive side of the ball. Starting at their 32-yard line, the Trojan run game took over, as the big men up front opened up gaping holes in the Hanson defense.
In just eight plays, Sacred Heart had driven the ball down to the Tiger three-yard line. On first down, Launey scooted his way to pay dirt over right guard to finish the scoring for the Trojans.
The extra point was good off of the foot of Launey, putting the Trojans up 27-0 with 6:42 left in the game.
Sacred Heart was able to drive the ball one last time, as the Trojans marched from their 50-yard line down to the Hanson four-yard line, following a Tiger punt. But, a fumble on the handoff exchange between Gotro and Alex McElwee allowed Hanson’s Lawson St. Blanc to scope the ball up and race 93 yards untouched for the score.
After the extra point, the scoreboard showed the Trojans up 27-7 with 1:10 to go in the game.
Launey finished the game with 173 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. He was also four of six passing for 34 yards.
Gotro ended the night with 111 yards on six carries and one touchdown.
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TRACEY JAGNEAUX Sports Editor