by Anthony Robinson

Despite out-gaining the Monarchs in passing and rushing yards, the Trojans were unable to beat Denison on Senior Night Friday, Aug. 25. The Trojans had a chance to take the lead after gaining possession with two mintues remaining in the game, but the Monarchs forced Harrison Hoegh’s first interception of the season with less the minute to go. Denison defeated the Trojans 20-14.

The Trojans won the opening toss and chose to receive the opening kick-off. After a short run by senior Gunnar Blum, the Trojans went to the air for a 34-yard pass play from Hoegh to junior Sam Markham, sparking the Trojans’ offense from the word go. The Trojans looked unstoppable on their first drive of the season going 79 yards in five minutes and 38 seconds, scoring the first touchdown of the season on a quarterback sneak by Hoegh.

The Trojans’ first defensive stand forced the Monarchs to go three and out, but the Trojans gave the ball right back to Denison on the punt. After junior Kray Lukehart received the punt, he fumbled the ball giving the Monarchs a first down on the Trojan 30.

Denison would then score on a 20-yard pass play to a wide-open Grant Reitz, tying the game at seven just before the end of the first quarter.

The Trojans were able to get another touchdown on a 28-yard run by sophomore running back Jacob Dvorak in the second. 

Just before the end of the half, the Monarchs answered with a touchdown of their own, but the extra-point was blocked by Derek Stork, giving the Trojans a 14-13 lead into the halftime break.

After the AHS marching band’s first halftime show of the year, the Monarchs got the ball to start the third quarter. The Trojans shut down the Denison offense, but the Trojan offense was unable to put any points on the board after marching down the field on their first

possession of the second half.

On the next drive for the Monarchs, quarterback Derek Hall found a leaping Austin Eller in the endzone. Eller made the catch over Sam Markham, the Trojans cornerback. The Trojans found themselves down 20-14 to end the third quarter.

“Denison came out and made a few personel changes, especially in the third quarter we were behind the chains. They took control of the line of scrimmage in the third quarter and that’s ultimately what won the game for them,” Duff said. 

The Trojans opened up the fourth quarter with an interception by Markham on Denison’s first pass of the quarter, but were not able to get anything going, giving the ball back to the Monarchs.

On their next possession, the Trojans moved the ball to midfield after a 22-yard run by Dvorak, but gave the ball back to Monarchs after an incomplete pass on fourth down.

On the Monarchs’ next possession, the Trojans stopped Denison on fourth down, giving the Trojans the ball with 79 yards to go and two minutes to score a touchdown to tie or take the lead late in the game.

The Trojans moved the ball but were unable to score as the Monarchs intercepted Hoegh inside Monarch territory.

The Monarchs kneed the ball three times to run out the remaining time on the clock, giving the Trojans their first loss of the 2011 campaign.

“I’m more excited about this team just because of how they fought. Now we just have to pick up the details, making sure we do everything perfect from practice and make sure we don’t make the little mistakes that cost us a win tonight,” Duff said after the game.

The Trojans travel to Carroll Friday, Sept. 2 to take on the Kuemper Knights.