Football improves 2-0 winning record

Will Doig, Staff Writer • September 8, 2021

Junior wide receiver no. 2 Jaxson Lavender runs the ball. While Lavender ran the ball, senior wide receiver no. 11 Omari Murdock attempted to tackle senior cornerback no. 4 Colt Silman.

The football team picked up where they left off last game with a 71-7 victory against Sulphur Springs for the first home game of the season.

“Going into the game, we just wanted to put on them early,” senior running back Noah Naidoo said. “We knew going into the game that they weren’t as good as what we see in the playoffs, but it doesn’t matter how good a team is; It’s always our ability to play at one standard and that’s just what we did.”

The offense scored quickly in the opening quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Kyle Parker.

“I think we played well on both sides of the ball,” senior linebacker Philip Joest said. “We just need to continue to keep our intensity up week by week.”

Freshman quarterback Alexander Franklin threw for 211 yards and six touchdowns, while sophomores Matthew Mainord and Payton Pierce ran the ball in the endzone. Mainord had two and Pierce also ran one in on the goal-line.

“The coaches and the kids put in the extra work to make sure they are prepared to play at a high level,” head coach Chris Ross said. “Their focus and maturity showed on game day.”

The defense didn’t allow the Wildcats to touch the end zone in the first half. The unit only allowed one score in the game, which came in the third quarter, while also holding the Wildcats to only 151 total yards for the game.

“We don’t worry about the score, we just come out and play how we play and it takes care of itself,” Joest said. “Going into the game we wanted to contain the outside run and keep down the explosive plays.”

Offensively, junior wide receiver Jaxson Lavender kept the ball seven times with 179 yards receiving. Sophomore wide receiver Parker Livingstone also contributed three touchdown grabs, two of which came in the first quarter.

‘The offense as a whole played extremely well,” Naidoo said. “Putting up 41 points in one quarter is really unheard of, and I really couldn’t be happier for my team and what we did.”

The team will go head to head against the Princeton Panthers on the road for the first district game of the year.

“We just need to focus on ourselves, fix our mistakes, and stay rolling,” Joest said.

About the Contributors

Will Doig, Section Editor

Entering his farewell year, senior Will Doig is excited about becoming a sports editor. Outside of the newsroom, you can find Doig watching any latest sporting event, hanging out with his friends and hitting the gym. Doig also loves volunteering at his church, going to The Porch with friends and eating Chipotle burritos. Doig appreciates some solid coffee, Saturday college football games in the fall and country music. Although the year will be an unprecedented one with college decisions looming, Doig is thrilled for the year ahead while concluding his TRL career with fellow sports editor and Leopard Life classmate, Margo.

Sydney Stout, Photographer

Senior Sydney Stout is excited to return to The Red Ledger this year as a photographer. She worked for four years as a photographer. You can often find Stout on the football field running around with a giant camera around her neck or in the newsroom. She walks with a pep in her step and is always willing to chat. Stout enjoys running, debate, photography, traveling and driving around with friends. She is friendly, kind, and in some ways, in her world, an “icon.” She is an outstanding friend and is excited to see what this year has in store for her.