The Turkey Valley Trojans routed second-year program Waterloo Christian (2-4, 1-3) in their homecoming game in Jackson Junction by a score of 62-26 to remain alive for a postseason berth in 8-Man, District 3.
“This was a nice game for homecoming. We were able to get all the players some playing time. The varsity starters executed very well on offense and on defense we swarmed to the ball and did a good job of covering receivers on pass plays,” said TV head coach Mark Scott.
Turkey Valley (3-3, 3-1) sits in a tie for second place in the district but may have to sneak into the playoffs like it did last year to be able to extend its fall campaign with a postseason contest. With two games to go in the regular season – TV is going to have to win one of them to have a chance at making the playoffs for the fourth-consecutive year.
Last Friday TV ran at will over the Regents – who started their football program just last year. TV racked up 329 yards rushing and saw junior J.D. Kruse return two punts for touchdowns. JD Kruse scored on the game’s first play as he took the opening kickoff the distance, but the standout special teams play was negated by a block in the back.
The very next play Schmidt burst up the middle, cut to the left sideline and was gone for a 60-yard scoring dash. Kruse also caught the lone Trojan pass of the night for a 34-yard, over-the-shoulder grab from junior signal caller Logan Busta. That made the score 24-0, with just over four minutes into the first quarter of play. The Trojans led 46-0 after it was completed.
Kruse took it to the house left sideline for his first punt return for six from 54 yards out with 6:43 to go in the opening stanza. He would strike again as Waterloo Christian lofted the ball high into the air once more on a punt, tempting fate and hoping for a better outcome.
They were wrong as Kruse busted his way through Regents’ special teamers down the left sideline again for a 52-yard score on the powerful, yet speedy punt return.
“I think after the second one they finally figured it out because the next one after that they just punted it right at me,” said Kruse. “They didn’t want me to touch that ball.”
Kruse has hauled in 18 balls for 444 yards – which comes out to 24.7 yards per catch. The Trojans played mainly reserves in the second half and let the 35-point continuous clock roll, as it was engaged in the first quarter after Kaden Schmidt’s eight-yard TD run with 3:23 left before halftime.
Schmidt, just a sophomore, averaged over 20 yards a carry en route to 133 yards on just six carries.
Busta found the end zone on a 46-yard scamper and totaled 80 yards rushing against the Regents.
TV led 62-0 before WC finally got on the board with 40 seconds before halftime on a five-yard run by Toby Nelson.
Alex Hanson, a Trojan sophomore, intercepted a deep pass near the left sideline with 2:45 left in the first half.
Hugo Busta, another one of Scott’s sophomores, fumbled on the next Trojan possession with 2:00 before intermission. That was the only time TV didn’t score in the first half. WC recovered at the Trojan 27-yard-line.
TURKEY VALLEY STATS
Rushing – Caleb Kriener 14-36, Hugo Busta 7-36, Kaden Schmidt 6-133, Logan Busta 4-80, Parker Reicks 3-21, Jayden Rausch 2-21, Levi Kruse 1-2.
Passing – L. Busta 1-1-34.
Receiving – J.D. Kruse 1-34.
Tackles – Jacob Wurzer 4.5, Caden Tiedt 4.5, J.D. Kruse 4, Tyler Forbes 3.5, Hunter Kruse 3, Kriener 3, Rausch 3, Jordan Kriener 2.5, Alex Hanson 2, Schmidt 2, Reicks 1.5, Wyatt Maklenburg 1, Eli Holthaus 1, Traejin Keel 0.5, H. Busta 0.5.
Tackles for loss – Maklenburg 1, H. Kruse 1, Reicks 0.5, Keel 0.5.
Sacks – H. Kruse 0.5, Reicks 0.5.
Interceptions – Hanson.
Kickoff returns – L. Busta 2-6.5, J.D. Kruse 2-6.5, H. Busta 1-5.
Punt returns – J.D. Kruse 2-28.5.
Kickoffs – J. Kriener 7-38.0, J.D Kruse 1-25.
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