Gritty, physical, tough, and a rivalry game. That's what was displayed on Friday night at Clint John Field when the Arapahoe Warriors came to town to battle the Cambridge Trojans. It was one of the best games across the state as Cambridge was able to get the narrow victory 26-24. It was one of those games that showed the beauty of high school football in our state.
From the get-go pads were popping and it felt like each tackle, block, and play was personal.
It took some time to get points on the board but the Trojans were able to strike first as Kohan Grindle scored on a 10-yard run to make it 6-0. The game became a defensive struggle, which many find boring, but I promise you, this was exciting. The teams exchanged blows on the defensive side of the ball, until the the 4:27 mark in the second quarter as Trenton Roskop scored from 43 yards out to knot things up at 6-6.
Again the defenses shined and we went to the half tied at 6-6.
In the second half the intensity seemed to ramp up even more.
Arapahoe scored early in the half as they made quick work with a short field with Roskop scoring again, this time from one-yard out and the Warriors went up 12-6. Cambridge was able to answer on a six play drive in which Carson Trompke found Ben Hoberty on a 28-yard pass. The Trojans were able to get the two-point conversion to make it 14-12 with 7:11 to go in the third.
Arapahoe came right back and it was Roskop again scoring from five yards out to give the Warriors the lead again with the scoreboard reading 18-14 with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Cambridge though, responded, just a few seconds later.
Grindle took the kickoff 77 yards as the middle return was executed perfectly by the Trojans and the seesaw effect was in full swing as Cambridge reclaimed the lead at 20-18.
That was the score going into the final period.
In the final stanza, Cambridge scored at the 10:05 mark on a 23-yard pass from Trompke to Grindle. The Warrior defense though, made a big stop on the two-point conversion as Tye Stanton was stuffed by the Warrior defense to keep it at a one score game, 26-18.
Arapahoe though, had a nice, methodical drive that took over four minutes as Roskop scored once again from 11 yards out. The Warriors though, couldn't convert the two-point conversion and they trailed 26-24 with 5:50 to go in the fourth quarter. Cambridge had the chance to run some time off the clock but a fumble a few plays into the drive gave the Warriors life with 4:45 to go in the quarter.
The Warriors though, ended up turning it over on downs as their fourth down play was thwarted by a sack from Trojan Adam Corbett. Cambridge took the ball with 3:21 remaining in the game.
Arapahoe found themselves in a favorable position as it was fourth down and six yards to go for the Trojans with about two minutes to go. As Trompke took the snap for Cambridge, the Warriors created incredible pressure and Trompke was forced to roll out to the left, and had to throw up a bit of a prayer, and Grindle came up with it to convert the first down. From their the Trojans kneed it a few times and ended the game.
"This was just an incredible football game. Just back and forth, two heavy weights trading blows. Our guys just kept fighting and kept fighting. I'm so proud of them." Said head coach of the Trojans Catlin Rice.
Cambridge was led by Carson Trompke as he was 13-18 passing with 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Arapahoe had an incredible game out of Trenton Roskop as he ran it 25 times for 116 yards and four touchdowns.
Cambridge moves to 3-2 and will face Alma next week.
Arapahoe falls to 3-2 and will play Hi-Line next week.
