The East Central Trojans Football team advances to Semi State after a regional championship win over Evansville Memorial on Friday night. The Trojan ground game was the difference maker in the rematch of last year’s regional final. The Trojans avenged that loss with a 35-21-win last night on the road.
EC’s defense made a big play in the first quarter with Rhett Smith returning an interception to the one-yard-line. After a penalty Josh Ringer scored on a six-yard rushing touchdown and Nathan McFee added the PAT to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead. Ringer scored again and McFee’s extra point gave EC a 14-0 lead. After shutting down the Memorial offense, Ringer scored his third touchdown of the half, then with under a minute left until the midway point, Cole Burton connected with Eli Aston for a 16-yard touchdown, McFee connected on both extra points and the Trojans went into halftime up 28-0. Neither team got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. East Central facing a fourth down attempted a field goal to begin the final stanza. The kick was blocked by Memorial and returned for an 80-yard touchdown, making the score 28-7 in favor of EC. The Trojans scored on their next drive with Ryan Brotherton taking one to the house from 20 yards out and EC was ahead 35-7 with six minutes remaining in the game. Evansville Memorial scored twice to finish the game one on a 20-yard pass and another on a one-yard rush with just 1:25 to go. The Trojans held on and secured the regional championship with a 35-21 win. East Central finished the game with 269 yards rushing. Ringer finished the game with 142 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Brotherton had 22 carries for 113 yards and a score. Eli Ertel and Kingston Cook each collected a sack for the EC defense.
The Trojans will host Indianapolis Roncalli next Friday in St. Leon. This will be a rematch from October 14 when the Royals escaped St/ Leon with a 21-19 win. Roncalli’s lone lose on the season came at the hands of Elder (Cincinnati) one week prior to their EC matchup.
This is East Central’s 10th Regional Championship.
