Trojans clinch playoff spot, look towards Indians in season's final week

A 28-3 Park Hill victory over Oak Park last week clinched the Suburban Big Six Conference championship and a playoff spot for the Trojans, putting them in position to win their ninth district title in the last ten years. The Trojans, now 8-1, will play for a district title and important first-round bye this week, but based on other district results will have a huge role in deciding who will be the second team to advance to the state playoffs.

“When you get down to this point, there are a lot of factors you don’t have control over,” Coach Greg Reynolds said looking forward. “Sometimes it comes down to breaks going your way and different matchups you get.”

The St. Joe Central Indians will meet the Trojans this Friday. The Indians come in with a 3-6 record, 1-1 in district play. Coming off a 6-3 victory last week against Park Hill South, Central will look to a successful defense of late. With their starting running back lost for the season due to a broken leg, Malkaam Muhammad and quarterback Ryan Wallace will lead the offense.

Last week, Corey Sterling hit Nick Hughes for a 43-yard pass setting up a two yard touchdown run from Sean Gorman for the game’s first score early in the first quarter. An Oak Park field goal resulting from a Nick Elmore interception in the second quarter would be the only score of the game for the Northmen. Park Hill’s Adrian Esaw caught a 10-yard touchdown reception capping off a 62-yard drive to close the first half with the Trojans up 14-3.

“We’ve gone real far, with help from the starters and getting better in practice,” Esaw said of his increased role on both sides of the ball.

“This was a good defense and some of their schemes were a problem,” Reynolds said of Oak Park’s defense. Park Hill extended the lead to 21-3 in the third quarter when Gorman scored a two-yard touchdown. A content Trojan defense kept the Northmen from creating much offensively. Interceptions byDe’Aris Flint, Adrian Esaw, and Bryan Dale ended three Northmen drives.

“It feels pretty good,” Dale said of a lineman getting an interception. “When I got the ball, it was right there and I just kept going with it.”

Dale has seen a change in his role as he has moved from the outside of the line to the inside.

“His job is to tie people up and pass rush,” Reynolds said. “He’s going to be a guy that doesn’t get the stats he has in the past, but for them running away from him most of the night, he did a pretty good job.”

Trace Norfleet added a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the game’s final score.

As the season goes into the final stretch, it was evident last Friday that the vocal Park Hill coaching staff wouldn’t accept some of the miscues that had taken place earlier in the season.

“We’ve had a little too much of that tonight, but we’re going to get it fixed,” Reynolds said.