Southeastern shows poise in victory

Southeastern’s Tyler Cooper (left) and Waynesfield-Goshen’s Christian Lament go up for a Trojans pass during Saturday’s Nov. 7 playoff game. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 4:36 PM Sunday, November 8, 2009

WAYNESFIELD — Maybe the best thing you can say about Southeastern’s performance Saturday, Nov. 7, is that it played as if it had been here before.

Of course, the opposite was true. The Trojans hadn’t made the playoffs since 2002 and hadn’t won a playoff game since 2001, and even if some of them had watched their brothers play those years, this was a new experience for them.

That mattered little, however, as they showed plenty of poise in beating host Waynesfield-Goshen 34-16 in the first round of the Division VI, Region 24 playoffs.

“These kids, I knew right from the get-go this week in practice that they were ready to play football,” Southeastern coach Greg Bonifay said. “They’re playing the best football they’ve played all year. We’ve had the best practices we’ve had all year. I look for good things to come.”

Southeastern senior quarterback Reed Florence threw four touchdown passes: two to Preston Snodgrass, one to Bo Timmons and one to Austin Mercer.

Timmons scored the other TD on a 1-yard run.

“I didn’t feel any nerves,” Florence said. “I don’t know about the younger players, but I was ready.”

The victory sends the No. 6 seed Trojans (9-2) to the regional semifinals against No. 7 seed Fort Loramie (9-2), which beat No. 2 seed Lockland 14-0.

“I hope we can go all the way,” Florence said. “If we keep proving that we can keep stopping the run, if the defense keeps playing well, I think our offense can keep the pace up, and we can score.”

Southeastern took control of Saturday’s game in the final minute of the first half.

The third-seeded Tigers (9-2) had second-and-10 at the Southeastern 11-yard line when Caleb Errett picked off a pass near the goal line. He returned it to the Goshen 41. Seconds later, Florence threw a 41-yard TD pass to Snodgrass. With the two-point conversion, Southeastern led 21-10 at the half.

“Our defense always seems to find a way to make a play,” Bonifay said. “They bend. They don’t break. They played well tonight. We put them in a situation where we had to stop the run. Their coach just said (after the game), ‘You guys made us do something we don’t like to do, and that’s pass the ball.’ So it feels good to accomplish that.”

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sorry "don abbot" im a girl lol not a "he" LOL haha

SEalum
4:27 PM, 11/13/2009

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when he says the entire community is behind them he MEANS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY! and an Alaskan Trojan! These kids have HEART! DO YOU?

Don Abbott
12:17 AM, 11/12/2009

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sounds like somebody is jealous...Southeastern has been playing their hearts out and working harder than ever to bring back our program. They beat Waynesfield Goshen because they worked hard at it! Someone needs to step back and remember that these young men are achieving something great and have an entire community behind them!

SEalum
4:01 PM, 11/11/2009

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Wow! Waynesfield-Goshen must really be horrible.

Bundy
1:12 PM, 11/9/2009

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congrats Trojans:] good luck against FT. Loramie. Get it:]

Jenie Hume:]
9:21 AM, 11/9/2009

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