Well Trojan fans, it wasn’t the season you’d have seen sketched on any chalk-board in August.
After high hopes and a returning, star-studded backfield, the 2013 football season started well, with two lopsided non-conference wins and a top-ten ranking in the state coaches poll. Then the Trojans vulnerability to injury and a thin bench contributed to a frustrating mid-season slump, as they lost three-out-of-four Woodland West Conference games.
Then they played undefeated Greendale – the eventual Division 3 state championship runner-up. The Trojans played very well but lost to the Panthers, and their record dipped to 3-4. It was a tough homecoming loss. But the way the Trojans played gave hope that they were pulling together and building, especially with the confident work of several talented juniors. Emerging junior leaders included running back Demaris Purifoy, linemen Christian Cagle and Christian Morzinski, safety and kicker Zach Veit, and linebacker Joe Harrington. Sophomores Norberto Pliego and Truman Tyson, and freshman Rayvon Bartelt Jr were also making solid contributions.
Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The next two cross-over games with Woodland East opponents were very lopsided Trojan wins. Tosa West outscored St Francis and Cudahy by a combined score of 102-0. With that, the Trojan’s regular final season record was a solid 5-4.
Then… surprise! The season was extended as Tosa West earned their second consecutive appearance to the state football playoffs.
Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Their level one matchup with undefeated Kimberly on the Papermakers’ home field was one of the toughest matchups in the state – most considered it an epic mismatch. But nobody told the Trojans, and in the first half Tosa West used stiff defensive line and linebacker play to keep the game close. A huge offensive lift came in the second quarter when QB Jared Morzinski found wide-out Develyn Ferguson for a 30 yard scoring pass, and the Trojans cut the Kimberly gap to 14-7. [Sidenote: this was the only TD pass given up by Kimberly in their five-game playoff run].
As reported in this blog – the Trojan wheels came loose before the half ended, and the score ballooned as the game clock ran down. But the Trojan defense played strong in second-half stretches, with Greg Lewis, Joe Harrington, Zach Veit and Devin Tucker making big stops. The final margin of 42-7 was in-line with Kimberly’s domination over several very solid state-wide playoff teams, as they finished their season 14-0, and Division 2 state champs.
For a team with high expectations, the Tosa West season was bittersweet and had many thinking “if only…” and “what if…”. But the Trojans had a solid 2013 campaign. Their talented but thin roster left them with limited options when players went down with injury or just needed a breather.
Several seniors and experienced juniors led by the example of their hard work on the field and in the weight room – and they were rightfully recognized by team and conference coach awards (see next Blog entry). Many other juniors and a few underclassmen stepped up and showed excellent leadership as the season unfolded.
Can we be optimistic that next year will be a good year for the Tosa West varsity football team?
