Trailblazers Trample 'Cats

by Jim Woods

It has been several years since the Louisburg Wildcat football team was victims of total domination, and ironically it was handed to them by the Gardner Edgerton Trailblazers. Since then, the Trailblazers hired a previously successful coach with several State Championships to his credit, but for three years could not avoid losing to the Wildcats. Friday night the Trailblazers savored revenge and saved their best game this year to bury the Wildcats early and come away with a convincing 49-0 win.

Gardner Edgerton was a preseason pick to win the Frontier League and left no question in anyone's mind who is at the top this year. Louisburg was a preseason pick to finish a competitive second, but was no match for Gardner Edgerton's first half offensive race to a 42-0 lead. Midway through the first quarter, led by sophomore quarterback Bubba Starling and senior running back Justice Berry, the Trailblazers scored 21 points in two and a half minutes. Shortly into the second quarter they tacked on another seven points, to lead 28-0 and indicate a long night remained for Louisburg.

The Wildcats had no answer for the Trailblazers big, fast well disciplined defense and could only manage two first downs in the first half. An early fumble on their own 20 yard line, two Gardner Edgerton pass interceptions and two three and out Louisburg punts were the low lights of the Wildcat's ineffective first half offense.

At the break, there would little to talk about in the Louisburg locker room.

To their credit, the Wildcats played with energy in the second half with the third quarter resulting in neither team managing to score points. Louisburg had spurts of some offensive ability, however two more Wildcat quarterback Kody Cook interceptions and a fourth quarter touchdown run by the Trailblazers second team quarter back, Brandon Farnham, sealed Gardner Edgerton's 49-0 victory.

Unless they stumble, the Class Five A Trailblazers will be this years Frontier League Champion, but their district play will provide more equal competition. For Louisburg, they must regroup for this week's homecoming game which more than likely will define the type of football team they have this season.