Troup Defense Dominates Elkhart in 28-7 Homecoming Victory

TROUP -- The Troup defense came ready to play, holding Elkhart to 136 yards of offense in a 28-7 homecoming win on Friday night.

Troup quarterback Weslee Ross was on a mission of his own, running for two scores and throwing for two more to account for 245 yards of Troup's 331 total yards.

The Tigers scored on their first possession as a steady diet of runs, and Ross going 3-of-4 for 35 yards. Ross finished off the 12-play, 67-yard drive with a 13-yard run right up the gut of the Elks defense. Senior kicker Iban Rojo was true with the PAT boot for a 7-0 score.

Later in the opening period, Ross found Tristan Clark and hit him in stride at the Elkhart 15-yard line. Clark made the grab, rambled through two tacklers and rolled in for a 56-yard touchdown.

Leading 14-0, the Tigers aided in the Elkhart score giving up some prime field position after a punt from the Troup end zone.

Taking over at the Troup 25-yard line, the Elks scored in six plays, but had some luck with the score.

Looking at third down from the Tigers' 12-yard line, quarterback Landry Mays shovel-passed to Kyle Thomas. Thomas made the catch but fumbled forward into the end zone, where teammate Jayden Kurtz pounced on the pigskin ball for the TD, and a PAT kick made it 14-7 at intermission.

The Troup defense continued to put on the pressure in the second half, holding the Elks to 45 yards of offense and Josh Williams recovered a fumble for Troup.

The Elks drove deep into Tigerland before the defense stepped up again for Troup.

Elkhart was driving before defensive back Colton Whitsell was all over the errant pigskin at the 11-yard line to hold off a second Elkhart bid for a score.

The Tigers took advantage, sparked by a 31-yard run from Clark, and a 24-yard pass from Ross to Dakota Wallace to set up the next Troup touchdown. Ross optioned off the right side, faked the pitch and  then broke the run to the right corner of the end zone from 27-yards to make the score 21-7.

Troup did lose one fumble in the game, leaving the defense backed up at its own 15-yard line. The Troup defense was up to the test.

After three runs left the Elks 1 yard short, the fourth dow, was short as the Tigers' line of Shane Thomas, Nick Butler, and Clark stood strong.

The final score was the Ross and Clark expedition again, running the same play that scored earlier, as Clark outraced the defense 60 yards for the final touchdown of the game.

Ross ran for 35 yards  and threw for 210, going 11 of 20 passing with two scores and no interceptions. Clark had 43 yards on four carries and two catches for 116 yards and his two scores. Ramiro Martinez ran for 63 yards on 12 carries.