Round 1 Playoffs DVII , R27 #5 (8-2) Trimble @ #4 (8-2) Lucas

[Shake”N”Bake]

Who cares how long the trip is, if the Trimble vs Nelsonville Trimble or the Trimble vs Waterford Trimble shows up Lucas will name the score!

Actually... Trimble played very good against NY. One of NY hardest games.

If the game were played today .. I believe NY would put a running clock on the Tomcats.

Who cares. It was 11 weeks ago. New season starts tonight for the tomcats and buckeyes. But if were going that route starting next year the buckeys are going to have 4 straight loses by the tomcats

[dnis30]

Tomcats season ends tonight...Lucas 38, Trimble 20. Grover runs for 150+ yards and 3 TDs. Hoping for an injury free game for both teams.

[tomcat82]

Tomcats season ends tonight...Lucas 38, Trimble 20. Grover runs for 150+ yards and 3 TDs. Hoping for an injury free game for both teams.

POSITIVE NOTES ON HERE ABOUT TRIMBLE. KEEP YOUR NEGATIVITY ELSEWHERE..................

TRIMBLE WILL GIVE IT ALL THEY GOT...... TOMCAT PRIDE. IF IT ENDS IT ENDS... LIFE GOES ON AND HOWIE WILL BE THERE TO START BASKETBALL PRACTICE.............

[como]

Trimble, I think will be too much for Lucas's Defense. Their Defense is too young, and inexperienced. This will be a rather higher scoring game for these types of offenses, but ultimately the Tomcats come out on top. Stopping Lucas's run game is not that difficult, when all you have to do is load all 11 players in the box. This is the upset of this region... Tomcats 34 Cubs 27

[ArmChairQB]

Actually... Trimble played very good against NY. One of NY hardest games.

If the game were played today .. I believe NY would put a running clock on the Tomcats.

Who cares. It was 11 weeks ago. New season starts tonight for the tomcats and buckeyes. But if were going that route starting next year the buckeys are going to have 4 straight loses by the tomcats

Dream on buddy!

[Shake”N”Bake]

If the game were played today .. I believe NY would put a running clock on the Tomcats.

Who cares. It was 11 weeks ago. New season starts tonight for the tomcats and buckeyes. But if were going that route starting next year the buckeys are going to have 4 straight loses by the tomcats

Dream on buddy!

Not a dream. Its reality. Back to this game good luck tonight lets get a win

[dnis30]

Trimble, I think will be too much for Lucas's Defense. Their Defense is too young, and inexperienced. This will be a rather higher scoring game for these types of offenses, but ultimately the Tomcats come out on top. Stopping Lucas's run game is not that difficult, when all you have to do is load all 11 players in the box. This is the upset of this region... Tomcats 34 Cubs 27

Lucas will mix up the play calling tonight. They will throw 10-12 times and hit for a couple of TDs. Trimble's last 3 games look good defensively because they have played nobodies. The Lucas defense, granted, is young. However, they do not give up much on the ground. Only player's who got big yardage against Lucas rushing were Meechie Johnson (Northmor) and Lukas Isaly (River). Two All-Ohioans.

[ttomcat 80]

cats roll

[ttomcat 80]

ArmChairQB you need to take a hike

[Binary]

ArmChairQB you need to take a hike

Yes, looks like Bucky has another name he's using.

[ttomcat 80]

Like a Pimple hard to get rid of

[Binary]

Like a Pimple hard to get rid of

[Raider6309]

GLOUSTER — The Trimble Tomcats have done a remarkable job over the last 17 years of elevating their program from a strong league contender in the Tri-Valley Conference to one of the most remarkable names in their region.

The Tomcats have won playoff games. They’ve won regionals. They’ve come within one game of a state championship.

But, the one thing Trimble hasn’t done over that same span is win a first-round playoff game on the road. The Tomcats (8-2) get a chance to rectify that on Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. start at Lucas (8-2) in the first round of the 2017 Division VII, Region 27 playoffs.


The Tomcats, who took an injury-ravaged early season and crafted it into another playoff appearance, won’t be sweating that detail, however, said head coach Phil Faires. Trimble’s roster is long on sophomores and juniors, and short on seniors — it’s not the preferred makeup for the postseason.

“It wasn’t that long ago that we were just hoping to win a playoff game,” Faires said. “We’re not feeling the pressure to keep that streak intact.”

Faires was referring to Trimble’s first-round win streak. The Tomcats have reached the OHSAA’s postseason every year since 2010. In addition, Trimble has won at least one playoff game every season since 2012 — a five-year run.

Trimble has an all-time record of 12-13 in the playoffs, and all 12 of those wins have come since 2001. The Tomcats are 7-6, all-time, in the first round of the playoffs.

Since the field expanded to eight teams in 1999, and higher seeds starting hosting games in the first round, Trimble is 7-3 in the first round. All seven of those wins have come at Glouster Memorial Stadium, and all three of the losses in true road games.

Trimble’s first-ever playoff win came in a home game, a 23-6 victory over league rival Eastern, in 2001. The Tomcats beat Caldwell, 26-7, in another home game in the first round in 2008. And beginning in 2012, the Tomcats have posted five straight home first-round wins against Colonel Crawford (41-6), Beallsville (61-0), Symmes Valley (55-8), Shadyside (17-14) and last year against Southern (21-6).

The first round losses have all been on the road. Trimble lost 33-14 at Fisher Catholic in 2003. In 2010, the Tomcats were topped 36-20 at Shadyside, and then lost a 28-19 game at Symmes Valley in 2011.

So, the Tomcats can make history on Friday night. If they do, it’ll come against a team Faires has never faced before. Lucas, from Richland County, is located a few minutes southeast of Mansfield in north central Ohio. Trimble can expect nearly three hours of travel on Friday, and will leave school early to accommodate the long trip.

Faires said there is a positive, however.

“I like these games,” he said. “You’re playing someone different, someone you don’t see very much of, or have played before.

“Those can be sort of fun, sort of neat.”

Lucas has been having fun building its own resume in recent years. The Cubs’ playoff record in just 3-5, but they’ve been in the postseason every year since 2014 and played for a regional championship in 2015.

Lucas returned six starters on both side of the ball this season for ninth-year head coach Scott Spitler. In a two-team league — Crestline is the other member of the Mid-Buckeye Conference — Lucas had a strong independent-like schedule.

Lucas faced three teams with winning records during the season, and all three made the playoffs. The Cubs opened the season with a 40-37 win over East Canton (8-2), and dropped a 26-7 loss to Northmor (8-2) in week 3. Lucas also lost in week 9 to fellow Region 27 opponent River (6-4) by a 30-27 count.

The Cubs racked up 39.3 points a game during the season with a wing-T offense powered by two experienced backs. Junior Jeb Grover was the team’s leading rusher this year and piled up nearly 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016. Senior Jackson Hauger also returns to the backfield after posting nearly 1,300 yards and 12 scores in 2016.

With nine seniors, two explosive ball-carries, and an offense that can chew up yards and time off the clock, Faires said he has a good idea of what to expect. Wahama and South Gallia both had similar offenses in the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division this season.

“They have two really good runners and a big offensive line that blocks well,” Faires said. “They’re going to hand it off, pull a bunch of people and try to outnumber you at the spot.

“You know where the ball is going, but you still have to try to stop it,” he continued. “If you stand up and look for the ball, you’re just going to get in the way. You have to go and plug holes.”

Trimble has played well defensively down the stretch. The Tomcats have allowed just 10.5 points a game this season, and finished the regular season with three straight shutouts.

With linebackers Sam Ives and Sawyer Koons hunting down ballcarriers, and ends Ian Joyce and Brandon Humphrey providing impact plays — they’ve combined for 44 tackles for loss — the Tomcats have given up less than 65 yards per game over the last three weeks. On the ground, Trimble’s last three opponents lost 21 yards on a combined 87 carries.

Lucas will be better than any of the last three teams Trimble faced, however, which means the Tomcats will need some offense. Sophomore quarterback Cameron Kittle (837 yards passing, 500 rushing, 17 combined touchdowns) has become more effective during the course of the season. Junior Max Hooper (1,100 yards rushing and receiving, 14 touchdowns) and sophomore Conner Wright (682 yards rushing, 9 touchdowns) have provided most of the offense in their first seasons as primary running backs.

But the point remains. Trimble will be trying to win on the road with players who, to a large degree, are making their first playoff appearance. Lucas will be playing with a more seasoned group used to postseason play.

“It will play a part in it,” Faires said. “But even in that, it’s going to be a game that will help us down the line.”

Ideally, Trimble’s defense plays well and forces Lucas to go a Plan ‘B’. Second and long, and third and long, are what the Tomcats will be trying to force all night. And if the Tomcats get stopped early, they’ll keep trying versions of their multiple offense until something clicks.

“We have to try to get them in passing situations,” Faires said. “If we do that, we’ve made them do something they didn’t want to do. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it will give us a chance.”

The entirety of the Division VII, Region 27 bracket is as follows:

No. 1 Danville (9-1) vs. No. 8 Bishop Rosecrans (8-2)

No. 2 Waterford (9-1) vs. No. 7 Sciotoville East (8-2)

No. 3 Harvest Prep (9-1) vs. No. 6 Hannibal River (6-4)

No. 4 Lucas (8-2) vs. No. 5 Trimble (8-2)

The Lucas-Trimble winner will face either Danville or Rosecrans in the second round. Both Trimble and Waterford would need to win two games in order to set up a rematch in the regional final game.

Either Danville or Harvest Prep are considered heavy favorites to win the region. Danville was No. 3 in the last AP state poll.

[Steely Dan]

Good luck to the Tomcats. I think you leave Lucas the victors. Show them how tough you Gtown rutters are and punch them in the mouth early.

[Mister Bee]

Tomcats

[Shake”N”Bake]

Friday's game can be heard on 105.5FM or wxtq.com

Also ... ONE MORE post game show this Friday night on Power 105.5

This is great. 105 is unable to stream right now

[noreply66]

7/7

[Shake”N”Bake]

14-7 Trimble

[noreply66]

Go cats

[ohwkGREATNESSyrio]

Get em trimble!