Maroa-Forsyth put together an explosive performance on both sides of the football Friday night, building a commanding first-half advantage before defeating the Athens Warriors, 55-6, on the road in Sangamo Conference action.
The Trojans scored through the air and on the ground while their defense repeatedly turned Athens away in key situations. The victory moved Maroa-Forsyth to 2-0 on the season.
Maroa-Forsyth wasted little time establishing its offense. Quarterback Aiden Williams connected with Dawson Stukins for a 35-yard completion early in the opening quarter, helping set the tone for what would become a big night through the air.
Zander Kuhlman finished the opening drive with a 12-yard touchdown run at the 10:55 mark, and the extra point gave the Trojans an early 7-0 advantage.
Athens received an opportunity to answer after a pair of Maroa-Forsyth penalties helped the Warriors advance deep into Trojan territory. The Maroa-Forsyth defense responded, however, highlighted by a third-down sack involving Gunnar Larner and Graham Blackwell. Athens ultimately came away without points.
The Trojans quickly made the defensive stand count.
Williams found Declan Shannon for one of the game’s biggest highlights, connecting with the senior tight end for a 47-yard touchdown with 4:09 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point stretched the advantage to 14-0.
Athens continued battling and drove into Maroa-Forsyth territory later in the quarter, but the Trojans forced a turnover on downs with five seconds remaining.
Maroa-Forsyth’s passing attack took over in the second quarter.
Williams connected with Grady Rose for a 40-yard touchdown just 32 seconds into the period, pushing the lead to 21-0. After the defense produced another turnover on downs, the Trojans went back to work.
Larner broke through traffic for an 18-yard run before Williams used his legs to finish the possession, scrambling 10 yards for a touchdown. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Maroa-Forsyth ahead 27-0 with 2:31 remaining before halftime.
The Trojans weren’t finished.
After a pass interference penalty helped Maroa-Forsyth move to the Athens 20-yard line, Caebrin Lee stayed with a deflected pass and hauled it in for another touchdown with 47 seconds remaining. The extra point sent Maroa-Forsyth into halftime with a commanding 34-0 advantage.
While the offense generated plenty of highlights, Maroa-Forsyth’s defense continued to make an impact after the break. Athens put together one of its strongest drives of the night and reached the red zone in the third quarter, but the Trojans once again held their ground and forced a turnover on downs.
Moments later, Williams and Shannon struck again.
The duo connected for a 45-yard touchdown with 3:29 left in the third, giving Shannon his second long touchdown reception of the night and extending the lead to 41-0.
Athens continued competing despite the deficit and was finally rewarded in the fourth quarter. The Warriors broke through on a five-yard touchdown run with 8:54 remaining. The extra point was unsuccessful, making it 41-6.
Maroa-Forsyth answered with its reserves getting opportunities late in the game. Backup quarterback Peyton Brilley connected with Carter Berg for a 46-yard touchdown at the 6:31 mark, extending the advantage to 48-6.
Braeden Lee provided the finishing touch with 1:32 remaining, breaking free for a 23-yard rushing touchdown. The ensuing extra point produced the 55-6 final.
Williams was at the center of Maroa-Forsyth’s offensive success, completing 14 of 20 passes for 285 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding another touchdown on the ground. Shannon emerged as one of his biggest downfield targets, hauling in touchdown receptions of 47 and 45 yards.
The Trojans also received contributions throughout the roster, with Kuhlman and Braeden Lee scoring on the ground and Rose, Caebrin Lee, Shannon and Berg finding the end zone through the air.
Perhaps just as important was Maroa-Forsyth’s work defensively. Athens moved into Trojan territory on several occasions, including reaching the red zone in the third quarter, but Maroa-Forsyth repeatedly came up with stops to prevent those possessions from turning into points.
The result continued a strong start to the season for a Maroa-Forsyth program coming off consecutive appearances in the state championship game. With the road victory, the Trojans improved to 2-0 and will travel to Pleasant Plains in Week 3, while Athens will head to Pittsfield.
Final: Maroa-Forsyth 55, Athens 6