Trojans pitch shutout against Turlock, 23-0

One thing the rain and wind shouldn't bother too much is a football team's defense. Friday night's downpour with wind gusting up to 20 miles per hour put the screws on Turlock's passing game, and the Oak Ridge defense took care of the rest, as the Trojans blanked Turlock, 23-0, in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I semifinal game. Oak Ridge got off to a good start, scoring on the opening drive of the game, as Jasen Womack finished off the game's opening drive with a two-yard run, putting the Trojans up 7-0. In the second quarter, the Trojans got on the board with a safety, when a Turlock snap from center went through the quarterback's hands and eventually out of the back of the end zone, giving the Trojans a 9-0 lead. Before the half, the Trojans got another score on a 23-yard pass from Joaquin Graves-Mercado to Isaac Pierce, allowing the Trojans to take a 16-0 lead into halftime. Oak Ridge managed one more score late in the fourth quarter when Graves-Mercado threw a five-yard pass to Kaleb Edwards. "The rain was terrible, but we were able to score on our first possession that set the tone," Oak Ridge coach Casey Taylor said. "Our defense was lights out all night. Our special teams did a really good job in helping us win the field position battle too. "Our defense got us a big safety and we added another score before halftime to get us some breathing room. "Defensively, we did a good job making them go the length of the field. Offensively, we didn't turn the ball over, which was big. We haven't turned the ball over in the three weeks." Graves-Mercado had a good night passing the ball despite the weather, as he completed 11-of-17 passes for 160 yards and two scores. No one had a big night on the ground, as Austin Olive led the team with 35 yards rushing, but as a team the Trojans rushed for 122 yards and one touchdown on 37 carries. Pierce and Ayden Staricco led the team in receiving, as both players had four catches; Pierce going for 74 yards and Staricco good for 70. Justen Womack led the team with nine tackles.