Along with the usual anguish that accompanies a season-ending defeat, Trinity High School football coach Bob Beatty couldn’t shake one demoralizing statistic from the Shamrocks’ 20-19 loss to Male in last year’s Class 6-A playoffs – 30 rushing attempts for 78 yards.
That 2.6-yard-per-carry average spurred an off-season mission for Beatty and his coaching staff.
“We had to be more aggressive up front with our offensive line,” Beatty said. “We did not run the football against Male … and it was obvious we needed to make changes. That bad taste stays in your mouth a long time.”
Beatty said the Shamrocks are far from reaching a consistent high level in the running game, but he’s pleased with what he’s witnessed so far during Trinity’s 2-0 start. The Shamrocks, ranked No. 1 in the state in The Associated Press’ Class 6-A poll, will get another chance to improve Friday when they travel to Lexington face No. 3 Lafayette (2-0). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Trinity was a running machine in last week’s 35-21 victory over Nashville (Tennessee) Brentwood Academy, tallying 386 yards on 49 attempts (7.9 yards per carry). The Shamrocks attempted just 12 passes.
“If we only throw it one time, hey, I’m OK with that as long as something else is progressing,” Beatty said. “I felt like that’s what they gave us.”
Beatty attributes the improved rushing attack to several factors.
One, the offensive line is bigger, especially on the edges with 6-foot-5 tackle Cole Spencer and 6-3 tackle Robert Crawford. Also, the Shamrocks feature a pair of complementary running backs in seniors Roderick Thomas (5-11, 200 pounds) and Jovan Smith (6-0, 190).
But the X factor has been senior quarterback Spencer Blackburn, who rushed for 181 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries last week.
“He may be the best athlete that we’ve coached at this position since I’ve been here,” said Beatty, who is in his 17th season at Trinity. “I didn’t say he’s the best quarterback – yet. But as far as being athletic, he may be the best.”
On Friday the Shamrocks will face who many consider to be the state’s No. 1 quarterback in Lafayette senior Walker Wood. The University of Kentucky commit is the epitome of a dual threat, having rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 467 yards and five TDs through two games this season.
Wood prospers behind an offensive line anchored by senior Jedrick Wills (6-5, 318), who is the state’s top-rated college prospect. He is considering scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
Lafayette coach Eric Shaw agreed with Beatty’s assessment that Blackburn and Wood are “mirror images,” with Wood getting the edge on experience.
“Watching on film, (Blackburn) reminds me of a younger Walker,” Shaw said. “I expect as he goes along he’ll only get better. … Following Trinity over the years, I haven’t seen a quarterback like that. He can move. I’m really excited about going against that challenge.”
Lafayette owns blowout victories over Paul Dunbar (50-14) and Boyle County (47-21) this season but faces a big step up in competition against a Trinity team that whipped the Generals 70-14 last year. Lafayette went on to reach the state final, falling to Male 41-14.
Shaw said he’s not buying into the “Game of the Week” hype surrounding Friday’s matchup but is confident his team is better-equipped to face Trinity than it was last year.
“When you play a program like Trinity that plays at such a high caliber, you’re going to take some lumps early in that process,” Shaw said. “The more you play a team like that, you get used to the things that might be unexpected. When you remove those things, your players can actually play the game and not get caught up in the other stuff.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
GAME OF THE WEEK
* Who: Trinity (2-0) at Lafayette (2-0).
* When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
* Jason’s pick: Trinity 42-27.