As if the Talawanda Braves didn’t face enough of a challenge in their football opponent on Friday at Edgewood’s Kumler Field, they had to deal with a nearly insurmountable atmosphere.
While Apple was serving as the Homecoming parade grand marshal and posing for photos with fans and cheerleaders and even the referees and being honored at halftime, Edgewood was rolling to its fifth straight win by a score of 49-14.
More: Here's your Week 8 Cincinnati Enquirer high school football coverage
More: Week 8 Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school football scores
Junior fullback Tavionne Crosby scored three touchdowns and senior running back Jaquan Dailey added two as the Cougars improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Southwest Ohio Conference going into a crucial game on Friday against Ross at Kumler Field.
Ross was 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the SWOC going into a home game on Friday against Harrison.
Friday’s game was played with a running clock in the second half.
“Obviously, it wasn’t very pretty,” Volker said. “That was a drumming, from top to bottom – offensively, defensively and special teams.”
Apple might not have seen much of the game while mingling with his many fans. He spent six weeks after the Olympics in Italy training and competing in International Swimming League events before coming home to Trenton, where he was greeted by a billboard arranged by his high school coach, Ben Johnson.
“It’s been awesome,” Apple said during a break between a meet-and-greet dinner in the high school and the kickoff. “It’s sort of surreal. You go to Skyline and people recognize you, and you don’t know who they are. It’s a little overwhelming, and it can be a little exhausting.”
Halftime ceremonies included the school district announcing that the main entrance to the high school will be renamed Zach Apple Lane and that Friday was Zach Apple Day in the city of Trenton.
“What’s up, Trenton?” Apple asked “The support from the town and the school district has been overwhelming. Coming from our town to the world stage – I’m overwhelmed.”
Apple’s Friday at Edgewood started with a dinner in the school during which a framed montage of images from his career was unveiled, including his Olympic uniform. It will hang on a wall outside the gym.
Then he sat in the back seat of a white 2019 Chevrolet Corvette, the lead car in the Homecoming parade that circled the field before the game. A United States flag covered the trunk, attached to to a flag depicting the five Olympic rings hanging off the back.
Edgewood coach Scott Clemmons was happy to see his team avoid what’s commonly known as a “trap game.” Talawanda dropped to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the SWOC.
“One-win teams can be dangerous,” he pointed out. “They’ve got nothing to lose, They’re like wounded animals. They’re going to come out scratching and clawing.”
“We knew Talawanda isn’t Ross,” Crosby said. “Ross is harder. We’re looking forward to that.”
Talawanda scored two second-half touchdowns, but Volker saw where he needs to take his program. His focus includes getting his players into the weight room during the off-season and improving depth. He said Talawanda doesn’t have freshman or junior varsity teams and started at least as many freshmen against Edgewood as seniors.
“They’re running an offense their kids start running in the fourth or fifth or sixth grade,” he said about Edgewood. “It wasn’t the fight in us. They’re just bigger and faster and stronger. They beat us upfront. That’s where it starts. You could tell our lack of depth and size up front.”
“One of our starters showed up on Aug. 2,” he said.
Volker pointed out that his team still had a shot at making post-season play. The Braves are scheduled to wrap up the regular season with home games against Mount Healthy and Northwest. Talawanda went into Friday’s game ranked 21st in the weekly Harbin computer ratings. Edgewood was seventh.
“With the 16-team playoff, who knows what can happen?” he said. “If we beat Mount Healthy and Northwest, maybe we can squeak in.”
Talawanda 0-0-7-7 – 14
Edgewood 14-21-7-7 – 49
E – Crosby 9 run (Rumpler kick)
E – Dailey 7 run (Rumpler kick)
E – Sullivan 25 run (Rumpler kick)
E – Crosby 14 run (Rumpler kick)
E – Dailey 3 run (Rumpler kick)’
E – Crosby 3 run (Rumpler kick)
T – Marcum 79 pass from Morris-Williams (Young kick)
E – Reid 11 run (Rumpler kick)
T – Marcum 35 pass from Leitch (Young kick)
Records : Talawanda 1-6 (0-3 Southwest Ohio Conference), Edgewood 5-2 (2-0 SWOC).
