Bulldogs ground T-Birds, win by 32 at home

COLUMBUS GROVE – Columbus Grove showed why it's one of the best in the state on both sides of the ball on Friday, easily defeating Lima Central Catholic, 38-6, at home. The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to 12 with the victory, thanks once again to star running back Trenton Barraza. Barraza finished with 225 yards on 23 carries, running in two scores. Barraza's ability to shrug off defenders and constantly churn out big plays has been one of the key factors in Grove's strong play this season. "Coach just kinda talked about it being next guy up," Barraza said. "We've got depth. It's just next guy up. We understand that, we get the concept. We've just been rolling with it. Last time we played this team it was 28-20, and they played us the toughest we've been tested this year. We had to come out with a statement tonight."However, it wasn't just Barraza for the Bulldogs. Quarterback Kyle Hopkins and wideout Trevon Baxter connected on a pair of impressive touchdown passes, one for 20 yards and one for 56 yards. Hopkins notched three total touchdowns, running in a 17-yard keeper on Grove's first possession and breaking multiple tackles in the process. Hopkins finished the evening with 129 yards through the air, while Baxter ended with 96 receiving yards. "He's doing a great job," Schafer said. "The plays that he made with his legs, that's a development that we didn't have before from him. That was nice to see. He's made some great throws. We don't just talk about it, we actually do it. It's next man up mentality here at Grove. He wasn't the backup guy. The backup guy was Riley Sautter, that got hurt. He's the backup to the backup. That just tells you our mentality that we have here at Grove. When one man's down, the next man steps up.""We all trust each other," Barraza said. "Hop (Hopkins) throws it up, it's in the air, it's anyone's ball. But we trust No. 9 (Baxter) to go up and get it."The Bulldogs' defense also left its pawprints all over Friday's contest. LCC's high-powered offense, led by sophomore quarterback Brady Parker, defeated Pandora-Gilboa 33-28 last week thanks to four first-half rushing scores from Parker. In this game, however, Parker ran for just 40 yards on 16 carries, and completed just six passes for 67 yards. The Thunderbirds have only scored in the single digits one time this season prior to Friday's game: a shutout loss to Bluffton. Columbus Grove has only allowed opponents to reach double figures in five of its 12 contests, including a win two weeks ago against this same T-Birds team, 28-20. "I felt like we were definitely more prepared this time," Schafer said. "Not that we weren't prepared the last time. I think LCC gave us the greatest game they could last time, but it showed a lot of weaknesses. I said after that game, that it was gonna make us a better team, and it did. Obviously, it shows tonight."Whenever LCC tried to get its run game going with Parker, the Bulldogs' front seven were right there to shut down the hole before it could form. While many area teams will adjust their defense for a run-heavy scheme, Grove stuck with its winning formula, a four-three set. "When you have a quarterback that can run, it's a numbers game," Schafer said of LCC's offense. "They have you outnumbered in the box. We stick with our four-three, we stick with our seven guys in the box. A lot of teams will adjust and put eight in there, we just don't. What does that mean? It means you have to have unbelievable help from your safeties and corners to come up. We have unbelievable safeties and corners. I really think that those four coverage guys, the way that they can help in the run game, is pretty impressive."The Bulldogs forced three turnovers, recovering two fumbles and a missed LCC field goal. In total, Grove allowed just 175 total yards, demonstrating their dominance and showing that it extends to the defensive side of the ball as well. Columbus Grove's victory sets them up for a matchup with Mohawk next Friday at a neutral site. Col. Grove 14 10 7 7–38LCC 0 0 6 0–6First QuarterCG - Hopkins 17 Run (Verhoff Kick)CG - Baxter 20 Pass from Hopkins (Verhoff Kick)Second QuarterCG - Barraza 34 Run (Verhoff Kick)CG - Verhoff FGThird QuarterLCC - White 22 Pass from Parker (2-pt Failed)CG - Barraza 4 Run (Verhoff Kick)Fourth QuarterCG - Baxter 56 Pass from Hopkins (Verhoff Kick)