Greenwood Christian’s Trey Dobson makes a cut behind Jack Franey (66) to pick up a first down during Friday’s game against Edinburgh.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
It’s supposed to be a traveling trophy, but for the second straight year, the Wheat Bowl stays in the possession of Greenwood Christian.
The Cougars used their two-pronged offensive attack to beat a decimated Edinburgh 49-0 on Friday night to keep a run of streaks, both good and bad, going.
It was the second straight game the Cougars rolled up 49 points and their third straight win after an opening-game loss to Park Tudor.
For winless Edinburgh, the misery continues with their seventh consecutive loss dating back to last season and their third consecutive scoreless game.
Worse still, the Lancers had several injuries to key players.
A harbinger of things to come was Edinburgh quarterback Caleb Murphy getting hurt on the first play of the game. He did not return.
“We lost six starters,” Edinburgh coach Tyler DeSpain said. “We started two freshmen and two sophomores on our offensive line to try something different. It was to give our young guys experience but then give our defense a chance to rest.”
It might have worked but for the injuries, the elusiveness of the Cougar offense and four fumbles, three of which led directly to GCA touchdowns in the first half.
Not only was Murphy lost on the first play, but the Lancers fumbled on their second play. Five plays later, the Cougars had their first touchdown on a 6-yard run by Evan McIntire. After another Edinburgh fumble, McIntire scored again later in the first, this time from the 4.
That’s all the Cougars (3-1) really needed, but more was to come courtesy of the feet and arm of quarterback Trey Dobson.
Dobson had touchdown runs of 35 and 20 yards and two touchdown passes, one from 44 yards to Isaiah Johnson and the other on the final play of the half, a 58-yard pass to Zach Haynes that left the Lancer sideline fuming and guaranteed a running clock for the entire second half.
“I understand Edinburgh’s side of everything. I’ve been there many times and it’s not easy,” GCA coach Andre Dobson said. “I have a lot of respect for Edinburgh and Coach DeSpain. They are a class act program, but they’re struggling.”
Coach Dobson did understand as except for a couple of players, he used his reserves the rest of the game.
Except for a McIntire 37-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, there was no more scoring or big numbers put up.
It was quite possible that Andre Dobson had his eye on Week 5 opponent Milan when pulling his starters, but like DeSpain, he also wanted playing time for his inexperienced gridders.
“We have a very strong opponent next and we’re trying to get our team ready, and we felt like we were able to do that in the first half,” the GCA coach said.
Greenwood Christian had 163 yards rushing, with Dobson leading the way with 79. Dobson also amassed 147 yards on 4-of-12 passing.
Edinburgh (0-4) had a season-high 116 yards, all on the ground, with Jayden Elliot leading all rushers with 80 yards.
DeSpain said his team is young but game despite all the setbacks.
“We have 17 freshmen and sophomores that don’t know a whole lot about football, so we have to really coach them and get them out there,” he said. “You just have to keep on fighting and keep on giving that effort and coming to practice every day, keep learning what we need to learn and go from there.”
Edinburgh returns home to face North Daviess in Week 5.
