BEDFORD—After watching Trinity’s Andrew Kanaga return the opening kickoff 60 yards to start Saturday’s non-conference game at Bearcat Stadium, Independence head coach Rick Adams couldn’t help but flashback to a week earlier when his team allowed Columbia to take the opening kickoff into the end zone in a 35-28 win over the Blue Devils.
This time was different, however, as Independence shook off the early game jitters on the way to a 35-6 win over the host Trojans.
“We almost gave up another but we rebounded well,” Adams said. “We actually had them pinned and then our contain guys got a little bit too deep and were playing back a little bit more and he hit the opening. Our defense really stepped up and shut them down.”
Independence’s defense held on a fourth-and-10 inside the Blue Devils 35 then the offense went to work and scored on a 23-yard pass from Kyle Stefanski to Owen Ramm with 6:28 left in the first quarter.
Trinity’s next drive stalled, thanks to a defensive line that recorded two sacks and held Kanaga and Trinity quarterback Andrew McSweeney in check.
“I was really afraid because they have a really good tandem of McSweeney and Kanaga,” Adams said. “He’s just a heck of a running back and busted a big one against us last year. He had a big game last week against Hawken, so I was nervous.”
Stefanski scored on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to push Independence’s lead to 14-0.
The Blue Devils were even more impressive in the second half as Stefanski scored on a 4-yard run, Robert Artrip added a 3-yard score and Nick Mroczynski scampered in from five yards out in the second half.
Mroczynski led the Blue Devils with 145 rushing yards while Stefanski finished the game with 82.
Independence’s success had a lot to do with the play of offensive linemen Josh Stasek, Griffin Starling, Luke Clymer, Adam Kuczmarski and Will Konopa.
“It all starts with the line,” Stefanski said. “The running back doesn’t get 100 yards without a line, the quarterback can’t throw the ball without a line, the quarterback can’t run the ball without a line. It all starts with a line and that’s the best I’ve ever seen our offensive line.”
The defensive line also did its part by stuffing Trinity’s running game and harassing McSweeney in the backfield all night.
“I just look at coach, get the play, get in my gap and if the guy is there I’m going to put him on the ground,” Stasek said. “We’re making a statement. We don’t want that ever to happen again, what happened against Columbia, so this was a statement.”
Mroczynski recovered a fumble and Alex Nelson picked off a pass for the Blue Devils in the win.
Ian Smith converted on all five of his point after touchdown attempts.
The Blue Devils improved to 1-1 heading into next week’s home opener against James Rhodes.
“Rhodes has a heck of a running back,” Adams said. “I watched a lot of film on them and that kid can fly. He’s good. We’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s our first home game of the year and the kids will be amped up for that. We have to come out and play our game.”
