Trotwood Defense Stifles Harrison in 49-0 Rout | Dayton Daily News

Story and photo by HENRY S. CONTE / Dayton Daily News

The suffocating Trotwood-Madison defense was simply was too much for the Harrison Wildcats.

The Rams held Harrison to negative first-half yardage and staked itself to a 35-0 lead in what turned out to be an easy 49-0 win for the Rams in a Division II, Region 8 semifinal on Friday night at Trotwood-Madison Stadium.

"One thing we saw, based on formations and what they try to accomplish, we noticed some things we wanted to make adjustments that could benefit us," Trotwood coach Jeff Graham said. "We trusted our game plan and we went out and executed in all three phases of the game."

The Rams absolutely did. Scoring on special teams, keeping Harrison to minimal yardage on returns, and scoring nearly at will on offense.

Not to mention giving nothing to the Wildcats defensively.

"Those guys work hard. As a defense, our team goes as those front seven go," Graham said. "We lost one of the best in the state (Jamarcus Whyce). We knew we had to have those seven guys alternate on offense and defense." 

Graham said that front seven struggled to buy in to playing both ways at first, but for the good of the team, they stepped up.

And that has taken them to the Region 8 final against defending state runner-up Cin. Anderson.

The scoring, naturally, started with the defense.

An interception by Major Dewberry led to the Rams first score as Terry Harrell broke a 40-yard run around the outside.

After an impressive defensive stand with Harrison backed up, Trotwood forced a punt and a nifty return gave the Rams the ball at the 18. Three plays later, the Rams got their second score on a 9-yard Harrell run up the middle.

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