BY: Jeff Yoder, Sports Co-Editor
Published:Aug. 24, 2012
Live contact, a team of referees and an encouragingly chatty sideline gave the night of Aug. 23 a game-like atmosphere as the Taylor Football team battled itself in a team scrimmage.
The Trojans got some quality tune-up time on the new turf field Thursday, and a team of referees were there to give constructive criticism and inform the players about new rules for the 2012 season.
"We've had some live contact but not with officials," said head coach Ron Korfmacher. "It was great to get out and get some reps in and see that we've got a lot to improve on. It's kind of where we expected to be - with more work to do."
The highlight of the scrimmage may have been a fumble linebacker Nathaniel Ryan picked up and took to the house.
The scoop and score generated some excitement on the sideline that resembled a Saturday afternoon.
The team is fired up about the return of the entire backfield in quarterback Nick Freeman and runningbacks Taylor Johnson and Jake Fiddler.
Wideouts Christ Stutzman and Darvon Blackmon made the bulk of the catches last year for the Trojans, and they'll be lead route-runners again.
Last year's squad went 5-5 in 2011 with a loaded list of opponents who they're looking forward to facing again this season.
"We have the big three on the schedule: Saint [Xavier], Saint Francis and Marian," said linebacker Caleb Hemmick. "Those are always upset alerts where we're going to come in and give our shot."
They still have some time to prepare but returning a core group of guys is the first step to a great start.
Unrivaled enthusiasm is a close second and the Trojans had both on Aug. 23 as they played under the lights of the new stadium.
"The fields are awesome," said receiver Chris Stutzman. "It just shows how much the university cares about the sports programs here. No matter what sport it is, I feel like there's going to be a lot of fans that'll be here. We'll be looking to make everybody proud here."
The scrimmage gave the Trojans a chance to gage their progress before heading into a full week of game preparation for Anderson Sept. 1 for the Wagon Wheel.
"Right now, we're looking forward to Anderson, bringing that Wagon Wheel back for the fifth year in a row," said senior Linebacker Jake Schick.
