FREDERICKTOWN — Despite a freeze warning in effect, the Centerburg Trojans were red hot on the road in Fredericktown as they took home the Freddie-Burg trophy for the second year in a row and earned the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a 34-0 shutout win.
For coach Andy Colella and his Trojans, this win means a 7-0 mark in conference play and a 9-1 regular season record, their best slate since the 2022 season.
“We’ve done that [be physical] all year, and challenge the guys up front with the style of offense they [Fredericktown] run,” Colella said. “Controlling the line of scrimmage for us on offense, and then being able to slow down what they’re doing on defense.”
When talking about what it meant to win the Freddie-Burg game for a second year in a row in Week 10, no less, Colella said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You got two great communities. It’s small-town football at its finest, and it’s fun to be a part of,” Colella said.
“We talked all week to the kids about, week 10, you’re playing your rival, you’re playing for a trophy, you’re playing for a championship, you’re playing for a number one seed in the region; you couldn’t draw it up any better.”
Fredericktown coach Scott Spitler looks to get his team back on track as they prepare for the playoffs as well and await their seeding.
Between the tackles of the Trojans first half
The Trojans received the opening kick, and before you knew it, had points on the board.
Senior quarterback Blane Ball ripped off a nice run to get his team into the red zone and then rifled a pass to senior receiver Hayden Love shortly after for the first touchdown of the game.
The Freddies kept the score at just 6-0 as they stuffed a two-point conversion play.
Fredericktown senior tight end Gavin Toombs, worked out of the backfield as a running back for the majority of the game and nearly led his team to points following the Trojan score.
Yet, the Trojans got after the big man and stopped him on a key fourth down early to trot their offense back onto the field.
Ball connected with Love again, this time on a deep ball to around the 50-yard line to set up more Trojan points.
A few plays later and Ball weaved through traffic to gash the Freddies early in the second quarter. It was 12-0 Trojans in front after another bottled-up two-pointer.
Centerburg turned it up a notch after forcing a Freddie punt as junior running back Miles Marshall sprinted for a big gain into Fredericktown territory.
After some rivalry-fueled extracurriculars and a few flags, Marshall punched it in for the Trojans, and Ball followed with a two-point conversion.
This wound up being the final points of the first half after Fredericktown’s offense continued to struggle and turned it over on downs with under a minute to play.
The Trojans owned a 20-0 bulge as the bands trotted on for halftime.
How the Trojans got to hoist the Freddie-Burg trophy
Fredericktown looked like they had a spark on offense coming out of the locker room, but senior Tommy Hause thwarted that threat with an interception.
In the fourth quarter Marshall sped past defenders for a touchdown and the ensuing extra points, making the score 28-0 late in the fourth.
Senior running back Shawn Carter sealed the game and forced a running clock for about the last minute and a half after his touchdown.
Then the Trojans hoisted the Freddie-Burg trophy with their fans.
