By JUSTIN UMBERSON
Register Correspondent
MUENSTER — The Muenster Hornets opened the new season with its dominating defense and a big play offense to defeat the S&S; Consolidated Rams 26-6 Friday in Muenster.
Hornets head coach Allen Cross entered the season having reservations about the starting linebackers in his new 3-4 defense, but after allowing 101 total yards to the Rams’ option based offense, Cross is feeling more confident.
“It’s a great feeling when we can come out and execute on both sides of the ball,” Cross said. “Our defense played great. The kids came out with confidence.”
The Muenster offense moved the ball with ease to the tune of nearly 500 yards, but when the Hornets entered inside the Ram red-zone, or the distance between the end-zone and 20-yard line, the offense stalled and turned the ball over more than it scored.
“We’ve got to cut down on penalties,” the coach said. “That really hurt us. We need to stay out of those situations.”
Luckily, Hornet quarterback Levi Trubenbach didn’t need to be in the red-zone to score, as he launched three touchdown passes of 34 yards or longer. Trubenbach threw for 241 yards and ran for 67 more.
“We average about six to eight yards for every play we run,” Cross said. “We’re evaluating the defense the other team is running, and if we think we can get a big play in there we are going to go for it.”
Although Muenster running back Chris Valliere never found the end-zone, he touched the ball 24 times, accounting for 220 yards. Valliere also set up Trubenbach’s third quarter 3-yard touchdown scramble on the previous play when he broke off a 40-yard run.
Receiver Tyler Anderle hauled in a team-high five catches, while receiver Jason Luke grabbed four passes for a game-high 113 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Garrett Walterschied had four catches for 53 yards, including one for a touchdown.
The Ram offense could never get moving against a swarming Hornet defense, as it managed just two first-half first downs and six total throughout the game. S&S;’ lone touchdown came on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter after Muenster committed its third turnover of the game.
Coach Cross isn’t concerned with losing the shutout, and just wants the team to win any way it can, he said.
“I’m happy with the victory. The whole defense played great,” Cross said. “The new defense looked good for the first time in a live game. They flew around and rallied to the football. All 11 defenders played great.”
