On Friday night in Nampa, the CVCS Chargers took on the Nampa Christian Trojans in a game that had playoff implications for both teams. In what has often been a lopsided rivalry, the Chargers were able to gain a bit of payback in what can often be referred to as a family feud. From the opening kickoff until the final whistle blew, the Chargers let the world know that the “little brother” was there to play!
Kicking off for the Chargers #88 Eric Lee(So.) made his varsity kicking debut in place of the injured #1 Will Stevens(Jr). The Trojans fielded Lee’s kick and only returned it to their own fifteen yard line before being swarmed by the Chargers cover team. After meeting a brick wall on their first two running plays, the Trojans dialed up a pass play on third and long. Excellent coverage and penetration by the defensive line led to #50 Noah Corder(Sr.) sacking the Nampa Christian signal caller at the half yard line, forcing a punt.
In perhaps the first of many mistakes for the home team, the Trojans punter sailed a beautiful punt right into the arms of #33 Obi Gee(Jr.) at the forty-yard line. Gee used his blockers and lightning speed to race down the visitor’s sideline for a don’t-blink touchdown. The PAT by Lee was blocked and the visitors were quickly ahead 6-0 without even trotting out its high-octane offense.
If this game were a prizefight, the home team took the first punch squarely on the jaw, but wasn’t ready to surrender just yet. Using a “dink-and-dunk” short passing game offense, they methodically chipped away at the Chargers defense. A ten yard run right up the middle capped a quick drive for the home team, leaving onlookers to believe this might be one for the record books in terms of points scored. The PAT was true and the Trojans now led 7-6.
Again, borrowing a fighting analogy, the visiting Chargers absorbed the scoring blow in stride, smiled and shook their collective head, giving the home team a shrug as if to say “that didn’t hurt”. Riding the legs of Gee, who averaged over eleven yards per carry, the arm of #14 Roman Conder(Sr.), and the sure hands of #20 Dylan Krogh(Sr.) the Chargers made short work of their next possession, capping it with a thirteen yard scoring run from Gee. Looking to even up the scoreboard, the Chargers went for two and got it, giving the visitors the lead 14-7. The game would get no closer for the home team.
Perhaps intimidated by the ferocious Charger pass defense, the Trojans chose to keep the ball on the ground for three of the next four plays. This strategy proved ineffective as CVCS held Nampa Christian, forcing a punt after a Trojan false start on fourth-and-one play. Perhaps learning from his earlier experience, the punter kicked the ball away from Gee, getting a nice roll down to the Charger 20 yard line.
The next series saw the Charger offensive line opening huge running lanes for the ball carriers. The offense chose to keep the ball on the ground until a rolling Conder found a covered #2 Connor Howard(Jr.). Using laser guided precision, Conder threaded the needle and Howard did his part, hauling in a thirty-yard scoring strike. Lee’s leg was again strong and accurate and the Chargers had a 21-7 lead just minutes into the second quarter.
After a solid stop on the kickoff, the Charger defense met the Trojan offense at the opponent’s thirty yard line. Again choosing a running play against a brick house defense, the Trojans quarterback coughed up the rock, giving the Chargers offense a short field at the Nampa Christian thirty-five.
The Chargers chose to keep the ball on the ground with Gee in a single back set and a new wrinkle, using Krogh in a two-back look. With the offense eating up yardage in chunks, it took very little time for the CVCS offense to again find the house. Gee took a handoff and raced twenty yards to pay dirt, virtually untouched. Lee’s kick was good and the Chargers lead swelled to 28-7.
Following another fine kick and cover, the Trojan offense started coming to life with a nice gain on a jet sweep on first down. But on the very next play, the Nampa Christian quarterback dropped back to pass and was leveled by Noah Corder again. Not to be outdone, the Trojans offense followed up that loss with a fine pass completion, gaining back what was lost by the sack. Perhaps learning that running against the CVCS defense was folly, the Trojans passing game began finding some timing, including a beautiful pitch and catch that brought the offense to a fourth-and-one situation. That fourth-and-one soon was fourth-and-six thanks to an overzealous Nampa Christian offensive lineman’s movement before the snap. A lofted pass fell short of the intended receiver and the Chargers took over on downs just inside midfield.
On first down, the Chargers play caller dialed up a beautiful middle screen to Dylan Krogh who rambled thirty-eight yards downfield. Krogh, who would be targeted eight times by Conder, was a perfect eight-for-eight with a whopping one hundred eighty yards and two scores on the night. It’s at this point the evening took a weird turn. Yes, weird. From his spot at offensive tackle, Noah Corder took a handoff and rumbled, bumbled, and stumbled gloriously for ten yards for a touchdown! In all seriousness, it couldn’t have happened to a better guy. Corder has come light years from his freshman year and has developed into a solid football player and man. The kick was blocked but the Chargers were now out front 34-7.
After returning the Charger kickoff to the twenty-five yard line, the Trojans embarked on a nice sustained drive, thanks to liberal pass plays and a sprinkling of runs. They soon found their way to the Charger fifteen yard line and threatening to score again. But the team of Corder, Krogh, #17 Connor Stewart(Jr.), and #51 Francisco Castro(Sr.) closed the door with back-to-back sacks, giving the Charger offense the ball.
I’d like to take the time to acknowledge that during this drive Roman Conder threw an incomplete pass. Why is this noteworthy? Because Conder was a mind boggling 16 for 19 for two hundred fifty-seven yards and three touchdowns. If you asked him, I’m confident he’d tell you that he isn’t a quarterback. FALSE. Conder has led this team with his legs, arm, head, and heart from the beginning of the season. He followed up another well orchestrated drive by hurling a fifteen yard dart to fellow senior team leader Dylan Krogh. The Point After was good and the read 41-7 Chargers on the last play of the first half.
The second half saw a running clock, liberal substitutions, and more scoring. Starting somewhat deep on their own end, the Chargers again systematically drove the ball, using both run and pass, to eat up yardage like an offensive lineman at a Chinese buffet. This drive was capped by a Conder seven yard run on a read option play. Again, Lee’s leg was as accurate as can be and the Chargers now led by a score of 48-7.
The CVCS defense on the following possession showed no sign of letting the Trojans back into the game. After yet another great defensive stand, the Trojans were forced to punt the ball back to the Chargers. What might be a facet of the game in need of shoring up, several times the Charger punt returner signaled for a fair catch only to back away and let the ball roll for more punt yardage. The Trojan punter averaged over forty yards per kick, largely due to the Chargers unwillingness to field his punts.
The ensuing possession saw the Cole Valley offense being stalled by the Nampa Christian defense, forcing the first Charger punt of the game. But on a night like this, the Charger coaching staff was perhaps allowing some favors to be called in and Francisco fielded the long snap, rolled to his right and found a wide open Dylan Krogh for a first down pass. With Gee standing on the sideline with nothing further to prove, the Charger offense went a little stagnant until Conder dialed up a beautiful thirty yard bomb to who else but Dylan Krogh. The kick was good and the Chargers now led 55-7.
Yes, the Trojans found the end zone two more times in the game to make the score look more a more respectable 55-23, but the damage was done. The Chargers had left no doubt who was the better team on this night and had brought vindication for the seniors, who had lost some heartbreakers to our brothers to the west in years past.
There were too many offensive highlights to pick from. With Conder being near perfect, Gee averaging nearly twelve yards per carry, and Krogh having the skilled hands of a brain surgeon, I want to be sure that the offensive line gets the proper attention. They paved the way for big runs and stood tall in pass protection all night long.
Defensively, Noah Corder is wrapping up a monster senior year in terms of sacks and tackles for loss. I have no idea what the school record is, but he HAS to be close to it. He has made the most of switching from linebacker to defensive end. It was also really great to see Connor Stewart and #8 Brady Frame(Jr.) contributing again as well.
The Chargers have earned a road trip to Orofino, where they’ll play the Maniacs in the opening round of the State Playoffs. The Chargers stand a very good chance of beating Orofino as Idaho Sports has them seeded #9 over the home team Maniacs at #13. It might be worth the drive to head up north, see some beautiful fall colors along the way and then take in another Charger victory!