Winton Woods handles Trotwood-Madison in heavyweight matchup to open season

The Trotwood-Madison Rams before Friday night’s season opener vs. visiting Winton Woods. Eric Frantz/CONTRIBUTED

The Trotwood-Madison Rams before Friday night’s season opener vs. visiting Winton Woods. Eric Frantz/CONTRIBUTED

Bouncing back from an abnormal offseason in which its community was blind-sided by an EF4 tornado on Memorial Day, Trotwood-Madison entered Week 1 of the Ohio high school football season Friday looking for a measuring stick.

Winton Woods provided one.

Capitalizing on shorts fields and big plays, the Warriors beat the host Rams 36-7 at Miami Valley Hospital Sportsplex. Winton Woods led 29-0 at halftime.

»RELATED: Week 1 roundup

»RELATED: Week 1 scoreboard

“That will be the best team (we play),” Trotwood head coach Jeff Graham said. “That’s a state championship ball club. They’ve got depth, size, speed…they’ve got it all. And that’s a good barometer for us, because we want our kids to be able to compete with some of the bigger programs. Not that we want to get our heads knocked in, we just want our kids to understand competition. We’re looking to compete.”

Penalties and turnovers inhibited Trotwood’s ability to do that effectively in the opener.

Both teams recorded just two first downs in the first half, yet Winton Woods was a missed 25-yard second quarter field goal from opening the second half with a running clock.

Five of the Warriors seven first half possessions started in Trotwood territory and their scoring plays covered 33, 32 and 28 yards. Three first half turnovers, including a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown, hampered the Rams who managed minus-23 yards in the first 24 minutes.

“We wanted to get out to a fast start,” Winton Woods head coach Andre Parker said. “Last year Trotwood was the only team to beat us in the regular season and we didn’t feel like we got out fast against them. We were definitely able to do that.”

A Division II state semifinalist a year ago, Winton Woods forced a running clock on Iowa State recruit Miyan Williams’ 55-yard touchdown run with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors had additional second half drives end with a fumble into the end zone and a touchdown called back by penalty.

Both teams were whistled for double-digit penalties.

“You can’t win games with penalties and turnovers,” Graham said.

Added Parker: “I know we left 21 points off the board.”

Quarterback Mi’chale Wingfield led Winton Woods with two touchdown passes and a touchdown run.

Trotwood’s head-turner was freshman running back Hezekiah Hudson-Davis, who logged 80 yards on 15 carries and scored on a 5-yard run. Thrust into the rotation due to injury, Hudson-Davis established himself as an option moving forward.

“He had a rough training camp,” Graham said. “It was hard for him to understand our vision compared to what he sees because he’s never been in those situations. We’ve been on him.”

Trotwood will look to end a rare four-game losing streak dating back to last season (Xenia, Wayne and Wapakoneta) when it hosts Canada Prep (Ontario) next Friday. After that eight straight Division I opponents await.

Trotwood doesn’t expect any charity.

“Oh no, and I wouldn’t (feel bad for someone in our position either),” Graham said. “That’s fair and I get it. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

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