Blazers victorious in 2A East Conference opener

Andrew Towne
Posted 9/16/20

TORRINGTON – Coming into Friday night’s contest with the Glenrock Herders, Torrington High School football coach Russell Stienmetz knew it was going to take discipline on the defensive side of the football to slow down the visitors’ double-win offense.

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Blazers victorious in 2A East Conference opener

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TORRINGTON – Coming into Friday night’s contest with the Glenrock Herders, Torrington High School football coach Russell Stienmetz knew it was going to take discipline on the defensive side of the football to slow down the visitors’ double-win offense.

“We practiced all week working on getting their eyes looking where they were supposed to be and reading their keys,” he said.

It paid off, as the Blazers shut out the Herders 39-0 Friday evening at Wiseman Field.

“We were disciplined on defense. You have to be disciplined against the double-wing offense that Glenrock runs,” Stienmetz said. “The defense played really well and was assignment sharp.”

Senior Cody Pierce paced the defense with 18 defensive points, with 10 assisted tackles and four unassisted tackles. Junior Cole Parriot added 15 points with nine assisted and three unassisted stops.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Blazers scored five touchdowns from five different players.

Pierce, Parriot and juniors Trace Floyd, Chase Miller and Keiser Wolfe found the end zone for Torrington.

Leading 3-0 following a 24-yard field goal from Miller, Peirce was the first to crack the goal line for the Blazers with a 3-yard run with under a minute to play in the opening quarter.

Torrington extended its lead to 18-0 by halftime with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Miller from junior quarterback Beau Bivens.

“It was nice to actually sustain some drives and get into the end zone. Coach (Robb) Nicolay called a great game,” Stiemetz said. “We really spread the ball out so the team couldn’t focus in on one kid.”

Early in the third, Bivens connected with Wolfe on a 60-yard scoring completion, while Parriot and Floyd capped off the game with rushing scores of three and 49 yards, respectively.

“Beau Bivens commanded the offense very well and came up big with some pass plays, finding his open receivers,” Stienmetz said.

Floyd led the Blazers in rushing with 122 yards on 13 attempts.

“Trace Floyd was our leading rusher, but he also blocked well in the passing game,” Stienmetz said. “There were times we called on him to block on our isolations and blasts, and he came up big.”

Pierce added 53 yards on seven tries. Bivens was 5-of-8 through the air 127 yards and two touchdowns. Wolfe led the team with 78 receiving yards on three receptions.

The Blazers (2-1 overall and 1-0 in the 2A East) now turn their attention to Tongue River on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

“They have a similar offense to Glenrock, but they will throw the ball. They are averaging 16-18 throws a game. Again, we are going to have to be assignment sharp on defense, and on offense, we are going to have to sustain drives and capitalize when we do get the ball,” Stienmetz said. “It’s going to be strange to have an extra day to prepare for them, but it will also be nice.”