Trojan Stadium was alive for the first time this year for some more Friday night lights. The Trojans showed their dominance in a 42-21 win over the Muscatine Muskies.

The Muskies took the opening kick and looked to build a strong drive with their run game, but were stopped on their own 46-yard line.

Christian Janis ’23 returned the punt to the Trojan’s 30-yard line. A solid run game started off the first drive and quarterback Jack Wallace ’25 threw a dart to Janis to set up the explosive run by Davontae Morris ’23 to the five-yard line. Not long after, the ball was run in for a touchdown, putting the Trojans up 7-0 with the extra point by Evan Anderson ’25.

It looked as if Muscatine was going to answer right back, but after a 24-yard pass, the Trojans stuffed the run and the field goal by Muscatine fell short.

The second quarter didn’t start off great for the Trojans, when Morris was swallowed up, forcing West to punt. West’s defense came through, forcing the Muskies to punt early.

Wallace aired it out to Janis for a long touchdown from the West’s 42-yard line. Even though Wallace fumbled the snap for the extra point, Anderson threw it to one of his teammates for a two-point conversion. The Muskies’ were forced to kick again, and Janis returned it for an 82-yard touchdown with five minutes left in the half.

The Muskies never got it going on offense with Ashton Honore ’24 tackling the running back for a loss of six. Muscatine couldn’t shake it off, the snap for the punt sailing over the punter’s head. Muscatine recovered but was soon tackled by Honore. Morris also kept up the defense by blocking an extra point from Muscatine, pushing the Trojans to a 28-point lead.

Muscatine answered right back with a long touchdown run and extra point to get them seven points going into halftime.

The Trojans came out with the same energy in the second half, with a flip to Morris that ended in a 17-yard gain. West marched down the field, ending in a touchdown pass to Bryan Torres ’23. Muscatine came right back with an 88-yard kick return touchdown to put the score at 35-14 West.

The Trojans couldn’t get anything going on offense with a few penalties nixing their efforts.

After receiving the punt, an explosive 50-yard run by Muscatine put the Muskies at the nine-yard line. Their running back bulldozed in for a touchdown.

After a solid run game led by Todd Rent ’24 and Morris, the Trojans faced a 4th and 2 at their own 24-yard line. A quarterback sneak didn’t work and the Muskies took over.

The Muskies looked like they were on a roll but faced with a 4th and 5 situation on the 45-yard line, they couldn’t convert.
It didn’t take long for the Trojans to take advantage of the short field, with Morris scoring to put West up 42-21 with two minutes left in the game.

Muscatine couldn’t recover and Seth Overton’s ’23 interception put away the game. West won the game 42-21. The Trojans are now 1-1 and will look to add to the win streak next Friday at Trojan Stadium against the Dubuque Hempstead Mustangs.