Hunter leads Tolton to second straight big win
By Zach ZookSpecial to the Tribune
Oct 13, 2017 at 10:49 PM Oct 13, 2017 at 10:49 PM
COLUMBIA — Two weeks ago, the Tolton football team took one of their toughest losses in recent memory.
But since then, the Trailblazers have made quite a turnaround.
Junior running back Ben Breitwiser capped Tolton's first drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, sparking the Trailiblazers to a 54-3 rout of St. Paul Lutheran on Friday night at Tolton.
Tolton lost to then-Class 2 second-ranked Trinity Catholic 71-12. Despite the blowout, it only made the Trailblazers stronger. Tolton bounced back with a 46-14 victory over Cuba before the Week 9 win.
The Trailblazers are getting better entering next week's Class 2 District 5 opener.
"We're going to take one step at a time," Breitwiser said, who opened the scoring just 3½ minutes into the game.
"I'm so happy to have the line that I do to block for me," Breitwiser said.
The Tolton defense gave the ball right back to its potent offense, allowing the Trailblazers (4-5) to jump to a 20-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Those scores came from another Breitwiser rush and a 56-yard catch-and-run by senior Nick Beckett.
"He's a spark plug," Coach Chad Masters said of Breitwiser. "He will hit holes hard, so if we get him some space, that's something that we can really get some yards out of."
Breitwiser finished with 128 rushing yards and two scores on 11 carries, averaging better than 10 yards.
In the second quarter, St. Paul Lutheran would get its only scoring chance after recovering a fumble deep inside Tolton's territory. However, the suffocating Trailblazer defense refused to break, forcing a field goal by senior Saints kicker Dieter Ufer.
By the time the half ended, it was 41-3 and Tolton's Robert Hunter had become the school's record holder for touchdown passes in a single season. Hunter's touchdowns were to juniors Jared Thompson and Jack Washer, while Beckett laid out for another touchdown pass late in the half.
"It feels good tonight, but we still have to focus on next week, so I'll embrace it tonight, but tomorrow we'll get back to the film and get ready for the postseason," Hunter said.
That wasn't the only record Hunter would break. In the second half, Hunter went ahead and broke the record for passing yards in a single season as well, surpassing the 2,225-yard threshold.
"It's not something I try to focus on," Hunter said when asked about the records. "I try to focus on the game and leading my team to a victory."
Hunter finished with 248 yards on 15-of-18 throwing.
The Tolton defense played exceptionally well, also, not allowing so much as a first down on each of the Saints' first three possessions.
"Defense wins it," Masters said. "You have to have a defense to advance through the playoffs, and our defense has played solidly all year against good teams from Helias to Boonville."
The Trailblazers aren't sure whom they'll face yet in the playoffs, but they believe Masters will have them ready.