Toronto’s offense electric in 57-26 win over Lowellville

Mike Hughes
MAKING A MOVE — Toronto quarterback Zeb Kinsey looks to fight through a tackle as teammate Heath Thomas trails the play.

TORONTO — Alumni Weekend got off to a bang at Clarke Hinkle Stadium as homestanding Toronto raced out to a commanding 22-6 lead against visiting Lowellville.

Then came a brief lightning flash. Followed by another. Then another.

Two hours passed before the two teams retook the field and finished the final 32 seconds–of the first quarter.

When the game finally ended after 11:30, the Red Knights claimed a cherished 57-26 win against the Rockets (1-1), a team that reached the regional final in 2023.

Lowellville appeared a bit flustered early.

Toronto forced a 3-and-out on the Rockets’ first possession, then needed only seven plays to move 32 yards with Drake Boucher busting through from three yards out for the first score.

Another stop forced a Rockets punt and this time, Aiden Filby didn’t give the offense a chance to do its thing. Instead, he made a couple nice juke moves and raced 55 yards down the home sideline for a punt return touchdown.

The Rockets managed to answer when Ricky Willrich hit 6-foot-3 junior receiver Josh Pazel in stride for a 71-yard touchdown strike.

Toronto quickly answered, with Zeb Kinsey barreling in from 3-yards out after hooking up with Brady Fair on a 48-yard connection that Fair nearly took into the end zone himself before losing his footing.

Just like that, Toronto led 22-6 and the momentum was clearly housed on the home sideline.

That lengthy delay came at just the right time for the visitors as it allowed Lowellville’s players and coaching staff to regroup and adjust.

Willrich and Pazel hooked up again after the break for a 20-yard scoring strike and following a Kinsey to Mason Marchbank scoring strike, Rockets’ running back Geno Perry scampered in from 9 yards out.

The 2-point conversion failed, but what appeared destined for a blowout was now a nine point game at 29-20.

Toronto answered again, with two more rushing touchdowns from Boucher in the third quarter. But, more importantly, the defense stood tall.

Speaking of tall, after the half, Toronto opted to switch a taller defensive back to guard Pazel instead of Fair, who put up a good fight but had trouble overcoming the height difference (5-7 to 6-3).

The move worked as Willrich was intercepted not once, but twice, following the move.

Toronto’s defense stood tall again, stuffing the visitors four straight times from the 3-yard line. After forcing a turnover on downs, Lowellville managed to intercept Kinsey for a brief shift in momentum, only to see it swing back yet again after Filby picked off Willrich’s pass to end any threat.

Later, Brody Close picked off Willrich for the third time, with this interception resulting in a pick-six from 41 yards out.

Lowellville scored one final time on a 30-yard run from backup Daniel Huff.

Spencer Board capped the Red Knights’ scoring with a 3-yard burst in the fourth.

Boucher finished with 35 yards on 11 carries while Kinsey led all rushers with 60 on 11. Kinsey managed 108 yards through the air.

Willrich threw for 215 yards for the Rockets, plus the two scoring hookups with Pazel, but the three interceptions, coupled with a fumble on a kickoff, hurt the visitors. Geno Perry led the Lowellville ground game with 68 yards on 22 carries.

Toronto hits the road Friday and travels across the river to face Weir (1-0) in its home opener. The Red Riders are coming off a Week 1 road victory against rival Oak Glen.