Garritt Slatcoff looked like a man on a mission.
Munster’s defense had no answer for Chesterton’s senior quarterback in Friday’s 22-6 Trojans victory. Whether it was through the air or on the ground, Slatcoff came up with big plays again and again.
And again.
Slatcoff rushed for 114 yards and passed for 164. He completed 11-of-15 passes, tossed two touchdowns and played a role in two successful two-point conversions.
“Last week, we struggled on offense (in a 7-6 loss to Kokomo),” Slatcoff said. “I put a lot of that on myself. Our offensive line did great last week. This week, our coaches game-planned well and knew what their defense was going to do.”
Perhaps the biggest play of the game for the Mustangs (1-1) came when Slatcoff completed a go-ahead 10-yard TD pass to Logan Hofferth with three minutes left in the third quarter.
“I went to the short side of the field,” Slatcoff said. “I saw two guys coming at my face. I trusted my receiver to catch the pass. I knew he’d come down with it.”
After the Trojans (1-1) took the lead, their defense forced a turnover on downs by stopping Munster’s Jaylan Scott a yard shy of converting. Chesterton then pulled away with Louie Razo’s 13-yard scoring carry with 6:09 remaining.
Chesterton set the tone early as Slatcoff delivered a 55-yard pass to Rhett Rondinelli for a TD on the game’s first possession.
It seemed Chesterton would take a 6-0 lead into halftime, but a hook-and-ladder play allowed the Mustangs (1-1) to draw even. Andrew Jumonville completed a 5-yard pass to Jaylan Scott, who lateraled to Jeff Proctor. Proctor ran the remaining 58 yards to tie the game.
More Top Picks Best Essential Oil Diffusers
The Trojans made a concerted effort to limit Munster’s rushing attack. The plan paid dividends as Munster totaled 88 yards on the ground. The Mustangs passed for 115 yards, with 63 coming on the hook-and-ladder.
Not to be overshadowed by the offense, Chesterton’s defense held strong again. The Trojans have allowed a total of 13 points in the first two weeks.
“It’s amazing knowing that we don’t have to go out there and put up 40 or 50 points,” Slatcoff said. “We’re just got to get to 14. It’s great.”
Chesterton kicker Nate Needham was limited after tearing a rib muscle in a walk-through prior to last week’s game. The Trojans pooched on kickoffs, had an extra-point try blocked and did not attempt a field goal.
The Mustangs were plagued by three lost fumbles, two of which came while receiving pooch kicks.
The significance of a win over the Mustangs, who prevailed 31-14 in last year’s matchup and defeated Lake Central last week, is not lost on the Trojans.
“Coach Marsh, from a year-to-year basis and over an extended period of time, has great groups of kids,” Chesterton coach Mark Peterson said. “We (relied) on stopping their offense. Last year, they were very aggressive and fast up front.”
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.