CINCINNATI – It was certainly not the way the Anderson Raptors, #3 in TriStateFootball.com’s Top 25 preseason rankings, and #24 in USA Today’s national rankings, wanted to start the 2026 season.
Playing host to Louisville Trinity, and without head coach Evan Dreyer, who was suspended for the season opener by the OHSAA for a violation involving off-season workouts, the Raptors found themselves in an early hole, en route to a 59-13 loss to the Shamrocks.
Trinity dented the end zone only six plays to open the game, as quarterback Zane Johnson – a Buffalo commit – hit wideout Jason Hagan on a 26-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.
It just continued downhill from there, as Anderson found itself in a 21-0 hole before Raptor QB Owen Scalf found wide receiver Tysin Weaver on a 14-yard touchdown pass to get Anderson on the board.
Scalf would find Weaver again in the second quarter for a 25-yard scoring pass, which would bring Anderson within two scores at 28-13, but it would be the closest the game would get. Trinity poured it on, going into halftime with a 45-13 lead the Shamrocks would never relinquish.
Two more second half scores for Trinity would close out the scoring, as the Shamrocks scored the big upset while totaling 457 yards against the Raptor defense.
Anderson looks to get back on the winning track in Week 2, as they will travel to West Clermont, who defeated Mt. Healthy Friday night 42-12.
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Louisville Trinity 21-24-7-7 59
Anderson 6-7-0-0 13
SCORING PLAYS
T: Jason Hagan 26-yard pass from Zane Johnson (Peyton Hilbert kick)
T: Johnson 6-yard run (Hilbert kick)
T: Jemaurion Berry 7-yard run (Hilbert kick)
A: Tysin Weaver 14-yard pass from Owen Scalf (conversion failed)
T: Ashton Taylor 10-yard run (Hilbert kick)
A: Weaver 25-yard pass from Scalf (Henry Bee kick)
T: Berry 11-yard run (Hilbert kick)
T: Taylor 39-yard run (Hilbert kick)
T: Hilbert 43-yard kick
T: Johnson 7-yard run (Hilbert kick)
T: Carter Duncan 1-yard run (Chris Kehdy kick)
RECORDS: Louisville Trinity 1-0; Anderson 0-1
UP NEXT: #3 Anderson at West Clermont; Louisville Trinity at Christian Brothers College (Mo.)
ENJOYED THE RECAP?
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