Charleston junior quarterback Wyatt Gordon threw three interceptions in the first half of the Trojans’ 41-6 loss to Robinson in week one of the IHSA season at Crosby Field Friday night. 

Head coach Brian Halsey said only one interception was his fault, while the other two were errors in the other parts of the offense. One, he said, was caused by the receiver running the route too deep and another was blown pass protection. 

“Yes, statistically he had three interceptions, however, when you’re not running the right routes and you’re not pass protecting properly and picking up a backside block, he’s running for his life,” Halsey said. “And that’s on me, I’ll do a better job preparing these kids and we’ll get better. On the other end of it I thought he threw some great balls.” 

Gordon finished with 44 passing yards and didn’t throw another interception in the second half of his football debut. 

Robinson didn’t know what to expect from Gordon heading into the game, considering they had no game film to rely on. 

“You got to expect like he’s the best quarterback you’re going to go against,” Head coach Matt Music said. “You don’t know who it is. You don’t know if he’s a running guy, if he can throw it or do a little bit of both. So, our guys and our DB coach, our defensive guys did a great job just game planning, just being simple. When you’re simple you can play fast and play with confidence.” 

Charleston trailed early on starting off going three-and-out followed by a 73-yard touchdown run by Robinson senior AJ Knoblett on the Maroons’ first offensive play of the game.  

Despite the early set back, the Trojan’s sideline didn’t become hostile. Rather, a dejected Gordon was consistently encouraged by his Trojan teammates throughout the game. 

“If this game would have happened this time last year, we would have been throwing stuff and negative and just looking like a side show, but these kids held their composure, picked each other up and that’s a huge positive,” Halsey said. “And we’re going to build on that.” 

Halsey said this game was a big teaching moment for a lot of players. 

Charleston’s positivity and resilience showed in the final two minutes of the game with the Trojans not giving up and getting points on the board with a 51-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Blaine Taylor-Lutz. 

Lutz’s run would add to the Trojan’s total rushing total of 118 yards. Most of the carries had the most carries from junior running back Treylin Couch. 

That wasn’t the first time that the Trojans had reached the end zone. Charleston was returning a kickoff in the first quarter, and Couch received a lateral, reversed field and outran everybody up the sideline to the end zone. However, an illegal block in the back penalty during the return wiped the touchdown off the board.  

Charleston will head to Paris to face another former Apollo conference opponent next Friday.  

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.  

Bryce Parker can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].