Though its hard to tell from the final score a 28-7 win over South County T.C. Williams first night game in school history was, for a while, anything but certain.

While Parker-Gray Memorial Stadium was alive with a carnival atmosphere, the on-field action came somewhat closer to the Western Front in 1916 for three quarters of play. Three-and-out followed three-and-out, until Titans coach Dennis Randolph watched yet another drive stall this time just yards from the Stallions end zone. 

Randolph sent out the field goal unit, but when a South County penalty put the Titans within six inches of the end zone, he decided to go for it. The decision was a roll of the dice, though the Titans coach felt he had them loaded. 

Even if we didnt score they were going to get the ball on their six inch line, he said. And our defense was playing real well.

It was the momentum shift the Titans needed. Not long after, sophomore quarterback Alec Grosser found senior wide receiver Will Rossi for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Though South County attempted to storm back the latter half of the fourth quarter, coming within seven before T.Cs Zaquan Summers and Clifton Cooper put the Titans beyond reach. The win keeps the Titans in playoff contention, though they’ll have to beat Lee next week to secure a post-season berth.

We play well at times, but we havent played well all along and tonight they went after people, Randolph said. It was a nail-biter for a while, but thats the way youve got to play sometimes.