TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Blazers collected their first conference victory for the 2025 football season with a 36-0 blowout against the Rawlins Outlaws at home on Friday, October 3.
Explosive plays by both the Blazers offense and defense resulted in a 15-0 halftime lead for Torrington.
A gritty Torrington defense stepped up and shut out Rawlins in a physical third quarter. The Blazers offense dominated the final 12 minutes of regulation with three back-to-back touchdowns.
“This was a great victory,” coach Russell Stienmetz said. “It is good to get back into the win column again. (Senior) Colby Sandusky and (junior quarterback) Drew Kramer led the way offensively with nearly 200 yards rushing (each). We also have to give love to our O-line. We keep improving each week.”
The Blazers board the bus for a conference matchup against Buffalo on Friday, October 10 at 6 p.m.
“Every one of these conference games are huge for seeding and we plan to give (the Buffalo game) everything we have,” Stienmetz continued.
Quarter by quarter
Rawlins opened the game in possession but found itself going nowhere against a solid Torrington defense, including tackles by seniors Xavier Sanchez, Brendan Woodard and Conner Correll and juniors Beau Martinez and Aaraon Chavez.
Rawlins regained possession midway into the first quarter. On the first play, junior Jayden Gross swept in for a sack behind the line of scrimmage. Tackles from Sandusky, senior Landre Greiman, sophomore Garrett Hager, Martinez and Woodard slowed the Outlaws’ advance.
Rawlins attempted to pass. Correll leapt up to intercept the ball and possession returned to the Blazers.
On the first play of Torrington’s subsequent drive, Kramer kept the ball and sprinted 80 yards up the field and into the end zone for Blazers touchdown No. 1.
A good kick by senior Holden Hackett placed Torrington ahead, 7-0.
The Torrington defense hammered away at Rawlins on the Outlaws’ ensuing possession with tackles by Hager, Sanchez, Woodard, Kramer and Chavez.
When Rawlins attempted another pass, Correll was there once again for the interception.
The Blazers closed the first quarter and entered the second in possession. Carries by Sandusky, Kramer, Gross and Woodard brought Torrington to the Rawlins 37-yard line.
Sandusky took a handoff from Kramer and churned up the remaining yards into the end zone for Torrington touchdown No. 2. Kramer kept the ball and rushed into the end zone to convert the PAT-2 and the Blazers led, 15-0.
A sack for loss by Hager and Gross forced Rawlins to punt on the Outlaws’ next possession.
Torrington took possession but came up short in reaching the end zone.
Tackles for no gain by Gross, Sanchez and Chavez shut down Rawlins’ subsequent possession and the Outlaws punted.
Rawlins closed out the first half in possession, but a sack behind the line of scrimmage by Sanchez and Hager stopped the Outlaws’ advance.
An ironclad Torrington defense kept Rawlins from scoring in the third quarter, consisting of tackles by Gross, senior Brady Dagen, Chavez, Woodard and a final stop for loss by Greiman.
The Blazers regained possession early in the fourth quarter. Sandusky drove the ball forward for 17 yards and a first down.
On the next play, Kramer launched the ball to Greiman for a 44-yard touchdown pass play. Hackett kicked the ball between the goalposts to place the Blazers ahead, 22-0.
Rawlins took possession again but ran into stiff resistance from the Blazers defense with tackles from Martinez, Hager, Chavez, Hackett, Kramer, Gross and Woodard.
Rawlins punted and Torrington took control of the ball. Sandusky, Kramer and Greiman relentlessly drove the ball deep into Outlaws territory.
Kramer kept the ball on the final play and dashed into the end zone to the tune of 33 yards for the Blazers’ fourth touchdown.
Hackett made good on kicking in the extra point and Torrington led, 29-0.
Torrington’s reserve players entered the game late in the fourth quarter to finish off the job.
Sophomore quarterback Garrett Hager rushed 59 yards into the end zone for Torrington touchdown No. 6. Hackett kicked in the PAT-1 to place the Blazers up, 36-0.
Torrington’s second-string defense shut out Rawlins for the remainder of the game with tackles from Hager, freshman Danny Bennett, freshman James Stienmetz and freshman Cole Nobs.
Stats
The Blazers collected 458 yards rushing throughout the game while a solid Torrington defense held Rawlins to 143.
Sandusky paced the Blazers offense with 177 yards rushing on 17 carries for one touchdown. Kramer tallied 152 yards rushing on seven carries for two touchdowns while Hager rushed for 59 yards on one carry for one touchdown.
Kramer completed three passes for 53 yards. Greiman was on the receiving end for each of the passes, including the 44-yard touchdown pass play.
On defense, Woodard and Hager both recorded 10 tackles. Hager also made two sacks.
Chavez and Gross each totaled seven tackles, Sanchez five and Martinez and Greiman four. Sanchez and Gross also posted two sacks.
Correll rounded the stat sheet out with two interceptions in the first 12 minutes of regulation.
