The Trojans were ready to charge back onto the football field.
With the preseason and jamboree behind them, Soddy-Daisy opened the season Friday night with a statement 49-15 win at home over Red Bank.
The Trojans were aggressive early, with their defense forcing two Lions turnovers that immediately turned into points.
"Our defense was attacking all night," Soddy-Daisy coach Justin Barnes said. "They were swarming the ball. It wasn't just one guy making the tackle, but multiple guys getting on the ball."
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Brandon Davis picked off a Red Bank pass, which led to Justin Cooke's 36-yard strike to Tre Carter.
The Lions then turned the ball over on downs, and Christian Bell took his turn at finding the end zone for a 39-yard run.
By 6:10 to play in the first quarter, Soddy-Daisy was up 21-0 after Carter's second big catch - this one for 57 yards.
"I was just excited to get back and be a part of the football team," Carter said. "I've been traveling a lot this summer for baseball, so it was good to be back. I have to thank the linemen for giving Justin all that time to throw. Without them, I wouldn't have been catching those passes."
Red Bank got on the board in the second quarter with a 49-yard field goal off the foot of Sandy Beganovic, but Carter and Cooke weren't done.
Cooke rifled a laser to Carter, who leaped over his defenders to make the grab. After another Beganovic boot through the uprights, Carter used his speed to go for a 76-yard score. It was his fourth touchdown in four catches.
Soddy-Daisy led 35-6 at the break.
"We have a long way to go. That's all I can say," Lions coach Chad Grabowski said. "We had some young guy in the making plays and getting experience, so that was good."
The second half looked promising early for Red Bank, which recovered the opening kickoff and kicked a field goal to make it 35-9.
However, the Trojans reached the end zone two more times to put the game away. Bell scored on another run and Cooke threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night to Jaden Holcombe.
Like Carter, Cooke was perfect, going 8-of-8 for 224 yards. Carter totaled 194 of those yards.
"I think this has to motivate us to win like this more," Carter said. "We just have to come out to practice and keep getting better and work hard every day."
Red Bank scored its only touchdown on the last play of the game. Caleb Tate aired one out to Tory Sewell for a 35-yard score.
The Lions offense was led by Demarcus Rivers, who rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries. Tate accounted for 70 yards in the air.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com