The Todd Beamer Titans football team had their opening game Oct. 19 at the new Federal Way Memorial Stadium spoiled by the Trojans of Auburn High School, 44-33.

“We try to always leave on the positives, so I mean we fought,” said Titans Head Coach Rodney McCurry.

He understood the magnitude of playing the opening football game at the stadium, and maybe that was a burden to be that opening game.

“It was a huge moment for everybody. Huge moment for the city and I really wanted them to rise to the occasion … Even (the players are) feeling like they didn’t do what we wanted to come out and accomplish,” said McCurry.

The moment might have been too big for the Titans, as their youth is trying to grow in confidence.

“We are still trying to learn how to rise to the occasion,” McCurry said. “We had three big games in a row and didn’t rise to either of ‘em.”

Junior Jayvion Kidd dragged down by his jersey against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Auburn took the ball down the field in their first possession and scored a touchdown. Todd Beamer answered the call on their first possession, but not how Coach McCurry probably drew it up.

The Titans punted, but after forcing a fumble on the return, Todd Beamer was gifted a second chance. Senior QB Dominic Simpson and company didn’t waiver, and he threw a jump ball for Abdala Shaban, who came down with it for the touchdown. After the first quarter, the Trojans had a narrow lead over Todd Beamer, 8-7.

The other lone score for Coach McCurry’s side was a pick six right before halftime. Sophomore Sam Parkhotyuk intercepted a DJ Bielza pass and ran it 52 yards for the touchdown.

In the second half on Todd Beamer’s first drive, Dominic Simpson led the charge. The QB rushed for every yard from scrimmage on the drive for the Titans. He put his team within nine after a two-yard run with the score 30-21.

Auburn responded with a scoop-and-score on the next Todd Beamer possession and a touchdown on their next offensive possession, taking a 44-21 lead.

“There were too many mistakes. In the last two, we thought we could have gotten (Auburn Mountainview) and this one. There are six-seven turnovers? That’s not even us. We don’t turn the ball over,” McCurry said.

A reason why could be the moment for McCurry’s squad: “I don’t know if it’s pressure for the young guys or what. But we’re a really young team and we just gotta learn how to finish it.”

A duo of Titans combine to take down the Trojan ball carrier. Ben Ray / The Mirror

In the final quarter, Todd Beamer unleashed Sekou Bangoura. The talented senior started playing defensive line in the second half and really slowed down the high-powered Trojan offense. But in the fourth, he got going offensively, breaking off a run of 41 yards for a score, and having a receiving touchdown for the Titans to close out the scoring.

“He’s missed three games and he’s top three in tackles in the league… He’s just a big playmaker, we’re gonna miss him,” McCurry said.

Bangoura was nursing an ankle injury, and his will and fight even surprised those the likes of McCurry.

“We didn’t even know he could (play both sides of the ball). I think he kind of just willed his way through. He seemed like ‘Hey I need to tough this thing out.’ I was proud of him, proud of the way he responded,” McCurry said.

There was just a lot of disappointment on the Beamer sidelines throughout the game. The Titans dealt with injuries for the second consecutive week, something that has been hampering them all season long.

Todd Beamer has one more opportunity to end the season with a win when they face Thomas Jefferson on Oct. 27 at Federal Way Memorial Field.