Todd Beamer running back Billy Vann was in a slump. He knew it, too.

After struggling to find playing time and running room against Federal Way last Friday, the sophomore back exploded for a career night during the Titan’s 33-7 rout of Auburn Riverside on Thursday at Memorial Stadium.

Despite Vann’s lackluster performance the week prior, Todd Beamer (4-1, 3-0) coach Darren McKay showed steadfast confidence in his No. 1 halfback. On 22 carries, Vann produced 221 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

McKay said Vann showed tremendous improvement from his performance a week ago.

“There were times he was putting his foot in the ground and was just missing creases,” McKay said. “He made some adjustments and he had some really nice cuts tonight.”

Vann said last week’s performance, where he rushed for less than 40 yards, really got to him, but he said he used it as motivation during practice and was determined to not have a repeat against the Ravens.

“Last week was tough,” Vann said. “I just couldn’t get it going. I had good blocking by the line, and I was just able to execute (against Auburn Riverside).”

Initially, McKay said he wasn’t sure how Beamer would come out after last week’s dramatic win over the rival Eagles while playing on a short week. Both clearly affected the Titans through the first half.

The two teams played to a scoreless draw to start the second quarter and almost went scoreless to halftime.

With 3 minutes, 13 seconds left in the half, however, Ravens quarterback Tiano Malietufa drove Auburn Riverside down the field and finished the drive with a goal-line touchdown run.

After a three-and-out series by the Titan offense, it was Beamer’s special teams bringing the team back to life. With a minute to play in the half, they blocked the Ravens’ ensuing punt and recovered the ball at the 20-yard line. Four plays later, with six seconds left in the half, running back Kuma Scanlon scored from the goal line.

Titans kicker Dylan Alley missed the extra point, and Auburn Riverside led 7-6 at halftime.

“We struggled to stop the run in the first half,” said Scanlon, Beamer’s defensive captain. “We weren’t plugging up holes fast enough and they were getting through. We needed to line up better and read the run.”

The defense did just that. And the Ravens never scored again.

With just 49 yards rushing through the first half, it looked to be another disappointing night for Vann. But with defensive adjustments made, he was able to take over.

As he did in the first half, Vann opened the third by chipping away for short gains. In the meantime, Titans quarterback Colton Nelton connected with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Parker Edwards with 4:26 left in the quarter, giving Beamer its first lead of the game at 13-7. The score held until the 10:50 mark of the fourth quarter.

It was a fourth quarter that belonged to Vann.

“It really had to do with film,” Vann said of the Beamer turnaround. “We went into the locker room and watched what we were doing wrong. We were able to fix it, and that’s what helped us push.”

Vann started his first touchdown drive with a gain of 19 yards, his largest of the game to that point. McKay called Vann’s number again on the very next play, and Vann took the ball 51 yards for the score and the 20-7 lead.

The sophomore wasn’t done, and the next drive saw him take the ball in for the score from 61 yards out. That last burst put Vann at 172 yards in the second half alone.

Scanlon put the final stamp on the game, intercepting a Malietufa throw and scoring from 19 yards out.

“They wanted to score in a hurry and we knew they were going to throw it,” Scanlon said of his interception. “I stayed with my man, saw (Malietufa) looking my way the whole time, so I just made sure to try and stay in front of the ball.”

Todd Beamer responded with dominance after a shaky rivalry week, and Vann exploded out of his slump in the win.

After playing on a short week, McKay said the extra day of rest the Titans get before next Friday’s rivalry game with Thomas Jefferson is critical.

McKay said, historically, the Raiders like to add an extra defender in the box in an attempt to halt Beamer’s run game. As such, the Titans can ill afford an off night going forward.

But with Vann and the three other Beamer running backs all on the same page, McKay said concerns of a “slump” have been put to rest.

“They really put that extra guy in there to try to stop Colin (McKay),” McKay said. “But we’ve got Kuma and Billy to pound it. So we need all our guys rested and at their best.”