JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After losing last season’s opening game to the Columbia Tigers 38-7, the Trinity Conquerors (1-1) sought out and conquered their revenge by beating the Tigers 28-21.
The Conquerors came out strong and scored the first touchdown of the night. Thomas Fryer, junior running back, rushed in for a touchdown with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.
As the first quarter winded down Marcus Peterson, junior wide receiver, caught a beautiful pass in the end zone with 1:20 on the clock. Time ran out and the score after one was tied at 7-7.
To start the second quarter, the Conquerors dished out their running game. Treyaun Webb, sophomore running back, was playing on a high ankle sprain and had come off the bench for the team. But his ankle didn’t seem to slow him down as he rushed for Trinity’s second touchdown of the night to give them the lead 13-7 with 6:47 left to play in the half.
But once again with under two minutes to go in the quarter, the Tigers struck again. Jaden Williams, senior wide receiver, tip toed into the end zone with 1:19 to play in the half. That would be the final touchdown of the half. The Tigers were up 14-13.
Trinity looked slightly disoriented in the third quarter as they didn’t score, and the Tigers took advantage as Peterson ran the ball in for another Tiger touchdown. His second score of the night, with 8:22 to play in the third quarter made the score 21-13.
The Conquerors Head Coach Verlon Dorminey stated “I told the team in the locker room that whoever is going to win this ball game is whoever makes the least mistakes.”
The Conquerors heard him loud and clear and proceeded and capitalized on the Tigers mistakes down the stretch and it all began with Webb. The Georgia commit, muscled his way into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown. Instead of going for the field goal, the Conquerors converted the 2-point conversion from Fryer to tie the game at 21 with 8:13 left to play.
Trinity built on their momentum and when the Tigers failed to execute a punt snap correctly, Trinity regained possession at Columbia’s 14. That was all the room Webb needed to run back into the end zone for the game winning touchdown with five minutes to play. On the night, Webb rushed for 133 yards and helped put the Conquerors back on top 28-21.
The Tigers tried to get one more touchdown in but Caden Morrell, junior linebacker, stopped the Tigers offense dead in their tracks. Morrell made two key stops in the final five minutes to ensure TCA the 28-21 victory.
Both teams will be at their respective homes next Friday. Trinity welcomes the NFEI Eagles and Columbia welcomes the Gainesville Hurricanes. Kick off for both games is at 7:30 pm.
