Turnovers prove costly as Trojans fall to St. Xavier, 37-20
Greg Gorham
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CHICAGO, Ill. -- Trinity International picked up over 200 rushing yards, and 420 yards of total offense, but a pair of costly turnovers at the end of long drives ended up costing the Trojans, who fell at No. 23 St. Xavier, 37-20, Saturday afternoon at Deaton Memorial Field.
The Trojans (5-4, 2-3 MSFA Midwest) suffered a pair of interceptions and a pair of lost fumbles on the day, and produced a -3 turnover margin in the game. Two of those giveaways came in SXU territory, including one fumble that occurred just one yard away from the end zone.
Trinity International was the first to get on the scoreboard, on their second drive of the day. Stephen Anderson capped off a seven-play, 45-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cory Windle, with 5:34 on the clock in the first quarter. The freshman wideout finished the day with seven catches and a team-high 88 receiving yards.
The Cougars (6-4, 3-2 MSFA Midwest) answered on their next possession with a touchdown of their own, on an eight-play, 56-yard drive that finished with a pass from senior Joe Gill to Nick DeBenedetti from eight yards out. SXU took a 7-6 edge after the extra point, which the Trojans failed to convert on their touchdown drive.
St. Xavier extended their lead just three plays later, after linebacker Zach Dolph picked off the Anderson pass at the TIU 32-yard line, returning the interception for a touchdown to go in front 14-6. The next Trojan drive also ended abruptly after just three plays, after Namu Keys lost the ball on a 3rd-and-2 from the TIU 23 yard line. The Cougars recovered the loose ball, starting the drive deep in Trojan territory. The Trinity defense held strong, forcing a three-and-out, and the Cougars came away with no points off the turnover after a 48-yard field goal attempt missed wide right.
Both sides traded punts in the early stages of the second quarter, until a 33-yard pass from Gill set up St. Xavier inside the Trojan 10-yard line. SXU's Dennis Vilimek made the touchdown catch from nine yards out to put his team ahead 21-6.
A 14-play drive that took over five and a half minutes off the clock looked to get Trinity International back into the game; TIU picked up six first downs on the drive, including three third-down conversions. After Chris Elliott's 10-yard run put the ball inside the SXU 1-yard line, the Trojans suffered their second fumble of the day, as TIU came away without any points on the board. The Cougars turned the extra opportunity into a 99-yard drive, capped off with a two-yard touchdown run with just 20 seconds before the half.
The Trojans fired back to start the second half, as the TIU offense started with the ball to begin the third quarter. Highlighted by a 16-yard run from Elliott, the Trojans scored on an eight-yard pass from Anderson to backup-QB Dillon Turk, who lined up as a wideout on the play. Aaron Ordway connected on the extra point, as TIU climbed back to within two scores, at 27-13.
St. Xavier made it a three-possession game after a 51-yard pass put the Cougars in field goal range on the next drive. Once the first play of the drive set up SXU with a 1st-and-goal at the TIU 10, the Trojan defense stopped three straight pass plays, and SXU settled for a 27-yard field goal. Trinity International took advantage, driving 75 yards on ten plays on their next possession. Elliott picked up his 11th touchdown rush of the season from eight yards out, bringing TIU within ten points, as St. Xavier held a 30-20 edge with 6:15 to play in the third quarter.
The Cougars again had an answer, setting up their offense with solid field position after a kick return that gave them the ball near midfield. Gill connected with DeBenedetti again for an 11-yard touchdown, extending their lead back to 37-20.
TIU's offense was stopped on their final three drives without putting any points on the board, with the St. Xavier stopping the Trojans on fourth down twice, as the NAIA national leaders in fourth-down conversion finished 1-for-3 on fourth downs on the day.
Elliott, in his first action back after missing the last game due to injury, rushed for 113 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. The sophomore from Miami, Fla. has posted 100-plus rushing yards in seven of eight games this year, with his only under-100 performance coming in a Grand View matchup that he left early because of injury. Elliott also surpassed the 2,000 rushing yard mark for his career in the game.
Anderson finished with 217 passing yards on the day, going 22-for-35 with a pair of touchdowns. The sophomore suffered five sacks on the day, after going down just ten times throughout the season entering play on Saturday.
The Trojans return to Frazier Field one final time in 2013, when they host the William Penn Statesmen, Saturday November 16. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., as the TIU seniors will be honored as part of the Senior Day festivities.
