Trojans Football face Trinity Bible in Week 1 matchup
Greg Gorham
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TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (0-0) at TRINITY BIBLE LIONS (0-0)
August 31, 2013 | 12:00 p.m.
Ellendale, N.D. | Bob Tatum Field
Game Notes | Listen Live
Kickoff
• The Trinity International Trojans kick off the 2013 season on the road, as TIU travels to Ellendale, N.D. to face off against the Trinity Bible College Lions. Kickoff is set for Saturday, August 31, at 12:00 p.m. A free, audio-only webcast will be available at www.tiutrojans.com.
Quick Hits
• The Trojans will go for their third season-opening victory in the past four years; TIU started the 2012 and 2010 campaigns with a 1-0 mark with wins over Trinity Bible and Iowa Wesleyan, respectively.
• The Trojans are coming off a 4-7 season a year ago, where they doubled their win total from the previous season, and recorded the program's highest win total in six years.
• This game will mark the second-ever meeting between the Trojans and Lions. TIU defeated Trinity Bible 59-15, at Leslie Frazier Field to kick off the 2012 season.
• TIU's offensive attack will have some familiar faces from last year's squad, as sophomore quarterback Stephen Anderson and running back Chris Elliott return as starters this year.
• The Trojans ranked 2nd in the MSFA last season in total offense, averaging 449.0 yards per game. Nationally, TIU ranked 10th in the NAIA in total offense, 13th in passing yards (247.7 ypg), and 17th in rushing yards (199.3 ypg).
Series History
• Trinity International and Trinity Bible have met only once previously, as the Trojans hold a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series.
• The lone matchup came in 2012, when the Trojans took a 59-15 victory in the opening week of the season.
• This week's game will be the first matchup between the two teams in Ellendale.
Last Time vs Trinity Bible
• TIU had their highest offensive output of the season in the very first game of the year, putting up 59 points against the Lions.
• The Trojans had over 600 yards of total offense in the win, including a pair of hundred-yard rushers in Chris Elliott (138) and Donnie Irving (126).
• Quarterback Stephen Anderson attemped just 14 passes in the win, but went 9-for-14 with 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions.
• Trinity Bible held an early lead in the game, scoring on the opening drive. The Lions went 75 yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 first quarter lead. TIU then scored 46 unanswered points to take a commanding lead.
About Trinity Bible
• Trinity Bible College plays as an independent program, affilliated with the NCCAA.
• The Lions went 3-8 last season, with victories over Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Cole College, and Dakota College at Bottineau.
Trojans in Season Openers
• TIU is 2-1 in season-opening games under head coach Kirk Wherritt.
• The Trojans are 11-12 all-time in season-openers, and 6-6 when opening the season on the road.
• The last road win to open up the year came in 2004, when the Trojans shut out Greenville (Ill.) 36-0.
A Trojan Win Would...
• ... Give the Trojans two straight season wins, the longest such streak since 2004-05.
• ... Improve TIU's all-time record over Trinity Bible to 2-0.
• ... Improve Trinity's current win streak to two games, dating back to last season's finale against Waldorf.
A Trojan Loss Would...
• ... Be the first ever loss to Trinity Bible, and drop the all-time series to 1-1.
• ... Be the third straight loss on the road, after defeats to #20 St. Francis (Ill.) and Olivet Nazarene last season.
• ... Be the first loss to a non-MSFA opponent since 2011, when the Trojans fell on the road to McKendree (Ill.) 24-9.
Trojan Football History
• The Trinity International Trojan football program has an all-time record of 92-148-2, dating back to their first season as a varsity program in 1990.
• TIU's head coach for the inaugural season in 1989 through 1996 was Leslie Frazier. Frazier is currently the head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, and had a record of 38-37-3.
• The Trojans have won three MSFA Midwest League titles in school history, in 1994, 1995, and 2003.
• Trinity International has earned two NAIA playoff berths, in 1994 and 2004. TIU is still searching for their first NAIA playoff victory, falling to Northwestern (Iowa) and Georgetown (Ky.), respectively.
• TIU has one appearance in the NCCAA Victory Bowl, where they fell to Garner-Webb (N.C.), 54-14, in 2001.
