Trojan Football defeats Trinity Bible, 48-0
Greg Gorham
Box Score
Box Score
ELLENDALE, N.D. -- The Trinity International Trojans showed no signs of weariness following a long season-opening trip to North Dakota, dominating on both sides of the ball in a 48-0 win over the Trinity Bible Lions on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans (1-0) collected 443 yards of total offense while holding the Lions to just 160 yards in the victory.
Sophomore running back Chris Elliott (Miami, Fla./Dade Christian HS) picked up right where he left off in 2012, rushing for 103 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. Elliott averaged 5.7 yards per carry in the win. Quarterback Stephen Anderson (La Mirada, Calif./Whittier Christian HS)Â had a strong day as well, going 14-for-22 for 195 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, freshman safety Darwin Stone (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central HS) led TIU with nine tackles on the day, while Riley Schussler (Wrightstown, Wisc./Wrightstown HS) and Dustin Alewine (Mission Viejo, Calif./Saddleback CC) each picked up one and a half sacks.
After losing their first drive of the game with a fumble, the Trojan defense stepped up and forced a TBC three-and-out. TIU then went 52 yards on just four plays to score the first touchdown of the season, as Chris Elliott punched the ball in from the one yardline.
The score was the first of four straight touchdown drives by the Trojan offense, which featured Elliott scoring on three of the four drives. Anderson hooked up with wideout Cristian Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Globe CC) for a 16-yard touchdown pass on the other drive, as Trinity International jumped out to a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
The Lions finally got a stop, which led to an Aaron Ordway (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple-Kellog HS) punt that pinned Trinity Bible on their own 10 yardline. The Trojan defense pushed TBC back and picked up a safety on fourth down, pushing the TIU lead to 30-0.
Jeremiah Carter (Irvine, Calif./Irvine HS) capped off the first half with a 21-yard field goal, giving the Trojans a 33-0 halftime lead.
After trading punts back and forth to open up the second half, Trinity International capitalized on a short field, taking over at the Lions' 30-yard line. Andrew Florivil (Miami, Fla./Dade Christian HS) punched in the Trojans last touchdown score of the day from four yards out, finishing off a five-play drive and putting TIU ahead 40-0.
A 20-minute weather delay in the fourth quater held up the finish of the game, and as both teams retook the field the scoring slowed as well. The Lions' Collin Anderson picked off a pass from backup quarterback Dillon Turk (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua HS) in the end zone, but then decided to run it out, and was brought down at just the two-yard line. The Trinity International defense stepped up again, recording their second safety of the game on the very next play, as TIU went ahead 42-0.
A pair of Carter field goals, from 25 and 44 yards out finished out the game, as the Trojans came away with an important first victory of the year.
Robinson led the Trojans in receiving, making five catches on the day for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Field position was an important aspect of the TIU defense's success, and Ordway had a strong performance as well. Three of Ordway's five punts were placed inside the 20 yardline, consistently giving the Lions a long field in which to work.
The Trojans will now look ahead to next Saturday, September 7, for their home opener at Frazier Field. TIU will host Concordia (Mich.) in an important MSFA interleague matchup, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
