Trojans upset No. 17 St. Francis, 41-39
Greg Gorham
Box Score Box Score | Season Stats
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Leading throughout most of the game, the Trinity International Trojans had to survive a rapid comeback by the 17th-ranked St. Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints, holding on for a 41-39 win at Frazier Field on Saturday afternoon. TIU earned the upset victory through a frenzied last-minute drive, orchestrated by quarterback Stephen Anderson, as freshman kicker Jeremiah Carter hit the game-winning 28 yard field goal with just seconds remaining.
The Trojans (3-0) earned their first win over a ranked opponent since 2004, using 482 yards of total offense to hold a lead over the Saints until the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. Anderson finished the day 17-for-28 with 258 yards passing, a pair of touchdown throws and three interceptions. Sophomore rusher Chris Elliott tallied a game-high 144 yards on 28 carries and a pair of scores. The win was also the first against a ranked opponent for fourth-year head coach Kirk Wherritt.
St. Francis rallied for 19 straight points in the fourth to briefly take a 39-38 advantage with just 1:38 remaining. Anderson went 3-for-3 passing on the final drive, as well as taking off for a pair of rushes totaling 31 yards to set the TIU offense up on the USF 11 yard line. Carter split the uprights from 28 yards out to put the Trojans back in front with just 16 seconds remaining.
Both offenses got off to a somewhat sluggish start considering the amount of points put up on the board at the end of the day. The TIU defense stopped St. Francis on their first three drives, with the biggest threat coming on a seven-play, 35 yard drive that finished on a turnover on downs, when Steven Lockhart and Dustin Alewine stuffed running back Anthony Hubert at the TIU 11 yard line. The Trojan offense also looked shaky on their first two drives; Anderson threw an interception on the team's first play from scrimmage, then the offense went three-and-out on the following drive. The Trojans broke through first, with a 19-yard pass from Anderson to wideout Cory Windle, putting TIU ahead 7-0 to finish the first quarter.
The Saints (2-1) answered with a long, 17-play, 71-yard drive spanning the first and second quarters, ultimately tying the game on a 4-yard touchdown pass from E.J. White to Troy Torrence. The Trojans came back with scores on their next two drives, first with a 22-yard field goal from Carter, then with a 27-yard run from Elliott, capping off an 80-yard drive and putting the Trojans ahead 17-7.
St. Francis would make it a one-score game at the half, when USF's Jesse Hogan picked off an Anderson pass, returning the ball 39 yards to the TIU 5-yard line. The Trojan defense would force a third down before White threw his second of five touchdowns on the day, cutting the lead to 17-13 at the break.
After a third TIU interception started the third quarter, the offense would find its rhythm, scoring three straight touchdowns. Anderson found Windle for his second TD reception of the day from five yards out, capping off a ten-play drive. After the Saints answered with a score of their own, TIU put up 14 unanswered points, with an Elliott rushing touchdown and a six-yard pass from Anderson to Patrick Alexander to put the Trojans ahead 38-20 at the start of the fourth quarter.
White rallied the Saints a 42-yard drive, finishing with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Trace Wanless. The two-point conversion would come up empty, keeping the Trojans ahead by two possessions, 38-26 with 11:59 to play.
Both sides traded punts until the Saints were on the attack again, scoring on a 14-yard pass from White to Torrence for his second touchdown catch of the day. The USF extra point made it a one-score game, as TIU led 38-33.
Trying to run out the clock, the Trojans picked up one first down but the drive stalled in less than two minutes, giving the ball back to St. Francis with 3:45 on the clock. White drove the Saints 67 yards in nine plays and just 2:14, finding Dustin Greenwell for the 10-yard touchdown that put St. Francis on top by one. USF went for the two-point conversion, looking to make it a three-point game, but fell short, opening the door for the Trojans to make their last-minute drive, which resulted in Carter's game-winner.
St. Francis had time for one last rally, as White made a 27-yard pass to put the ball within range for a last-second Hail Mary play. On the final play, however, White mis-handled the snap, fumbling the ball while being hit to end the game.
With the win, Trinity International improves to 3-0 for the first time since the 2004 season; that year was the last appearance by the Trojans in the NAIA Tournament, and their last MSFA conference title. TIU is also on a four-game win streak dating back to last year's finale, which stands as the program's longest winning streak since that 2004 squad started their season 4-0.
The tough road continues for TIU, which faces a total of six ranked opponents according to the latest AFCA Coaches Poll. The Trojans will hit the road next week to face No. 22 Robert Morris, in the team's first night game of the season in Arlington Heights, Ill. An audio-only webcast will be available via www.tiutrojans.com.
