Trojan Football dominant in home opener against Concordia
Greg Gorham
Box Score Box Score | Season Stats
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Quarterback Steven Anderson passed for 251 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Chris Elliott posted his third straight 100-yard rushing performance, as the Trinity International Trojans earned a 57-6 victory over the Concordia (Mich.) Cardinals, in TIU's home opener Saturday afternoon at Leslie Frazier Field.
The Cardinals (0-1) opened up the game with a long touchdown drive off the opening kickoff, eating the first 7:36 off the clock and taking a 6-0 lead over TIU. After then forcing the Trinity offense into a three-and-out, Concordia had the opportunity to take a double-digit lead and take control of the game. The Trojans never let that happen, however, as the defense earned a three-and-out of their own, before Anderson (La Mirada, Calif./Whittier Christian HS) drove TIU 80 yards for the touchdown to give Trinity the lead and start a run of 57 unanswered points throughout the rest of the game.
Anderson connected with senior wideout Cristian Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Globe CC) for a 43 yard touchdown pass in the Trojans' first score of the game. Robinson finished as TIU's leading receiver, making nine catches for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
That opening score started a run for the Trojans (2-0) of scoring touchdowns on four of the next five drives. Anderson connected with senior Thomas Kenney (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian HS) to open the second quarter and make it a 14-6 game. The quarterback then called his own number for a 26 yard touchdown run, before connecting with Robinson again on a 15 yard score, and TIU would claim a 27-6 halftime lead.
The Trojan defense was just as dominant in the first half. After the game-opening drive from Concordia, the TIU defense did not give up a single first down until midway through the second quarter, in a drive that resulted in a turnover on downs after only five plays. In all, the Trojans forced a total of 10 Concordia punts throughout the day, and a pair of turnovers on downs.
To open up the second half, Trinity nearly had an opportunity for another score. The Trojans moved the ball 66 yards before ultimately being stood up at the goal line. The Concordia defense was able to stop TIU from the three yard line on three straight plays, including the fourth down pass that fell incomplete.
Before the Cardinals could get out of being pinned deep in their own territory, Stephen Lockhart (Chicago, Ill./Proviso West HS) and Vincient Aguilar (Chino Hills, Calif./Citrus CC) brought down the Concordia quarterback in the end zone for the safety, giving the Trojans a 29-6 lead.
Elliott (Miami, Fla./Dade Christian HS) continued the scoring midway through the third quarter, as his three-yard TD run capped a 25-yard drive that followed a fumble from the Cardinals. Patrick Alexander (Atlanta, Ga./Sandy Creek HS) capped off the quarter with his 39 yard pass from Anderson, giving TIU a 43-6 lead heading into the fourth.
With the reserves taking the place of the starters in the fourth quarter, TIU continued to put up numbers. Freshman running back Andrew Florivil (Miami, Fla./Dade Christian HS) scored a pair of late touchdowns on the day, collecting 51 yards on nine carries.
Reigning NCCAA Defensive Player of the Week Dustin Alewine (Mission Viejo, Calif./Saddleback CC) posted even bigger numbers than in his performance a week ago, as the senior lineman collected three sacks on the day, for a total of 14 yards. As a team, the Trojans got to the quarterback six times on the day, and had 16 tackles for loss. Justin Barnes (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica CC) led TIU with eight total tackles in the win.
With the win, the Trojans improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2004 season, in which they made their last appearance in the NAIA playoffs. TIU currently has a three-game win streak, dating back to the win over Waldorf in the 2012 finale, which stands as the team's longest winning streak since that 2004 season. TIU is also now 3-1 in home openers under head coach Kirk Wherritt.
The Trojans will enjoy some rest with a bye week, before hosting the University of St. Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints on Saturday, September 21. Kickoff against the Saints is set for 1 p.m.
