DEERFIELD, Ill. -- For just the third time in program history, the Trinity International Trojans faced off against the defending NAIA national champions, and on a muddy Leslie Frazier Field, TIU held an early lead. The No. 5 Grand View Vikings would gain momentum in the second quarter, starting a run of 47 unanswered points as the Trojans ultimately fell 47-13, Saturday afternoon.

The Trinity defense stopped the Vikings on their first three drives, which included two punts and a missed 24-yard field goal, before Grand View got on the scoreboard. The offense struggled however, as three first half fumbles put set the Vikings up in good field position and kept the GVU defense off the field. 

The Trojans did take an early lead on one of those defensive stops, when Achike Morah picked up the loose ball after Kyran Davis' blocked punt, running the ball 26 yards for the game's first touchdown. A fumbled snap on the extra point meant the Trojans would hold a 6-0 edge with about three and a half minutes in the first quarter.

Grand View answered on their next drive, when a pass interference call on fourth down put the Vikings in the red zone, ultimately resulting in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Derek Fulton to Brady Roland, to put GVU ahead 7-6. Trinity looked to be driving into scoring range again, but a fumble was lost after the Trojans crossed midfield, recovered by the defense. Grand View had picked up the loose ball and returned it all the way to the end zone, but a block-in-the-back call took the points off the board. Six plays later, the Vikings would put them back up on a TD run from six yards out.

After a three-and-out for the Trojan offense, followed by another Grand View score, Trinity had entered the red zone and looked to get back into the game near the end of the first half. Another fumble at the GVU 20-yardline, however, resulted in another turnover, killing the drive. The TIU defense would get a stop on the following drive, but the Vikings picked up their fourth TD of the half with just 22 seconds remaining, on a 40-yard Fulton-to-Roland pass.

Offensively, Trinity struggled to move the ball in the third quarter, gaining just one first down over their four drives in the quarter. As Grand View built their lead to a 47-6 margin, the Trojans closed the gap to 47-13, as quarterback J.J. Burmeister found Cory Windle on a 21-yard touchdown pass, finishing off a nine-play, 53-yard drive. 

Burmeister finished the day 13-for-24, for 110 yards and one touchdown, and did not throw an interception. Running back Chris Elliott collected 48 yards on 18 carries; with his 18 attempts, the junior becomes TIU's all-time leader in rushing attempts, and has 560 total attempts during his three seasons as a Trojan.

Windle and Aaron Ordway caught a team-high three passes each, as Windle led the Trojans with 30 receiving yards.

On the other side of the ball, linebacker Riley Schussler had a game-high 16 tackles, while three other Trojans finished in double figures; Darwin Stone with 14 tackles, John Melton with 13, and Daniel Harris with 11. Linebacker Ethan Ming picked up one and a half sacks on the day, and two and a half tackles for loss, while safety Brad Badali recorded the Trojans' lone interception on the day.

Trinity will take a breather during the bye week next Saturday, before taking on Trinity Bible College (N.D.) in non-conference action. Kickoff against the Lions at Frazier Field is set for Saturday, November 1, at 12:00 p.m.