DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Trailing throughout most of the first half, the Trinity International Trojans answered soundly, scoring 49 unanswered points to claim a 63-21 win over the Trinity Bible (N.D.) Lions, Saturday afternoon at Leslie Frazier Field. The Trojans put up 21 points in the second, third and fourth quarters to pull away from what started as a close battle.

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The Trojans generated 651 yards of total offense, but allowed 572 yards to the Lions, including 488 passing yards for TBC. The Lions struck first, with an eight-play, 88-yard drive towards the end of the first quarter, that finished in a 20-yard TD pass from TBC's Donovon Flahert to wideout David Rivera. The Lions faked the extra point, and converted on the two-point conversion, taking an early 8-0 advantage.

Trinity International answered on their next drive, as Cory Windle made the first of his two TD catches, from four yards out, on the first play of the second quarter, as the Trojans cut into the deficit, 8-7. TBC nearly extended their lead with another score on the following drive, but after a big kick return and setting up in the Trojan red zone, TIU safety Brad Badali grabbed his team-leading fourth interception of the year in the end zone.

A TIU three-and-out allowed Trinity Bible to go on the attack again, however, and the Lions posted a four-play, 63-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard TD run from Kazdan Reis. The Lions went for two again, but was stopped by the Trojan defense this time, and took a 14-7 lead.

TIU running back Andrew Florivil brought his team back to level with a 1-yard TD, capping off a six-play drive highlighted by Kyran Davis' 31-yard reception to put the Trojans a yard out from the end zone.

A seven-yard TD pass from Flahert to Jerome Lowery put the Lions ahead 21-14 with 7:25 to play in the half, but TIU would put the game away from there. After a Trojan fumble, Trinity caught a break with a missed 29-yard field goal from TBC, and the TIU offense responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, highlighted by a pair runs from Chris Elliott of 19 and 14 yards, and a nine-yard Courtney Johnson TD catch from Anderson. With just over a minute to play in the half, the Trojans would run out the clock and head to the locker room in a 21-21 tie.

Trinity wasted no time in the second half. After a Gary Tyler kick return set the offense up in TBC territory, Patrick Murano broke loose for a 31-yard TD run to put TIU in front 28-21. Another missed field goal from the Lions on their first drive of the half preceded another 10-play, 80-yard drive, and a 32-yard scramble from Anderson, resulting in a touchdown, and 35-21 edge for the Trojans.

TIU would go on to score four more times, most of which came on big plays; Cory Windle caught a 42-yard pass from Anderson to extend the lead to 42-21, his second TD of the day. Anderson broke a second long scramble for a touchdown, scampering 27 yards in the fourth quarter to put the Trojans ahead 56-21. Finally, Florivil had the longest run of the day, busting out a 47-yard score in the closing minutes of the game to put the finishing touches on the win, 63-21.

Four different Trojans rushers posted 65 yards or more on the ground, led by Elliott, who had 179 yards on 17 carries. Anderson collected 84 yards on seven attempts, and a pair of TDs. Murano had 11 rushes for 72 yards, while Florivil tallied 65 yards on seven tries.

Defensively, Riley Schussler led the way with 15 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Linebacker Ethan Ming posted 12 stops, along with 1.5 sacks and an interception. Safety Brad Badali claimed the team lead with his fourth pick of the year.

The Trojans snap a five-game slide with the win over the Lions, and with the win, head coach Kirk Wherrit moves into a tie for third on TIU's all-time coaching wins list, with 17 victories. 

TIU is back home next Saturday, when they play host to the 9th-ranked St. Xavier Cougars. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m., as Trinity International will honor their senior athletes as part of the Senior Day festivities.