OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Facing one of the top rushing offenses in the nation, the Trinity International Trojans allowed 341 yards on the ground and 42 unanswered points, falling to the No. 21 William Penn Statesmen, 42-8.
Box Score | Season Stats | MSFA StandingsFour of the Statesmen's five first-half possessions resulted in scores, including a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Trojans got in the board in the fourth quarter, with a 42-yard touchdown pass from
Stephen Anderson to
Cory Windle.
Both defenses looked strong in the first quarter, as the game's first three drives ended in either a turnover on downs, or an interception. The Statesmen got on the board at the 3:58 mark of the first quarter, when quarterback Tyler Hafner completed a 33-yard TD pass to put WPU in front, 7-0.
William Penn tried for the onside kick, but the Trojans recovered in WPU territory. The offense went three-and-out, however, before William Penn went on a 13-play, 87-yard drive resulting in a four-yard TD run from Michael Thomas.
The Trojans looked to cut the deficit in half, when two straight passes from Anderson to Windle moved the ball to the WPU 3 yard line. A 14-point swing went in favor of the Statesmen, however, as an intercepted pass at the one yard-line went 99 yards the other way for the score, giving William Penn a 21-0 lead.
The Statesmen would add one more TD before the half, and two more in the third quarter to take a 42-0 lead. Trinity would respond after recovering a William Penn fumble in the fourth quarter, taking over on their own 22-yardline and marking 78 yards in five plays, capped off with the 42-yard TD pass to Windle.
The Trojan offense generated 87 yards on the ground between four rushers; senior
Namu Keys led TIU with 42 yards on 12 carries. Anderson finished the day 12-for-26, with 192 yards and one TD. Windle was his favorite target on the day, with a team-high five receptions and 103 yards.
Defensively, linebacker
Riley Schussler posted a career-high 23 tackles in an effort to stop the WPU running game.
Justin Hackley had the Trojans' lone sack on the day, his sixth of the season.
With the loss, the Trojans end the season with a 3-7 record, and an 0-5 mark in the MSFA Midwest League.