Box Score DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Trinity International finished with 245 rushing yards, and just two yards fewer than their opponents, but a 28-point halftime deficit proved to be too much to overcome, as the Trojans fell to the No. 8 St. Xavier Cougars, 45-23, Saturday afternoon at Frazier Field.

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St. Xavier scored on five of their first six possessions, with a missed field goal in the seventh, to jump out to a 31-3 lead over Trinity. The Trojans' lone score in the first half came on a 39-yard Jeremiah Carter field goal midway through the second quarter, capping off a nine-play, 50-yard drive.

The Cougars opened the game with a 20-yard field goal on the first drive of the day, after the Trojans stopped SXU from punching the ball in from inside the TIU two-yard line. After a three-and-out for the Trojan offense, however, St. Xavier scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass just four plays later. SXU later extended their lead to 17-0 on a 51-yard punt return for a touchdown; two more touchdown passes from SXU quarterback John Rhode made it a 31-3 game at the half.

Another two scores in the third quarter put the game away, but the TIU offense started to show some momentum in the fourth quarter. Stephen Anderson capped off the longest drive of the day by either team with a four-yard TD scramble, then found Cory Windle for the two-point conversion, making it a 45-11 score.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Trojans took over in Cougar territory, and five plays later, Anderson completed the touchdown pass to Aaron Ordway from ten yards out. The two-point attempt fell inches short, as the Trojans chipped away again, 45-17.

Senior Namu Keys finished the TIU scoring for the day, with his one yard TD run, closing the gap again, but Trinity would run out of time before getting back into the game.

Junior Chris Elliott had a solid day, collecting 134 yards on the ground, with 23 carries. Anderson posted 91 rushing yards of his own, along with the rushing TD.

Defensively, Riley Schussler led the way with 16 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

The Trojans will wrap up the 2014 regular season next weekend, when they travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to take on the William Penn Statemen. Kickoff on Saturday, November 15, is set for 12:00 p.m.