DEERFIELD, Ill. -- With three chances in the fourth quarter to take the lead, Trinity International came up just short Saturday afternoon, falling to the Concordia Cardinals 21-17 at Frazier Field in the Trojans' 2015 home opener. 

Box Score | Season Stats

Trinity (2-2) held a 17-14 advantage late in the third quarter, following a 23-yard field goal from Jeremiah Carter, but Concordia (3-1) responded with a 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to take their first lead of the day with 1:39 remaining in the third. The Trojans crossed midfield in their final three full drives, but a pair of interceptions thrown into the end zone ended chances at a potential game-winner.

The Trojans' attack compiled 500 yards of total offense, and held an advantage in time of possession, but a 5-for-15 conversion rate on third down kept the team from putting up a big number on the scoreboard.

TIU running back Chris Elliott finished with 106 yards on 22 carries; the senior also posted one rushing TD, his 31st career touchdown, moving him into 2nd place on TIU's all-time rushing TD list.  Quarterback Zach Chesser played the majority of snaps going 20-for-36 for 244 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. In limited time, J.J. Burmeister completed eight of ten passes for 78 yards.

Sophomore wideout Brad Hargis led the Trinity receiving corps, collecting a career-high 139 yards on 10 receptions.

A defensive battle throughout much of the afternoon, the Trojans finally put the first points on the board with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. An Aaron Ordway punt downed at the Concordia 13 yardline pinned the Cardinals deep; on the next play, Jarell Carter grabbed his second interception of the season to put the Trojans in great field position. On the first play of the drive, Chesser found Hargis for a 25-yard touchdown, giving TIU a 7-0 lead.

Concordia answered with a two-minute drill to tie the game on the following drive; Ashton Gray scored the first of his two rushing TDs with 52 seconds in the half, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive.

After the defense forced a turnover on downs at the Concordia 39-yardline on the opening drive of the third quarter, Chesser used three straight passes for 10 or more yards to quickly march down the field. Elliott punched in the touchdown from four yards out to put the Trojans back in front 14-7.

The Cardinals countered again on their next drive. Highlighted by a 31-yard completion on third-and-8 to cross midfield, Concordia used an 11-play, 75-yard drive to again draw even. The Trojans moved inside the Concordia 10-yardline and looked poised to punch it in again, but the drive stalled before Carter split the uprights on a 23-yard field goal with 5:39 to play in the third quarter.

For the third time, Concordia would score on the very next possession following a TIU touchdown or field goal. After a 40-yard kickoff return set the Cardinals up with their best field position of the day, Gray would score from three yards out ten plays later, giving his team the 21-17 lead.

The Trojans marched down to the Concordia 10-yardline with their next possession, but an interception in the end zone would kill the drive. The Cardinals gave TIU a long field to work with after stalling at their own 40, and the Trojans were forced to punt from just past midfield. The Trinity defense got another stop with 3:32 still to play, and the offense moved the ball again deep into the Cardinals' red zone. Another interception in the end zone stopped the potential go-ahead score, securing the win for the visitors.

Linebacker Riley Schussler finished with a team-high 12 tackles for the Trojans, including two and a half tackles for loss. Darwin Stone, Dezmon Walker, and Justin Hackley each recorded one sack apiece on the day.

Trinity will be back in action next Saturday, when the Trojans host St. Ambrose on Homecoming Weekend. Kickoff against the Bees is set for 1:30 p.m.