DAVENPORT, Iowa - Trinity International held a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but were unable to stay in front as the host St. Ambrose Bees took a 38-28 win in the MSFA Midwest League opener on Saturday.
Box Score
In his first career start, quarterback
Danny Mattero threw for 241 yards and three scores, completing 15 of 30 passes on the day. Wideout
Brad Hargis finished with a game-high 113 receiving yards, while senior
Cory Windle made seven catches for 84 yards.
Sophomore running back
Isaac Branch recorded 74 yards on the ground to lead the Trojans (1-4, 0-1 MSFA Midwest). Defensively,
Riley Schussler made a team-high 15 tackles including one sack, while
Jarell Carter and
Bradley Mowbray each made their second interceptions of the season.
After the Trojan defense forced a stop on the game-opening drive, Trinity took a 7-0 lead on Mattero's 45-yard touchdown pass to Hargis on a 4th-and-1 play.
Both defenses then forced a three-and-out before the Bees (2-3, 1-0 MSFA Midwest) would even the score, using a seven-play drive that featured three plays of 20 or more yards including a 20-yard TD pass from SAU's Patrick Smith to Joey Zito.
Mattero would go deep again, finding Hargis for his second touchdown of the first quarter, a 49-yard reception as time expired on the third play of the drive.
The Bees again tied the game, with five minutes remaining in the first half. On 4th-and-7, Smith would complete a 31-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 14-14. Trinity had the opportunity to take a lead into the halftime break, but
Jeremiah Carter's 46-yard field goal was blocked.
St. Ambrose took their first lead of the day late in the third quarter, after both defenses took control of the game to start the first half. Smith connected with SAU's Brad Connor for a 40-yard TD completion, putting the home team ahead 21-14.
Following a Trojan punt, St. Ambrose extended their lead with another score to start the fourth quarter, then made it a 35-14 lead after a TIU interception.
Windle made two touchdown catches in the fourth quarter as Trinity rallied, but ran out of time to complete the comeback.
The Trojans continue the current road trip next Saturday, when, they take on Olivet Nazarene. Kickoff from Bourbonnais on Oct. 8 is set for 6:00 p.m.
