BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- After opening Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) play with a loss at Saint Ambrose a week ago, the TIU football returned home to Leslie Frazier Field on Saturday as they hosted the Fighting Saints of St. Francis (IL) for homecoming. Looking to snap a lengthy streak of conference losses, the Trojans looked to spark themselves back into contention and even their season record at .500.
St. Francis would jump out to a 15-0 lead with touchdowns on two of their first three drives, fueled by the ground game of mobile quarterback Sam Tumilty. On their first drive of the second quarter, the Trojans would crack the scoreboard as Derrick Taylor connected with Deon Cook for a 32-yard touchdown pass. After back-to-back touchdown drives by the Saints, Trinity found the endzone again, this time on the ground with Javier Acosta punching the ball in for six points on a two-yard scoring play. TIU would go into the halftime break trailing 28-14.
The Trojans would slow the St. Francis offense down in the second half, but struggled to put points on the board themselves. Kemond Cohran would score on a nine yard touchdown run, and Tumilty would find Liam Eldridge on a 21-yard scoring pass for the Saints, extending their lead to 42-14 early in the fourth quarter. In for an injured Taylor, sophomore Nate Nadeau would connect with Khalid Humphreys on a key 26-yard pass late in the game, setting up Acosta for his second touchdown of the afternoon from the one-yard line. St. Francis would run out the remainder of time on the clock to end the game, handing TIU their second straight loss, in a 42-21 final.
Despite playing only three quarters, Taylor led the Trojans with 194 yards in the air and one touchdown pass. Acosta would only total 26 net yards in the loss with his two trips to the endzone, while Cook posted 83 yards on seven catches and one touchdown reception.Â
On defense, Kemon Reese led the way with 18 total tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, and half a sack, shared with Jesse Williamson. Moses Smith and Lorente Blakeney each recorded 12 and 11 tackles respectively. Corey Watkins and Pierre Stokes each notched one interception each, Stokes picking off Tumilty in the first quarter, and Watkins intercepting USF backup Eric Maffie in the fourth quarter.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
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With their loss on Saturday, the Trojans fall to 8-12 all-time against St. Francis.
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Derrick Taylor's first quarter touchdown pass to Deon Cook was his seventh of the season, and ninth of his career.
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Javier Acosta's two rushing touchdowns give him three on the season and his career.
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Cook's touchdown reception was his sixth of the season, and tenth of his young career. Cook is now tied for eighth most touchdown catches in a single season in program history.
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Nate Nadeau's late third and fourth quarter relief appearance was his first career appearance.
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Kemon Reese tied his career-high with 18 total tackles. The junior from Chicago recorded 18 tackles last season in a loss at Roosevelt.
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Moses Smith set a new career-high with 12 tackles against the Saints.
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Lorente Blakeney's 11 tackles were a season-high.
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Kicker Cameron Outlaw set a new punting long of 57 yards in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss. It was the first punt of over 50 yards in his career.
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Pierre Stokes' first quarter interception was the first of his career.
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Cornerback Corey Watkins recorded his second interception of the season in the fourth quarter. It was also his team-high fourth takeaway among active players.
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UP NEXT
The Trojans (2-4) will return to home next Saturday, October 16 as they host the Lakers of Roosevelt University in conference play. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm CST at Leslie Frazier, with the game being broadcast LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for the TIU Student Government Association's Pink Out Theme.
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Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.
