INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- 455 days after their last game in November of 2019, the TIU football team returned to the gridiron on Saturday afternoon as they faced a big test in their season opener, taking on the reigning NAIA national runners-up in the Marian Knights.

Facing off against one of the toughest programs in the nation, TIU found themselves behind early, as TIU quarterback Nolan Brammer was sacked in the endzone for a safety on the game's opening possession. The Marian offense, led by quarterback Frank Young, would score on their next ten consecutive drives, eight of which ended with touchdowns.

Brammer would struggle in his first game of the season, throwing four interceptions. The Knight's defense swallowed up Trinity's run game, holding leading rusher Derek Lowe to 29 net yards on six carries. Defensively, Kemon Reese gave TIU life late with 17 total tackles, including two tackles for a loss of yardage. 

After struggling for the majority of the afternoon, Trinity was able to crack the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, with Lowe finding putting the Trojans in the end zone for the first time this season on a 20-yard rush. Deon Cook would also find the end zone on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Brammer four minutes later, capping a 69-12 loss to open the season.

Brammer ended the day with 187 yards on 19 completions and 39 attempts with one touchdown pass. Nicholas Godfrey led TIU with 62 receiving yards on three catches. RJ Wallace, Moses Smith and Jessee Williamson also recorded one sack each.
 

Additional Game Notes

• TIU falls to 0-4 all-time against Marian after today's loss.

• Marian's 69 points are the most allowed by Trinity since St. Thomas (MN) scored 69 last September. It is also the most allowed against an NAIA opponent since TIU gave up 77 points to Olivet Nazarene on Sept. 29, 2018.

• The Trojan's 12 points at Marian are the fewest scored in a season opening game since falling to Saint Ambrose on Aug. 28, 2009 by a score of 44-9. 

• TIU is 6-4 in their last ten season opening games.

• Trinity has lost 11 consecutive games dating back to last season. Their last win came against Presentation College (S.D.) on Aug. 31, 2019 in Aberdeen by a 28-26 score. It is the program's longest losing streak since dropping 13 in a row from late in the 2017 season through the entire 2018 campaign.

• Derek Lowe's fourth quarter touchdown is the ninth rushing touchdown of his career, tying Stephen Anderson (2012-14) for the eighth most rushing touchdowns in program history. 

• Quarterback Nolan Brammer's 19 pass completions give him 131 for his career, moving him into ninth on the program's career pass completions list.

• Brammer's 187 passing yards give him 1,531 for his career, moving him to seventh on the all-time passing yards list in TIU football history.

NEXT UP

TIU (0-1) will return to action next Saturday, February 20 as they visit the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils in Southfield, Michigan. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00PM EST from Blue Devils Stadium and can be watched LIVE on the Lawrence Tech Sports Network.

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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.