BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- Coming off a special victory last weekend in southeast Iowa, the TIU football team returned home to Leslie Frazier Field on Saturday afternoon as they hosted the NCAA Division III Panthers of Greenville University in non-conference play. Looking to start 2-0 for the first time in six years, the Trojans would have to face off against former TIU special teams coach Robbie Schomaker and his tough Panther team.

After both teams punted following their first possessions, the Panthers opened up the scoring with a six play, 62-yard drive ending in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Butterfield to Seth Logan for the early 7-0 lead. The Trojans would answer back early in the second quarter as TIU quarterback Derrick Taylor connected with Deon Cook on a 17-yard catch and score of his own, evading multiple defenders on his way to the end zone.

On Trinity's very next possession, the Trojans unloaded with a massive 76-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to Cook to give TIU their first lead of the day. Greenville would retake the lead just before halftime as Butterfield again found Logan for six-points, allowing the Panthers to take a 14-13 lead into the break.

Following a punt early in the third quarter, the Trojans marched down the field to once again take the lead, this time with Taylor finding Khalid Humphreys for the score for a 20-14 advantage. Greenville would respond however as Paul Garrett ran for a 28-yard touchdown on fourth and short to put the Panthers ahead  once again.

With few chances remaining in the fourth quarter and a late injury to Taylor, senior Nolan Brammer entered the game in relief at quarterback, looking to provide one last spark for the Trojan offense. Pinned up against their own one-yard line, Brammer led Trinity down the field in just seven plays, resulting in a go-ahead 48-yard touchdown pass to Marc Wallace. TIU would slam the door shut in the final seconds as Corey Watkins intercepted Butterfield, stopping Greenville's chance of a walk-off win, and giving the Trojans the 26-21 victory,

Taylor would end his afternoon with 290 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Cook would be responsible for two of those three touchdown passes with 168 receiving yards on just five receptions. While being held to just 18 net yards, Derek Lowe helped wear down the Panther defensive line giving TIU more opportunities through the air. On defense, Kemon Reese led Trinity with 11 total tackles in the win, while Jesse Williamson sacked Butterfield twice on a pair of key plays.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The Trojans improve to 6-3 all-time against Greenville after Saturday's win. It is TIU's fifth straight win over the Panthers. Trinity's last loss to GU came on Sept. 4, 1993 in the program's fifth season of play.

• Saturday marked the first home win for Trinity International since Oct. 21, 2017, when the Trojans took down Robert Morris (IL), 34-28.

• Head coach Willie Tillman became the first TIU head football coach to win in their home debut since Kirk Wherritt in 2010 against Iowa Wesleyan.

• For the first time since 2015, the Trojans have won consecutive games. The last time TIU won back-to-back games, they defeated Trinity Bible (N.D.) and Wisconsin Lutheran in the first two games of the season.

• Nolan Brammer's game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter was the 19th passing touchdown of his TIU career, tying him with Kevin Oberlander (2003-04) for sixth most in program history.

• With 18 rushing yards, Derek Lowe became the ninth player in program history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards (1,004). He also passes Masaki Matsumoto (2003-05) for ninth all-time in team history in career rushing yards.

• Lowe also joined TIU's top ten list all-time in career rushing attempts with 230, passing Blake Normine (2007) for tenth in school history.

• Quarterback Derrick Taylor set a new career-high in passing yards for the second straight week with 290 against the Panthers.

• Sophomore wide receiver Deon Cook set a new career-high with his 168 receiving yards. Cook's 76-yard touchdown pass from Taylor in the second quarter was also the second longest reception of his career.

• Receiver Marc Wallace also set a new career-best in receiving yards with 113.

• Kicker Cameron Outlaw surpassed 1,000 punting and 2,100 kickoff yards in his career during Saturday's win.

• Corey Watkins' game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter was the third takeaway of his career.

• Steven Williams III's second quarter interception was the fourth of his collegiate career.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (2-2) will return to action next Saturday, October 2 as they travel to Davenport, Iowa to take on the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose University in their conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00pm CST at Brady Street Stadium, and will be broadcast LIVE on the Saint Ambrose 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.