BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- On a sunny Saturday at Leslie Frazier Field, the Trojans opened up their 2022 schedule, suffering a 28-0 defeat to the Broncos of Hastings College.

It may not have felt like football weather, but gridiron fever was everywhere on the campus of Trinity International University, as 500 fans packed the bleachers to witness the Trojans' second season under the leadership of head coach Willie Tillman get underway. Not lost amid the excitement and pageantry was the tragedy that had occurred a few weeks prior when incoming Trojan freshman wideout Avery Gilbert suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Fans were clad in t-shirts and wristbands provided by the school to honor Gilbert's memory, and the Trojan captains carried his #87 jersey out with them for the coin toss.

Once the action was underway, the Trojans sputtered out of the gate, struggling to create offense and allowing touchdowns on each of their first two defensive drives to fall behind 14-0. But just as it looked like the game would get away, the Trojan defense stiffened, allowing a mere 41 yards of total offense to the Broncos throughout the rest of the half while keeping them off the scoreboard. The Trojan offense showed potential but were unable to crack the scoresheet after failing to convert on a pair of long field goal attempts.

Trailing by two scores coming out of the break, the Trojans needed a spark, but instead suffered a setback when Hastings marched the ball down the field to score a touchdown on the half's opening drive to extend the margin to 21-0. Things seemed to have gone from bad to worse when talented dual-threat quarterback Melvin Bobo IV had to leave the game due to severe cramping early in the third quarter. However, highly touted recruit Liam Mickle stepped in for Bobo and immediately showed he was ready for the college game, notching his first career completion on a pinpointed 30-yard lob to fellow freshman Cameron Jones on 3rd and long. The very next play, Mickle lofted another beautiful throw, this one to Mason Yoshino, who raced forward for a 38-yard gain. While the drive stalled when the Trojans failed to convert on 4th and goal, Mickle's immediate poise showed that Trinity has multiple competent options under center between the veteran Bobo and the youngster Mickle.

The Trojans would allow one more touchdown in the third quarter before buckling down again for the remainder of the game, pitching a shutout throughout the late third and the entirety of the 4th quarter. The Trojan offense continued to show promise, fueled by freshman Cameron Jones, who put up a sensational 131 receiving yards on 13 grabs and a staggering 205 all-purpose yards in his collegiate debut, but ultimately never managed to break through on the scoreboard, leading to the game's final score, 28-0 Hastings.

While Tillman and the Trojans will certainly seek to learn from Saturday's defeat, the loss was not without its bright spots, especially in terms of the newcomers and young players offering immediate contributions to the program. In addition to wideout Jones' remarkable debut, the Trojans also enjoyed solid efforts from Mickle (game-high 161 passing yards in college debut), newcomer Bobo (91 passing yards while leading the team in rushing), and sophomore Yoshino (52 receiving yards, including a career-long 38-yard grab).

Up Next
The Trojans (0-1) will seek to regroup with a long week ahead before traveling to Quincy, IL, to take on the Quincy University Hawks on Thursday, September 8.

 

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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.