Trinity victorious in clash of Crusaders

On a cool Friday evening at Harrells Christian Academy, fans gathered to watch their football team face off against Trinity Christian Academy in an anticipated NCISAA matchup. The game kicked off at 7 p.m., following a stirring rendition of the national anthem by the Harrells choir. Both teams were eager to take the field, with Harrells in a two-way tie in the standings at 3-1, chasing top-ranked Trinity Christian. It was Trinity’s game, though, as they handed Harrells their second straight loss, 42-6.

With adrenaline high and the stadium buzzing, the captains met for the coin toss just three minutes before game time. Harrells won the toss and opted to kick off, placing Trinity at their own 30-yard line. Early on, Harrells showed strong defensive grit, limiting Trinity’s yardage and holding them to the 48-yard line. However, a five-yard offside penalty on Trinity followed. On the second play, Trinity’s offense broke through, executing a 53-yard run, slipping past defenders and scoring the game’s first touchdown. The score stood at 6-0, as Trinity’s extra point attempt failed, keeping Harrells within reach.

Following the kickoff, Harrells fumbled, but Xander Garcia quickly recovered. J’kaeshi Brunson took charge, running the next two plays and securing 10 yards.Harrells called a timeout, hoping to reset their strategy. On the subsequent attempt, Jarrod Miller tried for a first down but couldn’t quite convert.

After a penalty flag on Trinity and solid coverage from Luke Weeks, Harrells managed to hold Trinity to minimal yardage on the punt return, after their drive stalled. Despite Trinity’s strong run game, Harrells’ defense, led by Jeremiah Davis and Dawson Smith, proved tenacious. Eventually, a holding penalty set Trinity back ten yards, and shortly after, Davis snagged an interception from a tipped pass, advancing the ball a few yards before handing it over to Dashaun McKoy for a five-yard gain.

As Harrells regained control, their drive stalled out once more. Forced to punt, they returned the ball to Trinity, who started at their 40-yard line. After a brief skirmish, Trinity attempted another run, but Harrells’ defense, spearheaded by Smith and Noah Tanner, stepped up to make the stop. Trinity found themselves on third down but managed to push their way through on fourth, extending their lead with a touchdown. A successful extra point widened the gap to 21-0 before the first quarter ended.

With less than a minute left, Trinity kicked off again, and Davis ran the ball to the 35-yard line. On the next play, McKoy advanced to the 45-yard line, followed by a brief run by Demetrius Jones. A pass interference call against Trinity offered a glimmer of opportunity for Harrells, but subsequent plays ended in incomplete passes. Rather than punt, Harrells opted for a trick play involving McKoy but failed to secure the first down, handing possession back to Trinity.

Trinity continued pressing their advantage, successfully maneuvering to the 15-yard line after a lengthy pass. They quickly scored another touchdown, boosting the score t0 34-0 with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter. A failed fake kick return attempt left Harrells with the ball, which Davis carried to the 40-yard line. Jones followed up with a short run, but two more incomplete passes aimed at Davis left Harrells stalled. On the fourth down, they attempted a reverse play but failed to convert.

In the closing minutes of the second quarter, Harrells’ defense showcased resilience. Chamani Newton grabbed an interception and returned the ball to Harrells at the 25-yard line. Brunson and McKoy managed small gains on the following plays, but ultimately, Trinity’s offense reclaimed control, advancing to the 15-yard line and quickly scoring yet another touchdown. A successful two-point conversion set the score at 42-0 by halftime.

Returning from halftime, Harrells began with McKoy running the ball from the kickoff and gaining enough yards to secure a first down. Jones followed up, carrying the ball for four yards, then three more, but a subsequent play pushed Harrells back by two yards. Facing third down, Harrells executed a 20-yard run with Davis, but he was shaken up on the play, requiring a brief sideline evaluation. Soon after, Xander Garcia and Jaiden Stallings executed a sack, followed by solid coverage from Jamari Peterson on the next play. Despite the team’s defensive efforts, Trinity intercepted a pass and advanced to Harrells’ 45-yard line. A fierce tackle by Coley Sasser and additional coverage by Davis Bradshaw showed Harrells’ determination, although Bradshaw sustained an injury, prompting the team to take a knee.

As the third quarter waned, Trinity ran a final play for four yards, met with a swift tackle by Amir Moore. With eight seconds left in the quarter, the score remained unchanged as Harrells continued to fight.

Trinity continued pressing in the final quarter, capitalizing on another scoring opportunity that extended their lead. Harrells mounted a final effort, with McKoy leading a 10-yard run and Miller grinding through Trinity’s defense for another few yards. In a powerful 50-yard burst, Miller finally scored for Harrells, placing them on the scoreboard at 42-6. The kick attempt was unsuccessful, but the crowd erupted in support.

In the game’s final minutes, McKoy made a strong tackle, stopping Trinity’s advancement. Harrells’ defense held their ground, forcing Trinity to run out the clock and seal their victory with a score of 42-6. Despite the loss, Harrells displayed resilience against a top-ranked team, each play demonstrating their commitment and resolve. They moved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in NCISAA Big East conference play. They sit at third in the conference, and their playoffs will start next week.