Fourth-down frustrations, Edmund Burke’s big plays get best of Trinity in tough loss

Trinity had a lot go well, but still would’ve needed a good bit more happening in its favor for a shot at a more positive outcome. 

In a story similar to the Crusaders’ first home game Aug. 14, the top-flight team on the other side had them pretty well outmatched in experience, and explosive plays. 

Though Trinity competed in situations, it again struggled to keep pace on the scoreboard as Edmund Burke used a six-touchdown surge in the second and third quarters to run away with a quick 42-0 win and remain undefeated Friday at Cleve Warnock Field. 

The Spartans busted a series of big plays to break open a game that remained scoreless for the first 14 minutes. Their quarterback Noah Hickman ran and threw for one each of the four scored before the half, and Sam Hickman rushed for three of the four others. 

The Crusaders (1-2 overall) had much better hold of the clock, as they milked time over some long drives that frequently made it a decent ways into Edmund Burke territory. 

But they’d have nothing to show for any of them, including an early-game red zone chance that suffered some of the same hard luck sustaining drives that has plagued Trinity’s young offense throughout the season’s first three weeks. 

A frustrating trend of key injuries, dating back to early last season, also reared its head for the first time this fall in the second quarter as Will-J Harris, one of the Crusaders’ top running backs and defensive linemen, went down and could not return. 

All things considered, it was still a night with some positives for Trinity, whose first-year quarterback Jude Evans had his best game so far with completions on half his 24 attempts for 118 yards, 53 of those on five receptions by his leading target Tayt Evans. 

Tayt and Mason Lane also combined for nearly 200 all-purpose yards on kickoff returns. 

Harris, prior to the injury, carried four times for 13 yards and caught two passes for 26 with multiple chain-moving plays, though in his stead came a breakout for freshman Sam Owens, who wound up leading rushers with five carries for 54 yards, and caught three passes for 19. 

He would lead Trinity’s bid to go out on a high note after a defensive stand, to force a missed field goal try, denied Edmund Burke’s efforts to add on points early in the fourth quarter. 

The Crusaders took back over with 80 yards to drive, seven minutes left and a running clock, but strung together several good plays to reach scoring range, most of them featuring Owens, who had both a resilient run for double-digits on a toss play, and a catch off a bootleg in the flat to advance the possession. 

Their race with the clock couldn’t get to the finish line, as progress stalled near the red zone with just under three minutes to go, and Owens was bottled up on a final play. 

A great start, but no finish…

Trinity took more of its time on a first drive of the night that consumed a majority of the first quarter, with key plays that included a wheel route catch by Griffin Lane, both a run and reception by Harris, and a connection down the seam to Tayt Evans that had the biggest gain attached, and reached goal to go. 

But the last few yards were stubborn. Buddy Woodard’s defense ate up a dive and a toss, then a play-action pass arced just out of reach in the right corner of the end zone for Lane. 

The Crusaders reluctantly settled for a field goal try, but the kick of Aiden George drifted a bit off to the right. 

Edmund Burke got right to work, and moved the ball over midfield in the remaining three minutes and change, before scoring after about three more on a keeper by Noah Hickman to draw first blood. 

Things went downhill kind of quickly from there. 

Trinity gained a first down, but then punted, and it took EBA five plays to traverse 70 yards and double the lead, Ryan Reddick breaking loose for the final 43 on a left-side run. 

Harris helped the Crusaders pick up a first down on the ensuing possession, but stayed down after the tackle on the far side of the field, and had to be helped off with an apparent knee injury. 

Two plays after action resumed, Cohen Felix intercepted a floating pass for the Spartans, and caught a deep shot in the end zone on the next play with 1:36 left in the half. 

That was still enough time for EBA to score once more, as Trinity picked up the pace and drove to the opposing 35 with their quick drill. 

But another fourth down went for naught on a sack by William Reindl to get it back for the Spartans with next to no time. 

They were only a little past midfield with a matter of seconds to go and a third down, but Sam Hickman reversed field and broke some tackles to bounce outside right on the final play, and crossed the goal line with about two remaining on the clock left to make it a 28-0 score at the break. 

He’d do it again from 43 yards, in very similar fashion, no less than a minute from the second half kickoff, then stride home from five to complete a final 56-yard scoring drive following another Trinity turnover via downs, as a fourth-down heave was bobbled and dropped. 

Trinity heads on the road again this Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Augusta Prep.