FOOTBALL 3 takeaways, 2 defensive TDs help Trinity come out on top at Augusta Prep

The Trinity Crusaders overcame a sloppy start offensively to pull away from Augusta Prep and even their season record at 2-2 with a 40-14 road win Friday night in Augusta. 

Some key defensive plays helped Trinity atone for multiple turnovers as its offense shook off some early struggles to take control of the game, with 315 total yards. 

The Crusaders got on the board first on the game’s third play. Augusta Prep quarterback Carter Chavous found Ben Connell on a short completion, but Connell fumbled trying to gain extra yards. Wade Register scooped up the ball at the 22 and raced for paydirt. His extra point would make the score 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.

Augusta Prep tied the game up on its ensuing drive. The Cavaliers would pick up a couple of first downs early in the drive. Chavous then found Conar Harris on a 47-yard scoring strike to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive to knot the score at 7-7 halfway through the first quarter.

Trinity finally got the ball offensively, but unfortunately would run just four plays before fumbling back to the Cavaliers at midfield.

The Crusader defense would hold up this time, and force a Cavalier punt, which was blocked, and Trinity recovered at the 9 yard line to set up a first and goal.

Rather than capitalize on the prime field position to regain the lead, the Crusaders would fumble the ball back on their first offensive play.

The defense would come up huge again. Asher Evans picked off a Chavous pass at the 24. He would fumble during the return, but Carson Shepherd scooped it up at the 15 and raced to the end zone. 

The extra point was missed and Trinity led 13-7.

Augusta Prep would put another nice drive together, getting deep into Crusader territory, but the defense stood tall again and got a turnover on downs to take over at the 23.

Trinity would need just five plays to extend the lead further. 

Ben Castro-Poveda connected with Bryson Barrs on a 59-yard catch and run to set the Crusaders up with a first and goal. A couple of plays later, Register would score from three yards out.  The two point conversion was no good, but Trinity led 19-7 at the half.

A big second-half kick return from Cruz Giles set the Crusaders up in plus territory. They would need just four plays to go 44 yards for another score. Castro-Poveda found Shepherd for a 23-yard scoring pass to make it 26-7 early in the third quarter.

Shepherd would score his third touchdown of the game on the next Trinity drive. This time, the senior would run it in from eight yards to make it 33-7.

The Crusaders would get one more score early in the fourth quarter. Ben Helton broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown run to push the advantage to 40-7.

Augusta Prep scored one final time late in the fourth quarter. Imanuel Telfer would score on a 17 yard run to make the 40-14 final. 

Castro-Poveda led the offense by going 4-for-6 with 126 yards and a score. Register had 67 yards on seven carries and Helton finished with 66 on just three attempts.

Chavous was 6-of-15 for 81 yards, and had 12 carries for 57 yards.

Trinity will travel to Macon next Friday to face Windsor Academy.