FOOTBALL: Register, Sahli lead Trinity’s ground-based rampage vs. Thomas Jefferson

The Trinity Crusaders have been on the road the past two Friday nights in some less-than-ideal weather conditions. They were able to ride defense and special teams to big wins in both of those contests.

This week, they returned home to near-perfect weather, and got the offense going again to run their win streak to three games with another dominant victory, 41-6, over Thomas Jefferson Academy.

After the defense forced a punt on the game’s opening possession, the Crusader offense went right to work. Wade Register got his huge night started with a five-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 47-yard drive. His extra point made it 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

The defense forced another punt, and the offense took over at its own 30, needing just three plays to score again. Jakob Sahli took a handoff and raced 30 yards to paydirt to make it 14-0 late in the first.

Trinity would get more points in the second quarter. Following another Jaguar punt, the Crusaders took over at their own 12. They would go for it on a fourth and inches, and Register would rip off a 79-yard scoring run.  

The two-point conversion failed, but it was 20-0 Crusaders at the half.

Asher Evans took the second half kickoff and returned it all the way to the Thomas Jefferson 28 to set the Crusaders up with great field position. Four plays later, Register would score for the third time on the night, this time from nine yards out, to make it 27-0.

Later in the quarter, Ben Castro-Poveda found Register with a screen pass. The junior back took advantage of a few great blocks and used some nifty footwork to race 22 yards for his fourth score of the evening, making it 34-0.

The Crusader defense took the shutout into the fourth quarter, until Thomas Jefferson’s Rashad Smith broke a 56-yard touchdown run on the first play of the period to make it 34-6.  

Trinity would add one more score late in the game. Salhli capped a four-play, 44-yard drive with a 23-yard scoring run to make it 41-6, and that would be the final.

Register led the way offensively with 186 yards on just 12 carries. Sahli added 73 on seven attempts. Castro-Poveda finished 7-of-9 for 79 yards and a score as the Crusaders racked up nearly 400 total yards. Smith led the Jaguars with 101 on 10 carries.

Trinity (4-2 overall) will be back at home next Friday as it hosts Central Fellowship for homecoming.