FOOTBALL: Trinity braves ‘Swamp’ to gash Gatewood in big win

EATONTON – The first half was promising, but the second one less so, for Trinity in last week’s season-opening loss to Brentwood. 

Week 2 presented another daunting task for the Crusaders on the road against perennial power Gatewood, a team that went 10-3 last year and lost in the state finals.  

This time out, Trinity was able to put a complete game together, taking down the Gators for the first time in over a decade with a 28-12 win – their first of the Bruce Lane era.

“Our kids came out inspired and performed well against a good Gatewood team,” an ecstatic Lane said after the victory. “We played well in all three phases of the game, and won the turnover battle. Our coaches and players had a great week of practice and were prepared. It was a great win for our program and what we’re looking to build here.”

But things didn’t start great for the Crusaders, as they allowed Gatewood to take the opening kickoff and march 70 yards in 12 plays for a score.  

Hunter Johnson scored from 18 yards out, but the extra point was missed to make the score 6-0.

Just like the last week, Trinity had an answer. The Crusaders needed just four plays to go 75 yards on their scoring drive. 

Wade Register went 36 on the first offensive play. A couple of plays later, Ben Castro-Poveda would find Cruz Giles for a 28-yard touchdown strike. Register’s extra point put the Crusaders up 7-6.

Unlike the previous week, the Trinity defense would step up and shut down the Gatewood offense the remainder of the first half. The Crusaders would force two fumbles, two punts and a turnover on downs the remainder of the half.

The second fumble set the Crusaders up with a first and goal early in the second period. Castro-Poveda ran it in from two yards out to make the score 14-6.

Later in the half, following a Gator punt, Trinity added to the lead even more. Castro-Poveda connected with Giles again, this time on a 64-yard catch and run to put the Crusaders up 21-6 headed to the locker room.

Trinity couldn’t get anything going on its opening drive of the second half, and was forced to punt.  Johnson had a long return to set the Gators up with great field position.

They would need just one play to cut into the Crusader lead. Ben Brannen found Mason Sinclair for a 23-yard touchdown to make it a ballgame again at 21-12.

In years past, the Crusaders may have folded under the pressure of a close game; however this group rose to the challenge by holding the Gators scoreless the rest of the game.

The offense was able to put the game away with time consuming 11-play 60-yard march.  Register scored from two yards and added the extra point to put the Crusaders up 28-12, which would hold as the final.

Register racked up 151 yards on the ground on 21 carries. Castro-Poveda finished the night six of 11 for 99 yards and two scores. Giles had three grabs for 92 yards and caught both touchdown passes.

Mason Sinclair led the Gators with 101 yards on 11 rushes and caught a touchdown pass.

The Crusaders return home next Friday to face another huge test in defending state champion Edmund Burke.