FOOTBALL: Trinity can’t overcome injuries, 3rd/4th downs in region opener at Southland

The Trinity Crusaders opened their district schedule on Friday, and made the trip to Americus to face Southland Academy without an active Wade Register. 

The senior’s presence on the field was sorely missed, while the injury bug got ahold of several others in the starting lineup, and the Raiders routed Trinity 41-0. 

Things started out pretty well as the Crusaders took the opening kickoff and started a solid drive, picking up several first downs and getting down to the 10-yard line.  

Unfortunately, a costly sack on second down would stall the drive. Without Register available to attempt a field goal, the Crusaders were forced to go for it on fourth and 20, and came away with no points.

Southland would take over at the 21 and go right to work on the ground. Jamarcus Walker capped its 6-play drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-0.

The next Crusader possession would end with an interception near midfield. This time, Southland would need just three plays to cover 51 yards.  Allen Styk scored from 29 yards out to make it 14-0.

Trinity turned it over on downs again on its next possession, and the Raiders would need just three plays to score again. Garrett Love capped the 58-yard drive with a touchdown from 30 yards out to make it the score 21-0.

The Crusaders’ brutal first half continued as they turned the ball over at midfield again, this time with a fumble. Southland would tack on one final first-half score as Max Stancell capped the 5-play drive with a 2-yard scoring run to make the score 28-0 at the half.

The Raiders would continue to dominate out of the locker room with a 6-play, 66-yard drive and a 26-yard Love touchdown to make it 35-0.

Following a Crusader punt, the home team used 10 plays to cover 66 yards for its final score of the night as Love added a 6-yard run to make it 41-0.

Trinity would put together a long 14-play, 62-yard drive that consumed the rest game, but did not convert it into any points.

Jakob Sahli led the Crusaders with 49 yards on 12 carries, and was 5-of-10 passing for 34 yards.  Freshman Alec Preston added 40 yards on eight attempts.

Love led Southland with 105 yards on seven carries. Styk had 95 on seven rushes and Walker addd 67 on 10 attempts.

Trinity, now 5-3 on the year, will be back at home next Friday against Southwest Georgia.  

Register’s status, with a high ankle sprain, remains uncertain, but surgery – which would end his senior year – is a possibility.