FOOTBALL: Trinity turns around scoreless streak, but can't conquer turnover woes vs. Robert Toombs

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

DASHING HOPES: Dash Preston comes up with a red zone interception to rob an RTCA score in the first half. It was one of two turnovers forced by Trinity’s defense, but the Crusaders gave the ball away four times to thwart their own chances of staying in the game/DANNY SCARBORO

The injury-riddled Trinity Crusaders fought hard once again Friday night as they closed out their regular season at home against the Crusaders of Robert Toombs, but turnovers doomed them as they fell 34-7.

The GIAA playoffs are set to begin this coming Friday, but with most of the field idle over a play-in round that will feature matchups between the four lowest seeds in AA’s 10-team bracket.

Trinity (5-5, 0-3 district) had yet to receive official word of its placement by press time on Monday, though late-season projections had the Crusaders slated to receive one of the six first-round byes.

TAYT, ON TARGET: Tayt Evans brings a rattling hit with this perfect form tackle on a Robert Toombs ball carrier/DANNY SCARBORO

After a quick three and out by Trinity to start the game, Robert Toombs put together a time-consuming drive on its opening possession, taking up half the first quarter but turning it over on downs after 11 plays.

Unfortunately, the Trinity offense fumbled on its first offensive play to give the ball right back to the visitors. RTCA needed just two plays to punch it into the end zone as Drew Edwards scored from 10 yards out to make it 7-0.

A poor Trinity punt on its next possession set Robert Toombs up with solid field position. It would need just four plays to go 40 yards for another score. This time, Jordan Brown would punch it in from two yards out to make it 14-0.

The Trinity offense struggled again on its next possession, and faced a third and long. Griffin Lane would drop back to pass, but it was picked off and returned 25 yards for a score to put RTCA up 21-0 early in the second.

GRIFFIN AND RIP IT: Stand-in quarterback Griffin Lane, pressed into duty by Trinity injuries behind center, cut it loose nine times, completing a couple of throws for 26 yards, in Friday’s game/DANNY SCARBORO

Things went from bad to worse as the home Crusaders fumbled yet again on their next play. Edwards scored again on a 19-yard keeper to put RTCA up 28-0.

After another Trinity punt, Robert Toombs needed just five plays to go 71 yards for another score. Edwards found Hayden Meeks on a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-0.

Trinity finally put together a solid drive as it went 55 yards on eight plays late in the first half. Unfortunately, another interception just before the half ended the attempt.

SCHAAF-AND-HALF: Hein Schaaf takes a 50-50 ball away from RTCA’s Karson Kennedy on this contested catch in the first half/DANNY SCARBORO

Robert Toombs took the second half kick and marched inside the Trinity 5 before fumbling it back to the home team. Trinity finally got on the board as Tayt Evans took the handoff and broke free for a 98-yard touchdown run to make it 34-7.

Evans was the lone bright spot offensively, as he had 121 yards on 10 carries. Cody Register led the defense with 15 tackles and freshman Gavin Hightower added 11.

Edwards finished the night 13-of-18 passing for 162 yards, and had nine rushes for 75 yards. Brown had 76 yards on 11 carries and added five catches for 44 yards.