Trinity comes up short on road at Piedmont

The Trinity Crusaders traveled to Monticello Friday night for their penultimate contest of the regular football season.  

Much like last week’s game with Flint River, the Crusaders got a late first-half touchdown to keep the game close, but Piedmont broke the game open with three second half scores to pull away for the 34-13 win.

Trinity took the opening kickoff and picked up one first down, but was then forced to punt. The home team would then go to work as the Cougars went 53 yards on 11 plays to get the game’s first points.  

Kooper Pounds found Corbett Cruise for a four-yard score to take a 6-0 lead late in the opening quarter.

Disaster struck on the Crusaders’ next drive as they threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. The score was negated by penalty, but Piedmont still retained possession deep in Trinity territory.

The Cougars did not waste much time extending their lead, as they needed just two plays to cover 29 yards.  

Mason Carroll would run it in from three yards out and the extra point made it 13-0.

Both teams exchanged punts on their next possessions, but the Crusaders were finally able to put together a long drive to get on the board before the half.

Trinity put together one of its most impressive drives of the season, marching 68 yards on 16 plays.  

Tayt Evans punched it in from a yard out to get the Crusaders on the board and make it 13-7 at the half.

Piedmont took the kickoff after intermission and went right back to work, going 89 yards in just six plays to extend the lead.  

Carroll would punch it in again, this time from 13 yards out, to make the score 20-7.

Trinity picked up a couple of first downs on the ensuing possession, but the drive would eventually stall and they punted again.

Piedmont would capitalize again as Pounds found Bryson Dudley for a 56-yard catch and run to cap a 66-yard drive and make the score 27-7.

The Cougars would add one final touchdown in the fourth quarter following a Crusader turnover on downs. Cam Moss would score on a 12-yard run to make the score 34-7.

The Crusaders finally got back on the board late in the fourth on an 11-yard touchdown run from Griffin Lane to close the scoring. 

Jude Evans finished the night 9-of-18 passing for 60 yards, and led the way rushing with 54 yards on 14 carries. Tayt Evans had 46 yards on 17 attempts.

Pounds finished the night 5-of-9 for 145 yards and two scores. Carroll had 125 yards on 17 carries.

Trinity falls to 2-7 overall, and will finish up the regular season next Friday as it hosts Riverside Military for senior night.