Football

October 6, 2007

Tigers Stunned on the Road by Rhodes College

Trinity (4-1, 1-1) had won 11 of its last 12 games coming into this one, but four first half turnovers and only three second half points spelled an upset for the home team.

The Tigers, ranked 12th in the nation, got off to a disastrous start in the game against unranked Rhodes, committing three turnovers in the first quarter - including two on each of its first two offensive plays. 

After Trinity received the opening kickoff, the first play of the game was a run up the left sideline that ended in a fumble recovery by the defense.  The Tiger defense held, forcing a punt, but the ensuing offensive drive also lasted just one play and resulted in another fumble at the 13 yard line.  Rhodes was held to a field goal, but the score put Trinity in unfamiliar territory: it marked the first time the Tigers had trailed all season.

Trinity also had an interception in the first half, but was saved from further damage when its defense forced a turnover of its own.  The Tigers finally got the offense going in the second quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points to take a seven-point lead at the half.

A third quarter field goal by Rhodes was significant in that it cut into the Trinity lead, but also because it was the first time this season that a team had scored on the Tiger defense in the third quarter of play.  Trinity put together another nice drive in the fourth quarter, but again, the offense stalled in the red zone, forcing the team to settle for another field goal to make it 13-6. 

Rhodes answered that score with a 69-yard pass on its first play, tying the game with just under 11 minutes to play.  On the ensuing kickoff, the Rhodes executed a timely onside kick to take the ball back and keep Trinity's defense on the field.  The home team drove 59 yards to punch in the go-ahead score with 8:11 to play. 

Trinity drove 34 yards to the Rhodes 23 yard line, but on first down, the Lynx forced another turnover - the fifth of the game against the Tigers - and then returned this fumble 65 yards for a clinching touchdown. 

Blake Barmore was 22-37 with one touchdown and one interception in the game, piling up 282 yards through the air.  He rushed 15 times and gained 60 yards, but seven of those were sacks for a total loss of 44 yards.  Riley Curry caught eight passes for 114 yards in the game, while Caleb Urban had two grabs for 25 yards and a touchdown.  Shawn Thompson and Chris Coleman combined for nine receptions and over 100 yards as well.

Philip Kownslar was joined by Ekow Essel and Lee Patterson in leading the team with seven tackles, while Baron Koch had four tackles - including an eight-yard sack and a forced fumble. 

Trinity out-gained Rhodes 329-310 offensively, but the five turnovers and a stingy red zone defense by Rhodes kept the Tigers from piling up the points. 

Trinity will travel to Depauw next week to continue the SCAC schedule.  The Tigers return home on October 20 against University of the South-Sewanee for Trinity University Alumni Weekend.