Football

September 5, 2008

Trinity Survives Wild Opening Game at McMurry

Senior running back Al Furlow of Chesapeake Beach, Md. (Katy Taylor; Katy, Texas), made a game-saving fumble recovery in the final minute. Tiger quarterback Robert Davidson fumbled at the McMurry 36. Andrew Wallace of McMurry recovered the fumble and rushed for 13 yards to the 49. Wallace was stripped and the ball was recovered by Furlow.  Furlow also had six rushing attempts for 31 yards.

Trinity now has a record of 18-2 in season openers, under 20th-year head coach Steve Mohr. The Tigers beat McMurry 48-18 last year in San Antonio. It marked the first meeting of the teams since 1999, with the Tigers coming out on top 27-19 in a home game. Trinity leads the series – which began in 1936 – 23-13-1.

The Tigers, who led 10-7 at halftime, scored 21 points in the second half (seven in the third, 14 in the fourth) to 19 by McMurry (13 and six, respectively).

Senior quarterback Jeremy Staska of La Porte made his first start, and completed a 38-yard touchdown pass to Daniel South. Staska completed 6 of 14 passes (one interception) for 96 yards. Junior quarterback Robert Davidson of Fort Worth (All Saints Episcopal) took over in the second half and completed a 40-yard TD pass top senior wide receiver Riley Curry of Sugar Land (Clements).

Davidson connected on 4 of 10 passes (no interceptions) for 77 yards. Davidson also rushed for a 5-yard touchdown. Curry caught five passes for 73 yards, as well as making three kickoff returns for 34 yards. Senior wide receiver Caleb Urban of Victoria (Memorial) had three receptions for 46 yards, two rushing attempts for 18 yards and two kickoff returns for 46 yards.

Chris Baer, a senior running back from Shiner, Texas, rushed 20 times for 69 yards and a touchdown of 1 yard.

First-year kicker Garrett Biel of Clayton, Calif., booted a 43-yarsd field goal, the opening score of the game.

Senior defensive back Evan Reville of Oklahoma City registered nine tackles and two interceptions. Senior linebacker Dennis Grebe of Bay City, Texas, had nine tackles and one sack.

McMurry quarterback Jake Mullin completed 35 of 54 passes (three interceptions) for 479 yards and three touchdowns. Marcus Franklin caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Trinity racked up 158 yards rushing and 173 passing for 331 total yards. McMurry had 479 yards passing and was limited to minus-7 rushing.

The Tigers travel to Seguin next Saturday to take on Texas Lutheran at 6 p.m.

Al Furlow's forced fumble and recovery sealed the win for the Tigers at McMurry on Saturday night

As he often has over his four-year career, Riley Curry led Trinity with five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown

Dennis Grebe and the Tiger defense forced five turnovers against McMurry on Saturday night