Football

November 8, 2008

Tiger Football Suffers Second Straight Loss

Trinity (7-2, 4-2) lost consecutive games for the first time since the 1995 season, and lost two conference games for the first time since the 2000 season.

The Tigers scored twice in the second quarter to take a 10-0 lead, but Centre was able to get on the scoreboard with eight seconds left before halftime to make it 10-6.  Trinity then fumbled the ensuing kickoff to give possession back to Centre with just four seconds left, and the Colonels capitalized with a 32-yard touchdown pass to take the 13-10 halftime lead.

In the second half, Trinity seemed to take back the momentum after forcing a turnover on Centre's first possession, but the Tigers turned the ball over themselves a few plays later.  The Colonels then drove 80 yards in just five plays to score again and make it 20-10 midway through the third.

The Tigers finally cut into the lead on their first possession of the fourth quarter to make it 20-17, driving 90 yards in 10 plays.  Just two plays later, though, Centre scored again - capping the drive with a 56-yard touchdown pass to make it 26-17 (the extra point was blocked).

Trinity drove to the Centre 24 yard line later in the quarter, but four straight incomplete passes ended the possession.  The final drive for the Tigers was stopped just across midfield as Centre forced its second turnover of the game, then ran out the clock to seal the win.

The loss also squandered a stellar effort for Trinity running back Chris Baer.  Baer finished with 34 carries for 187 yards and a touchdown in the game.  The 34 rushes tie for the fifth-most in school history, while the 187 yards rank 15th for a single game.  It was also a career-high for Baer, as well as the most rushing yards in a game since 2004.

Bryant Wilson was 17-36 for 233 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an interception in the game.  Shawn Thompson grabbed five receptions for 79 yards, eclipsing 1,000 career receiving yards in the process.  Chris Coleman led Trinity with 97 yards receiving on four catches, while Riley Curry had four catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensive linemen Ray Clark and Ryan Johnson tied for the team lead with six tackles each, and the duo also had 6.0 tackles for a loss of 23 total yards.  Clark finished with 4.0 tackles for loss to lead all players.  Kyle Coats picked up his third interception of the season and also had five tackles.

Jonathan Pinque rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns for Centre, while quarterback Tyler Osterman completed an impressive 16-20 for 260 yards and two more scores.  Defensively, Adam Hay led all players with 15 tackles, while Brian Sneed recorded 12 stops and the game's only sack.

Trinity returns home next weekend to take on Austin College in the regular season finale on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.