TRINITY — Fair week in Trinity began with the Tigers scheduled to host the Colmesneil Bulldogs; however, due to injuries they were forced to forfeit giving the Tigers a 1-0 victory.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers found a game against the West Hardin Oilers, who were previously to play against the Tigers in Week 3 but had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts.
The Oilers received the opening kickoff and were quickly forced to punt, and the Tiger offense wasted no time scoring with a 9-play, 79-yard scoring drive capped off by an 8-yard touchdown by Jonathan Baker. The defense again was able to force the Oilers to another punt and the Tigers were able to drive the ball to the oiler 8-yard line but were stopped on 4th down.
The second quarter started with an Oiler drive to the Tiger 27-yard line, but an incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Tiger offense. The Tigers took just 3 plays to find the end zone and took a 13-0 lead with a 38-yard run by Turbo Maxie. The oilers were able to put together an impressive drive and take the ball to the Tiger 1inch line. With their backs to the goal line, the Tiger defense was able to stop the Oilers from scoring on 4 consecutive plays, giving the ball back to the Tiger offense as time expired in the first half.
Leading 13-0 after the halftime show, the Tigers received the ball and took 4 plays to score highlighted by a 65-yard scoring run by Maxie. The defense was again able to stop the Oilers and force a punt. Taking over on their own 13-yard line, the Tigers were again able to march the ball the length of the field and find the end zone with a pass from Maxie to Corde Walker for a 25-yard touchdown. The Oilers were again able to drive into the Tiger end of the field, but the defense forced the ball back to the offense with time winding down in the 3rd quarter.
The 4th quarter began with the Tigers striking for another score on a 74-yard drive that Jammale Johnson completed with a 15-yard touchdown run. Leading 32-0, the defense forced a fumble on the Oilers next play and the Tigers were in position to add to their lead, but a Tiger fumble gave the ball back to the Oilers and set them up for their lone score of the evening, a 70–yard scoring drive that took up most of the remaining clock and the Tigers ended Non-district play with a 4-0 record and a total of 2 victories recorded on the same night.
The Tigers ended the evening with 430 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards, highlighted by rushing leaders Turbo Maxie with 172 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Jammale Johnson with 178 yards and 1 touchdown. The receiving yards leader was Corde Walker with 59 yards and 1 touchdown. The defense held the Oilers to 245 rushing yards and 1 yard passing.
The Tigers will open district play Friday as they host the Woodville Eaagles at Tiger Stadium.
Apple Springs
Despite an opponent that displayed some of the worst sportsmanship, the Apple Springs Eagles played a game that Head Coach Cody Moree called the best football they have played so far this season.
Moree had posted on social media that their opponent, Tyler King’s Academy, tried to intentionally hurt the Apple Springs students, were visibly confrontational with the officials and consistently used profane and derogatory language.
At one point, after a penalty against an Apple Springs player after a late tackle, the opposing players from both the field and sideline ran at the player, and opposing spectators jumped the fence and ran onto the field, many of whom were shouting threatening and demeaning remarks at our students.
Moree’s post states that a few moments later, an opposing player began to shout across the field at one of our players and threatened to do bodily harm to him completely separate from the game; since the opposing coach did nothing, Moree stopped the game.
“As Superintendent, I have no greater responsibility than the safety of our staff and students,” Moree said. “The attitude and the actions of the opposing team were potentially dangerous, and I was not going to permit it to continue.”
Despite the outcome, Moree said that the Eagles took an early lead and never relinquished it, and they won the game, both on and off the field.
The score when the game ended was Apple Springs 33, King’s Academy 28.
Moree said the defense set the tone for the game, with Bradyn Kaufman and Noah Thompson each posting 6 tackles.
Zeth Dugat had 78 yards rushing with 2 TDs and 101 yards receiving, and Payton Williams had 51 yards receiving with 2 TDs.
Groveton
The Indians managed only one TD in its 48-6 loss to Grapeland on Friday.
Head Coach Michael Waldie said it was a rough game, but the Indians will continue to push to get better and find answers.
“We must protect the football, as we had 4 turnovers again,” he said. “We need discipline — there are way too many pre-snap mistakes and execution errors.”
The team will focus on blocking and tackling with daily sled work, individual drills, tackling stations, and fit drills to improve those fundamentals.
“It will turn around; we will continue to work hard every day,” he said.
Waldie praised Armando Bautista, who had a stellar night at wide receiver and outside linebacker.
