Trinity air assualt sinks Centreville
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The Trinity Saints scored on their first three possessions of the game and senior quarterback Scott Turner scorched the Centreville defense with 315 yards through the air and four touchdowns as the fifth ranked Saints advanced to the Class AA South State finals with a convincing 39-19 win at Centreville.
Before most fans had settled into their seats Trinity had already gotten on the scoreboard.
On the first play from scrimmage Scott Turner hooked up with wide-out Tip McKenzie on a short route and the Vanderbilt signee did the rest as he raced 74 yards to the endzone. Jake Winston added the PAT and after 22 seconds of play Trinity took a 7-0 lead.
Centreville’s first possession stalled at their own 49 yard line but after a 50 yard punt from Cliff Hurst pinned the Saints at their own one yard line the Tiger defense looked to do some damage. Unfortunately for Centreville they would have no answer for containing Trinity quarterback Scott Turner. Turner orchestrated an 8 play, 99 yard drive in which the senior connected with four different receivers and rushed for 37 yards. The drive culminated on a Turner to Tanner Cage 25 yard touchdown pass at the 6:09 mark of the opening quarter to give Trinity a quick 13-0 advantage.
Things would quickly deteriorate for Centreville as safety Jake Winston picked off a Tyler Towles pass at the Trinity 22 yard line with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Trinity cashed in on the first turnover of the night. Turner hit Tip McKenzie for a quick 12 yard pickup to the Saints 34 yard line. After a pass interference call on Centreville moved the ball to the Trinity 49 Turner connected with wide-out Caleb Cross for a 19 yard gain to the Tiger 32 yard line. Following a false start infraction Turner threw his third touchdown pass of the opening quarter as the senior connected with Jake Winston for a 37 yard scoring strike with 1:51 still left in the quarter. A two point conversion attempt was thwarted but Trinity increased their cushion to 19-0 before a shocked Centreville crowd.
After Centreville’s offense was forced into a three and out the Tigers missed on an opportunity to capitalize on Trinity’s first turnover of the game. Linebacker Cliff Hurst recovered a Saint’s fumble at the Trinity 40 yard line just 16 seconds into the second quarter but Trinity regained possession as a mishandled pitch on a toss sweep by Centreville resulted in a fumble recovery by Trinity linebacker Scott Turner at the Saint’s 46 yard line.
Three plays later Trinity cashed in as Scott Turner hit Tip McKenzie on a 7 yard slant pass for a touchdown. Jake Winston added the PAT to give Trinity a 26-0 lead with 9:47 left in the first half.
Centreville got on the scoreboard on the ensuing possession. Colton Terrell’s 74 yard kick-off return set the table for the Tigers at the Trinity 16 yard line where six straight Cliff Hurst running plays paid dividends as the senior went in from three yards out with 6:54 left in the half. Randy Bell’s PAT cut the deficit to 26-7.
Centreville appeared to be building some much needed momentum as the first half of play was drawing to a close. After forcing Trinity to punt the Tigers marched 58 yards in 11 plays to the Saint’s 27 yard line with time winding down and no timeouts remaining. On a second and 12 Centreville quarterback Tyler Towles was picked off by Trinity’s Trae McKenzie who made a diving interception at the 18 yard line with 23 seconds remaining to halt the Centreville threat and send Trinity into the locker-room holding a 26-7 lead.
Trinity’s defense stood tall on Centreville’s opening possession of the second half. The Saints turned back a fourth down and 8 attempt at Centreville’s own 45 yard line and the Trinity offense capitalized quickly. Scott Turner hit Tip McKenzie with a 29 yard connection to the Tiger 16 yard line and Turner did the rest as the 6’1”, 215 lb senior picked up a hard 8 yards on the ground to the Centreville 8. Turner then bulldozed his way to paydirt on the following play and Jake Winston added the PAT to give Trinity a commanding 33-7 lead with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
Before most fans had settled into their seats Trinity had already gotten on the scoreboard.
Centreville’s first possession stalled at their own 49 yard line but after a 50 yard punt from Cliff Hurst pinned the Saints at their own one yard line the Tiger defense looked to do some damage. Unfortunately for Centreville they would have no answer for containing Trinity quarterback Scott Turner. Turner orchestrated an 8 play, 99 yard drive in which the senior connected with four different receivers and rushed for 37 yards. The drive culminated on a Turner to Tanner Cage 25 yard touchdown pass at the 6:09 mark of the opening quarter to give Trinity a quick 13-0 advantage.
Things would quickly deteriorate for Centreville as safety Jake Winston picked off a Tyler Towles pass at the Trinity 22 yard line with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Trinity cashed in on the first turnover of the night. Turner hit Tip McKenzie for a quick 12 yard pickup to the Saints 34 yard line. After a pass interference call on Centreville moved the ball to the Trinity 49 Turner connected with wide-out Caleb Cross for a 19 yard gain to the Tiger 32 yard line. Following a false start infraction Turner threw his third touchdown pass of the opening quarter as the senior connected with Jake Winston for a 37 yard scoring strike with 1:51 still left in the quarter. A two point conversion attempt was thwarted but Trinity increased their cushion to 19-0 before a shocked Centreville crowd.
After Centreville’s offense was forced into a three and out the Tigers missed on an opportunity to capitalize on Trinity’s first turnover of the game. Linebacker Cliff Hurst recovered a Saint’s fumble at the Trinity 40 yard line just 16 seconds into the second quarter but Trinity regained possession as a mishandled pitch on a toss sweep by Centreville resulted in a fumble recovery by Trinity linebacker Scott Turner at the Saint’s 46 yard line.
(Above) Trinity's Zach Wilson (#52) and Zach Young (#11) wrap up Centreville's Cliff Hurst
After Centreville forced Trinity’s first punt of the night disaster struck as Jake Winston’s punt was muffed at the Centreville 6 yard line and recovered by Trinity sophomore Caleb Cross.Three plays later Trinity cashed in as Scott Turner hit Tip McKenzie on a 7 yard slant pass for a touchdown. Jake Winston added the PAT to give Trinity a 26-0 lead with 9:47 left in the first half.
Centreville got on the scoreboard on the ensuing possession. Colton Terrell’s 74 yard kick-off return set the table for the Tigers at the Trinity 16 yard line where six straight Cliff Hurst running plays paid dividends as the senior went in from three yards out with 6:54 left in the half. Randy Bell’s PAT cut the deficit to 26-7.
Centreville appeared to be building some much needed momentum as the first half of play was drawing to a close. After forcing Trinity to punt the Tigers marched 58 yards in 11 plays to the Saint’s 27 yard line with time winding down and no timeouts remaining. On a second and 12 Centreville quarterback Tyler Towles was picked off by Trinity’s Trae McKenzie who made a diving interception at the 18 yard line with 23 seconds remaining to halt the Centreville threat and send Trinity into the locker-room holding a 26-7 lead.
Trinity’s defense stood tall on Centreville’s opening possession of the second half. The Saints turned back a fourth down and 8 attempt at Centreville’s own 45 yard line and the Trinity offense capitalized quickly. Scott Turner hit Tip McKenzie with a 29 yard connection to the Tiger 16 yard line and Turner did the rest as the 6’1”, 215 lb senior picked up a hard 8 yards on the ground to the Centreville 8. Turner then bulldozed his way to paydirt on the following play and Jake Winston added the PAT to give Trinity a commanding 33-7 lead with 6:19 left in the third quarter.
(Above) Trinity's air attack - Tanner Cage (#1), Jake Winston (#3), Trae McKenzie (#2)
Centreville scored at the 2:43 mark of the quarter on a Cliff Hurst to Colby Shaw 38 yard touchdown pitch and catch to cut the deficit to 33-13.
Things got a little interesting after Centreville held Trinity on a 4th and 1 deep inside Tiger territory with 9:34 remaining in the contest.
Centreville then produced an 89 yard scoring drive highlighted by a Tyler Towles short pass to tailback Randy Bell who scampered 72 yards to the Trinity 5 yard line. Colton Terrell then plowed in over the right side and with 8:39 remaining in the game and Centreville was within two touchdowns at 33-19.
After safely covering an on sides kick attempt Trinity all but closed the door on Centreville’s season.
Tip McKenzie rambled 20 yards to the Tiger 31 yard line on a toss sweep and Cage Tanner went off the left side and scurried to the Centreville 6 yard line to set up the final score of the night as McKenzie did the honors with 7:45 remaining to close the door at 39-19.
(Above) Trinity's Trae McKenzie stretches for a reception attempt
Scott Turner led Trinity as the senior went 13/23 for 315 yards and four touchdowns through the air and 39 yards rushing and a touchdown. Tip McKenzie had 6 receptions for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns and picked up 24 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Trinity’s offense netted 409 total yards on the night.
Centreville (10-3) was led by Cliff Hurst who rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries and Colton Terrell who picked up 36 yards on 11 carries.
Trinity improves to 11-2 and will travel to Mendenhall next Friday night to take on top ranked and undefeated Simpson in the Class AA South State Championship game. The last time Trinity and Simpson met was in a 2008 first round playoff matchup in Natchez with Trinity taking a 17-7 win.
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Post Game with Trinity head coach David King
Post Game with Trinity head coach David King
