Saints
flex muscle, leave no doubt in title game
Southern
Sports & Travel
It
seemed since the beginning of the 2013 MAIS football season that the Class A
State Championship game was predestined to feature Trinity Episcopal and
Marshall Academy. Both squads moved down in classification this season from
Class AA and, as advertised, advanced through the regular season schedule as
predicted heading into the direct paths of each other.
On
a cold, wet and windy Saturday afternoon on the campus of Mississippi College
in Clinton the top two teams in Class A finally met to determine Class A supremacy and for one quarter the game lived up to its’ billing.
“This
is a dream come true,” said an emotional Trinity head coach Josh Loy. “The
reason we’re here is because they care for each other, they love each other and
they play for each other.”
The
Trinity defense, third best in the MAIS in points allowed, wasted little time
in making an impact in the contest.
Only
12 seconds into the game Trinity safety Trey Hall recovered a fumble in the
Marshall backfield on the Patriot’s first play from scrimmage and the Saints
were more than eager to cash in.
Hall
would do the honors as the junior scampered 11 yards into the endzone to
quickly put Trinity on top. The Saints converted on a 2-point conversion
attempt and only 17 seconds into the game Marshall was looking at an 8-0
deficit.
Marshall’s
defense would hold their own throughout the opening quarter and the Patriot
offense would get a big play on a fourth and one from their own 44 yard line
when speedster Jordon Harris bounced off the left edge and sprinted 56 yards
for a touchdown with 1:00 left in the opening quarter.
Trinity
responded with a 9 play, 74 yard drive spearheaded by the rushing of
quarterback Michael Whitley and tailback Demarcus Fleming who combined for 65
yards on the ground during the drive. Whitley would ultimately cap the drive on
a 5 yard keeper at the 10:16 mark of the second quarter to put Trinity up 14-6.
Whitley
made his presence felt on the defensive side of the football on Marshall’s
ensuing possession as the senior picked off a Dakota Dailey pass at the Saint
34 yard line and, as Trinity did to open the game, the Saints quickly capitalized.
Whitley
connected with a wide open Quinton Logan who raced 66 yards to push the Trinity
lead to 20-6 with 9:52 remaining in the half.
After
Trinity’s defense would force a Marshall three and out the Saints went to work
again.
This
time a 6 play, 66 yard drive that culminated on a Michael Whitley 21 yard
touchdown strike to junior wide-out Wyatt Boothe at the 3:35 mark of the
quarter to up the lead to 26-6.
Marshall’s
attempts to climb back into the game would produce negative results and when the
Patriots lined up to attempt a 46 yard field goal disaster occurred.
A
fake field goal attempt resulted in a fumble in the Patriot backfield and gave
Trinity prime field position at the Saint’s 41 yard line with 1:30 remaining in
the half.
Three
plays later Trinity increased their cushion to 34-6 as Michael Whitley hit
tight-end Quinton Logan for a 52 yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left in
the first half of play.
“We
felt good at halftime,” said Trinity senior quarterback Michael Whitley. “We weren’t
comfortable but we felt good.”
Trinity
opened the second half with possession of the football and they virtually shut
the door on any attempt from Marshall to mount a serious comeback as the Saints
went 73 yards in 5 plays and extended their lead to 42-6 when Demarcus Fleming
scored from 8 yards out just 1:28 into the quarter.
Michael
Whitley cemented his name into the Trinity history book as he capped off
another stellar performance with a 9 yard scoring run with 36 seconds remaining
in the third quarter to give the Saints their biggest lead at 50-6.
“He’s
special,” said Trinity head coach Josh Loy. “I can’t say enough about that kid,
he’s the leader of our team. He’s the heart and soul of our team.”
Whitley
finished his final game with 83 yards rushing on 10 carries and 2 touchdowns
and went 7/16 for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns. Whitley had an interception on
defense.
The
senior signal-caller got plenty support from a squad loaded with quality skill
players.
Sophomore
tailback Demarcus Fleming rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown
and had 1 reception for 41 yards.
Junior
tailback Trey Hall picked up 59 yards on 2 carries and a touchdown and senior
Steward Malory contributed with 43 yards on 5 carries as Trinity totaled 262 yards
on the ground.
Sophomore
Quinton Logan had 3 receptions for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Logan also
accounted for 2.5 sacks on defense.
Marshall
was held to 12 yards passing and junior quarterback Dakota Dailey was the main
focus of the Trinity defensive game plan heading into Saturday’s title game.
‘We
felt like bringing a lot of pressure was going to be key,” said Loy. “We stress
defense, we like playing defense.”
Marshall
speedster Jordon Harris was the lone bright spot for the Patriot offense.
Harris rushed for 174 yards on 17 carries and the only score.
Dakota
Dailey was held to -21 yards on the ground and junior tailback Devin McGregor
added 40 yards on 10 carries.
Trinity
piled up 466 total yards of offense while limiting Marshall to a season low 207
yards.
Trinity
head coach Josh Loy was hoisted onto the shoulders of Trinity players as he
proudly held up the state championship hardware his squad had just earned and
before exiting the field his last time as head coach at Trinity Episcopal a
soft spoken Loy passionately expressed his feelings about the season he and his
squad had just completed.
“No
matter what happens they can’t take this away from these kids. They can’t take
this away from me. This is a memory I’ll cherish the rest of my life.” |
| 2013 CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONS - TRINITY EPISCOPAL SAINTS . |
Post Game with Trinity Head Coach Josh Loy
