Trinity battled Cell Christian evenly by the half, making an attempt to attain a landing with simply over two minutes left within the first half to tie the sport.
The Leopards responded with a five-play, 61-yard drive in simply 62 seconds to seize the lead and momentum with a 42-21 victory over Trinity within the 3A playoff quarterfinals Friday night time at Ragsdale-Boykin Discipline.
“That was actually vital,” Cell Christian's Michael Moore mentioned. “It gave us loads of power. It was a detailed sport and it gave us loads of power.”
The ultimate rating didn’t mirror the battle of the primary three quarters. Trinity (11-2) took an early lead, then answered each problem for many of the first three quarters earlier than Cell Christian scored two late touchdowns to seal the win and ship the Leopards (13-0) into the semifinals in opposition to a seeded staff. their final season, st. James.
“We challenged our youngsters that we needed to get into the sport within the fourth quarter as a result of no person actually obtained them within the fourth quarter this 12 months, no person performed them shut,” Trinity coach Brian Seymore mentioned. “I'm happy with our youngsters, they performed tremendous bodily, tremendous exhausting. You hate going out like this, however typically you simply need to tip your hat. That's a extremely good soccer staff. Coach (Ronnie) Cottrell is doing a fantastic job.”
A pair of 1-yard landing runs by Ross Sanders, who completed with 144 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries, helped the Wildcats tie the sport in opposition to the larger Leopards, however that's when Damien Gatson labored his magic, finishing 4 of 5 passes. together with a 12-yard landing cross to Jordan Woullard with 1:04 left.
“We simply haven't had loads of stress conditions this 12 months,” Cottrell famous. ” They have been they usually answered. It was phenomenal.”
Gatson threw simply three passes within the first quarter, however the Leopards struggled to maneuver the ball in opposition to the Wildcats. His potential to throw the ball to speedy receivers, together with Cell Christian's potential to drive the ball behind a trio of 300-pound-plus offensive linemen, left Trinity's linebackers a shedding battle.
“They have been large,” Seymore mentioned. “They're very bodily and have loads of expertise. Their working again (Anthonio Brown) is dynamic and No. 13 (Moore), their slot receiver, is an exceptional athlete. I assumed we had a fantastic scheme, however they're powerful to take care of. And once they needed to run it between the tackles, they put pad on pad and it was exhausting to take care of.''
Brown had 119 speeding yards on 26 carries, whereas Gatson was 13 of 16 for 179 yards and two touchdowns. He was 7 of 8 for 117 yards within the second quarter, unlocking Trinity's protection as he focused 4 totally different receivers within the last two minutes of the half on his five-game streak.
“It set the tone as a result of they knew we have been going to get the ball again (to start out) the second half,” mentioned Gatson, who’s dedicated to play baseball at South Alabama. “I needed to put the offense collectively and lead them. All (my receivers) are playmakers. I attempt to not pressure the ball. Now we have velocity all around the area, so I attempt to use it.”
The Wildcats had an opportunity to tie the sport halfway by the fourth quarter, however a sack by Christopher Fillingim pressured a Trinity punt. By that time, Cell Christian's line was sporting down the Wildcats and eight working performs discovered the top zone, the final 5 approaching Woullard's drive down the left finish for a 35-21 lead with 2:57 left.
Gatson's fielder on fourth and third stored the drive alive.
“That was additionally vital,” Moore mentioned. “Now we have to provide credit score the place it's due.” It's a fantastic staff they usually've labored exhausting for it. We simply needed to push it in there and get that landing.”
“A wise coach in all probability would have hit a area aim,” Cottrell mentioned, “however our staff needed to shoot for it and Jordan Woullard simply made a fantastic run.”
Moore joined the lead moments later, stripping Xavier Boswell of the ball on a accomplished cross over the center.
“He obtained his fingers on it and I ripped it off as a result of he didn't fairly get it,” Moore mentioned.
On the following play, Moore raced 66 yards down the sideline for the ultimate landing of the sport.
“We knew they have been gifted,” Seymore mentioned. “The film doesn't lie. They’re a really gifted staff, however I assumed we fought them tooth and nail all through. They (Trinity gamers) confirmed loads of coronary heart and loads of guts and that's all you’ll be able to ask for. Coming in as a first-year coach and going 11-2 and making it to the quarterfinals and getting beat by a staff like Cell Christian? It hurts, however I'm extraordinarily happy with our staff, the teaching workers and the way in which the college has rallied round these gamers.”
Cottrell, a former Florida State and Alabama recruiting coordinator who’s the Leopards' winningest coach with 83 wins in 9 years, praised the Wildcats' efficiency.
“Hats off to Coach Seymore,” he mentioned. “He's carried out a fantastic job with this program and it's an impressive soccer staff.” I assumed they simply outplayed us within the first half. However I believe that drive proper earlier than halftime, my quarterback did a masterful job of getting us to the rating.”
Seymore, who received extra video games than any first-year coach in program historical past, deflected credit score from his gamers.
“It’s important to throw it again to the ten seniors,” Seymore mentioned. “The management that that they had got here in and embraced me and embraced the coaches as a workers, made the modifications that have been essential to make it one of many higher groups in 3A soccer. Week in and week out I really feel like we may play with anyone and our youngsters have been in a position to try this all 12 months. Now we have to exchange loads of good gamers, however I really feel like this program goes in the suitable path.”
