Trinity Remains Unbeaten With SCAC Win Over Sewanee

San Antonio - The Trinity Tiger football team remained unbeaten with a 27-9 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference win over Sewanee: University of the South on Saturday afternoon.

Trinity (5-0, 3-0 SCAC) survived both the weather and a strong effort from the visiting Sewanee team (2-4, 0-3 SCAC).  Rain clouds hovered over the field for virtually the entire game, forcing both teams to go to the running game.  Combined, Trinity and Sewanee ran the ball 88 times in the game, gaining 406 total rushing yards.  The passing game was limited to a combined 173 yards.

Neither team got going early in the game, as Garrett Biel's 34-yard field goal was the only score in the opening quarter.  Sewanee finally got on the board with a 26-yard field goal late in the second quarter, and it looked like the half would end that way.  Trinity had other plans, however, piecing together a 79-yard drive that lasted 11 plays, and ended with a 10-yard touchdown with less than a minute left before halftime.

Nykolas McKissic hit Desmond King for the first of King's two touchdown receptions in the game, putting Trinity up 10-3 at that point.  King caught two passes total in the game, and both were for touchdowns.  His second score came on a 36-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter.  McKissic finished 9-13 for 105 yards in the game. 

In addition to his two TD receptions, King also ran the ball 13 times for 67 yards.  After the game, King credited his offensive line for opening up the rushing lanes, as well as blocking down field on both of his touchdowns.  "We played well because of the offensive linemen, and without them, I wouldn't have gone anywhere."

As has been the case all season, the Trinity defense was up to the task.  Trinity gave up just 222 yards of total offense, and just 68 yards passing.  Linebackers Nick Darling and Thomas Puskarich finished with 11 tackles each to lead the team, and Puskarich recorded Trinity's only sack of the day.  Ben Robinson and Greg Kerr had eight tackles each, while Robinson had 2.5 tackles for loss in the game.

Antonio Debouse had seven tackles and recovered two fumbles for Trinity.  His second fumble was returned 32 yards to the Sewanee three yard line, setting up Trinity's final touchdown of the game. 

Patrick Granchelli finished with his second straight 100-yard game for Trinity, piling up 103 yards on 19 carries.  He also scored that final touchdown from three yards out in the fourth quarter. 

Trinity followed Biel's third quarter field goal - his second of the day - with two fourth quarter touchdowns to finish off a Sewanee team that fought to the bitter end. 

"They (Sewanee) do a good job of keeping the ball away from the opponent, and we couldn't get very good field position in the first half," said Trinity head coach, Steve Mohr.  "I credit Sewanee for keeping teams close.  We hung in and continued to play hard, then got some good things going our way in the fourth quarter."

The defense also came up with a crucial goalline stand early in the fourth quarter, keeping Sewanee from converting on first-and-goal at the eight yard line.  Trinity was up just 13-3 at the time it stopped Sewanee on fourth-and-goal at the one, taking over on downs.  Coach Mohr said that was a "huge" stop for the defense.

Trinity made it to just the 15 yard line before having to punt, but a 60-yard punt from Kyle Trella switched the field position, and kept Trinity in control of the game.  Half of Sewanee's 10 offensive possessions gained less than 10 yards.

Trinity will remain at home for next wekeend's contest against against Huntingdon College.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.