BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — Senior running back Nate Riddle rushed for 192 yards as the Trinity Eagles rolled past the Rangers from Southern Prep 43-28 Friday night at Ranger Field in Camp Hill.
Riddle also had 85 yards receiving and scored four touchdowns as the Eagles won their fourth game in a row and improved to 6-4 on the season and 6-4 in AISA 8-Man Region play.
“This was one of the most complete games we’ve had,” Trinity head coach Mike Adams said. “We had success on the ground as well as through the air, and our defense had some big stops to give us good field position.”
It was Southern Prep who got on the board first. On just their second play from scrimmage Ja’Quez Jones took a hand-off and broke two tackles before racing 85 yards for the score. Brandon Evans ran it in for the two-point conversion to give the Rangers an early 8-0 lead.
Trinity would match Southern Prep on their first possession as Riddle scored his first touchdown of the night by shedding several defenders on his way to a 70-yard touchdown. Riddle also added the two-point conversion to tie the score at 8.
Both offenses would go cold until the 2:26 mark in the second quarter when a muffed punt would prove costly for the Rangers. After the turnover Riddle made the home team pay by rushing around the left end for a 25 yard touchdown. Once again Riddle added the two-point conversion to put the Eagles on top.
Special teams failed the Rangers again with just 1:17 remaining in the first half. Facing fourth down deep inside their own territory, the Rangers punt was blocked, giving the visitors from Trinity excellent field position. Riddle pounded it in from two yards out and suddenly the Rangers were down two scores.
“We just made too many mistakes tonight,” Southern Prep head coach J.R. Rodriguez said. “You can’t give a team like that too many opportunities and expect to win. We’ll learn from this experience and continue to improve.”
The Eagles extended their lead on the opening kick-off of the second half when Reid House returned the kick for a touchdown. Less than a minute later, Trinity tackled Jones in the end zone for a safety to give the Eagles a commanding 34-8 lead.
On the following possession Trinity quarterback William Dooley showed off his kicking skills by nailing a 35-yard field goal. Southern Prep managed to cut into the lead when Brandon Pace connected with Jackson Weston on a touchdown pass. And on the following Trinity possession, Ranger defender Braden Evans scooped up an Eagles fumble and raced 45 yards for the touchdown. However, it proved to be too little too late as the Eagles added another late score.
Trinity will host Evangel Christian Academy Friday night in the first round of the playoffs.
Trinity ground game dominates Rangers
