BY SAMUEL JONES
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — After a difficult start to the season, Trinity Christian School finally reached the win column.
The Eagles (1-3, 1-3) beat Springwood School (0-5, 0-3) 52-26 at Moore Stadium on Sept. 18 behind big performances from William Dooley and Reid House.
For Trinity head coach Mike Adams, the win meant more than just another “W” on the schedule.
“We really needed this,” Adams said. “The guys have been fighting so hard. We’ve had some unfortunate breaks the last couple of weeks where the score kind of got out of hand, and I think it wasn’t indicative of the [team] we have.”
The Eagles looked like a different team from the start Friday. On the opening drive, Dooley found Mac Ellis for a 32-yard pass that moved Trinity inside the Springwood 20. Dooley then ran four straight times before reaching the end zone and adding a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Springwood answered when Bently Hussey broke free for a 29-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 8-8. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick, but Trinity forced a fumble on the first play to get the ball back.
That turnover sparked another scoring drive. On the third play, House caught a pass and turned it into a 56-yard TD, and Dooley’s two-point conversion made it 16-8. While a penalty resulted in a safety that trimmed the lead to 16-10, the Eagles quickly regained control.
At that point, House came up with yet another big play. After Springwood put together a 14-play drive to the Trinity 3, he forced a fumble and recovered it to stop the Wildcats from scoring. He later intercepted a pass and scored on a 14 yard TD run to further stretch the lead.
Adams said House’s impact goes well beyond the field.
“He’s a very special player,” Adams said. “Not only is he a gifted athlete, but he’s an even better person and a good teammate. He exemplifies everything we feel is important about Trinity.”
Following another Springwood fumble, Dooley found House for a 72-yard TD pass, pushing the lead to 30-10 midway through the second quarter.
The teams exchanged punts before House came up with another turnover late in the half. He then connected on a 30-yard gain, setting up Aiden Hahn for a 34-yard TD run and another two-point conversion just before halftime. Trinity led 38-10 at the break.
Dooley was another major part of the Eagles’ success, making plays through the air, using his legs when needed and providing leadership on both sides of the ball.
“He’s the guy who keeps the [other] guys’ heads up, keeps them focused,” Adams said. “I give him the freedom to call a lot of audibles, and he gets us into the right play most of the time. I’m really proud of him.”
Springwood opened the second half with a big play of its own when Remington Gauntt hauled in a 70-yard TD pass, cutting the deficit to 38-18. The Wildcats failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, and Trinity needed only three plays to answer, with House catching a 41-yard TD pass to make it 45-18.
Springwood threw another interception on its next possession, and Hahn capped the ensuing seven-play drive with a 15-yard TD catch for a 52-18 lead. Gauntt added another TD early in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles had already built too large a lead.
Hussey finished with 229 rushing yards and two TDs on 22 carries, while Gauntt caught six passes for 163 yards and two TDs. Springwood quarterback Wesley Carden went 7 of 13 for 174 yards, two TDs and three interceptions.
For Trinity, the win offered a chance to see what the team could do when it played loose and together, something Adams said was a major emphasis all week after the Eagles’ previous losses.
It’s a mentality Adams said he wants the Eagles to keep the rest of the season.
“They enjoyed this week in practice. They enjoyed coming out here tonight,” Adams said. “That’s going to be our theme going forward.”
Trinity will look to build on the win Thursday, Sept. 24, when it hosts Alabama School for the Deaf (1-2) at 7 p.m.
