BY SAMUEL JONES
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Lee-Scott Academy nearly erased a three-score deficit Friday night, but the Warriors’ comeback came up just short in a 25-23 loss to Trinity Presbyterian at Jud Scott Field on Sept. 25.
The loss dropped Lee-Scott to 0-6 on the season, but the Warriors showed plenty of fight after falling behind 19-0 early in the game.
Trinity controlled the opening portion of the night as Lee-Scott struggled to find a rhythm offensively. The Warriors went three-and-out on each of their first five possessions, and the Wildcats took advantage of the slow start.
Trinity’s first touchdown came after Mackin Roth recovered and returned a blocked Lee-Scott punt for a score. The Wildcats added another TD late in the first quarter when Chapman McInnis caught a 13-yard TD pass from Philip Mitchell.
Lee-Scott’s defense began to settle in as the game moved into the second quarter. The Warriors forced turnovers and kept Trinity from completely pulling away, giving the offense opportunities to get back into the game.
The Warriors finally broke through offensively with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Brooks Zachry powered his way into the end zone from two yards out to put Lee-Scott on the board.
Thomas Carmichael then added a 45-yard field goal in the final minute of the half, cutting the deficit to 19-10.
Trinity answered before halftime, with John Michael Cox scoring on a 5-yard TD run to give the Wildcats a 25-10 advantage at the break.
The third quarter belonged largely to the Trinity defense, but the Wildcats added another score of their own when Mitchell ran for an 11-yard TD early in the period.
Despite the deficit, Lee-Scott continued to create opportunities on defense. The Warriors finished the game with two interceptions and forced Trinity into three turnovers on downs. Those stops helped keep the game within reach heading into the fourth quarter.
Lee-Scott finally turned those defensive stops into another big offensive play early in the fourth.
With 11:39 remaining, Logan Wilson found Griffin Gaston for a 50-yard touchdown. The long completion immediately changed the situation for the Warriors, cutting Trinity’s lead to 25-17.
Wilson and the Lee-Scott offense continued to find ways to move the ball as the fourth quarter went on. Zachry provided a physical presence in the running game, while Wilson made several important throws to keep the Warriors’ final comeback attempt alive.
The defense also continued to give the offense chances by preventing Trinity from putting the game away.
With less than four minutes remaining, Lee-Scott took possession at its own 9 yard line, needing 91 yards to get back into the game.
The Warriors put together their most sustained drive of the night, moving 91 yards on 11 plays. Wilson connected with William Johnson on a pair of important throws during the possession before Lee-Scott reached the Trinity red zone.
Gaston finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run, bringing the Warriors within 25-23 with just over 30 seconds left.
Rather than kick an extra point and attempt an onside kick, Lee-Scott went for the game-tying two-point conversion.
A false-start penalty pushed the Warriors back to the 8 yard line, but Lee-Scott still had an opportunity to tie the game. Wilson took the ball himself and made a run toward the goal line, but Trinity’s defense stopped him one yard short.
That ended the Warriors’ comeback attempt and allowed Trinity to leave Auburn with the 2-point victory.
Wilson finished the night 8-of-17 passing for 115 yards and one TD. He also carried the ball on the final two-point attempt with the game on the line.
Zachry led Lee-Scott’s rushing attack with 91 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. Gaston was also a major part of the offense, finishing with three catches for 59 yards and a TD through the air while adding 20 rushing yards and a second TD on the ground.
For Lee-Scott, the loss was another difficult result in a season that has yet to produce a win, but the Warriors showed the ability to respond after facing a significant early deficit. The defense kept Trinity from continuing to build on its early advantage, while the offense produced 23 points after being held scoreless through the first quarter.
Lee-Scott now turns its attention to its next region matchup. The Warriors will travel to Tuscaloosa next Friday, Oct. 2, to face American Christian Academy. The Patriots enter the matchup undefeated at 5-0 after a 42-14 victory over Tuscaloosa Academy.
