MORGANTOWN — There was a big, big football game up on Trinity hill Friday night, and not just because it was Homecoming.
Many considered the “Whiteout” crowd to be the largest in school history — and why not? The undefeated Warriors were hosting Class A No. 3 Cameron, and expectations were as high as the elevation. And after a rare scoreless first half, Trinity fans were hoping the football team might just match the winning 7-0 score of the Trinity soccer team’s Thursday match against Notre Dame.
But it’s hard to win any football game — let alone when facing a Class A state title contender — with just 14 players in uniform, and despite a stunning special teams play and an opportunistic defensive effort, the Warriors were unable to hold onto a third quarter lead and fell to the Dragons 22-13.
There are times that offenses keep themselves off the scoreboard with self-inflicted wounds, and the Dragons (5-0) hurt themselves both early and late in the first half. Cameron appeared to score on its second possession, but a penalty took points off the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, the Trinity (2-1) offense couldn’t provide lightning-quick junior running back Levi Teets any cracks of daylight against the tough, athletic CHS defensive front, leading to five straight first half punts. Late in the second quarter, the Dragons grinded out a long drive that began on their own 17, with much of the load carried by a load of a fullback, senior Isaac Ball (who finished with 130 yards rushing on 22 carries). However, on first and goal from the four, Ball fumbled, the Warriors recovered and the game remained scoreless.
And there the game remained — for all of 11 second half seconds, as sophomore Carmelo Kniska fielded the opening kickoff at his 20 near the far sideline, cut inside at the 35 and pulled free of a leg tackle, sprinted to the near sideline and raced to the house for an electrifying kickoff return score.
But the Dragons exploited the right side of the TCS defense to respond with an 8-play, 65-yard scoring drive. Sophomore quarterback Colson Wichterman capped it with a nifty play, scooping a low shotgun snap, skirting the right end, and lunging with the ball to the pylon. When he followed up with a successful run on the 2-point conversion, Cameron hopped into the lead 8-7.
The two teams traded turnovers on consecutive plays, and then Teets ripped the ball out of Ball’s arms at midfield and returned it deep into Cameron territory. The Warriors went to their quick game offense, and it led to sophomore quarterback Jaylon Hill’s 2-yard TD run to regain the lead 13-8. However, despite many chances for sacks and stops, the exhausted Trinity defense couldn’t prevent the Dragons from regaining the lead late in the third on Payton Neely’s 5-yard buck.
Down 16-13 heading into the final quarter, the Warriors put together a decent drive, but couldn’t convert on 4th and 1 from the Cameron 26, and that proved the fatal blow, as the Dragons roared down the field and scored when Neely raced in untouched for a 35-yard, coffin-nailing touchdown. Neely picked off a desperation heave with a minute left to seal the win.
After the game, Trinity coach Chris Simpson was equally impressed with the Dragons and proud of his Warriors.
“They are an excellent program for sure, and it showed tonight,” he said. “They’ve got a big, strong team, depth up front, and some real game breakers. They played a good football game, and they earned the win.
“Sometimes, especially in Class A football, it can be a numbers game, and we had some injuries tonight, and eventually, our lack of depth took its toll. But we fought hard and well, especially our defense, which has been our base and our rock in my two years here. Look, we shut out the No. 3 team in the state in the first half. I think we proved we belong in the mix, that we deserve the respect we’ve earned this season. We either win or learn at Trinity: We don’t lose, and this was a big step forward for our program. I’m looking forward to seeing them again.”
That’s right — these same two teams will bang pads at Cameron on Oct. 29 in might be the first home-and-home series in the state in decades, and you can bet that the Dragons know they’ll have to bring their A-game to sweep.
The Warriors are set to travel to Paden City for a rare midweek game at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Cameron (5-0) 0 0 16 6 – 22
Trinity (2-1) 0 0 13 0 – 13
SCORING SUMMARY
TC – Carmelo Kniska 80 kickoff return (Kyle Knight kick)
CHS – Colson Wichterman 8 run (Wichterman run)
TC – Jaylon Hill 2 run (kick missed)
CHS – Payton Neely 5 run (Neely run)
CHS – Neely 35 run (try failed)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
CHS – Wichterman 6-15-0 86, Cole Burkett 0-1-0 0 , Totals 6-16-0 86
TC – Hill 11-18-2 83
RUSHING
CHS – Wichterman 10-99 TD, Isaac Ball 22-130, Neely 3-45 2TD, Cole Burkett 1-(-4), Jourdan Presto 3-9 Total 39-270 3TD.
TC- Hill 10-13TD, Levi Teets 15-27 Total 25-40 TD.
RECEIVING
CHS – Presto 3-50, Burkett 2-6, Ball 1-30
TC – Brady Summers 1-5, Teets 1-5, Knight 2-15, Kniska 7-58
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