Published Sunday, October 05, 2008
Lions roar into ICSGA playoffs
The Times-Herald
Trinity Christian's first-year football team knew it was going to have to take every opportunity given to them in 2008, if the Lions were going to be successful immediately in the ICSGA 8-man football league.
Have they ever.
On Friday, with a playoff berth on the line, Trinity Christian took and took and took and took and took and took and took and took -- to the tune of a whopping eight Lion interceptions that paced a 46-20 victory over Lafayette Christian of LaGrange.
In return, Trinity Christian (5-2, 4-1 in the ICSGA West Region) was rewarded with a berth in the league semifinals on Oct. 24 as the No. 2 seed from the West Region.
Up next, though, is Friday's Homecoming game at East Coweta Middle School's McKnight Stadium against Cumberland, (4-2, 3-1 East Region) in a non-region game.
"It was just a good performance," said Trinity coach Paul Trolinger. "For never playing ball before, most of them at least, they're learning how to play the game."
Lafayette (1-5, 1-4), another first-year football program, jumped out to an early lead, using its spread offense to take the opening kickoff for a touchdown. But only twice more did the Cougar offense manage to reach the end zone again. Most of the hosts drives ended with passes being thrown to opposing jerseys. Andrew Brady and Ricky Sanchez each had a pair of interceptions to lead Trinity's defense. Clint Carr, Zach Horsley, Cameron Clark and Andrew Dennis also had picks in the win.
"We hadn't seen that all year," said Trolinger of Lafayette's spread offense. "We adjusted on defense and made some changes."
Offensively, Andre Lee and Carr led the rushing effort, with Trolinger giving praise to his team's offensive line.
"Our offensive line played very well (Friday)," he said. "I think they're starting to start understanding the game and the concept of run blocking."
Trinity's likely opponent for its first round playoff game will be Grace Baptist (6-1, 3-0) of Hiram.