Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
San Antonio - Trinity's football team improved to 3-0 on the season with a convincing 30-12 victory over Sul Ross State University on Saturday night.
The Tigers are 3-0 for the first time since the 2011 season, gaining 399 yards offensively, while also forcing four turnovers and a safety. Trinity did allow 343 yards to the Lobos, though nearly half of those came on two scoring drives. The stingy Tiger defense did not allow a first down in the first quarter, and held Sul Ross scoreless until late in the third quarter. Trinity also held Sul Ross to just 75 yards rushing in the game, and the Lobos fall to 0-2 on the year.
Trinity's second drive looked promising, but a fumble inside the five yard line gave the ball back to the visitors. Sul Ross failed to move the ball, and the ensuing punt was blocked out of the back of the end zone by Brandon Guzman, resulting in a safety and a 2-0 Tiger lead. After the free kick, Trinity drove 46 yards in just five plays to make it 9-0.
That score held until late in the second quarter when the Tigers got on the board with a 25-yard pass play from Austin Grauer to Rhodes Legg. It was the second touchdown combination between the two Trinity standouts, as Legg also caught a 13-yard scoring strike from Grauer earlier in the game.
Grauer finished 20-36 for 236 yards and four scores, while Legg led the team with six receptions for 75 yards and the two scores. Grauer also had touchdown throws to wide receiver Cody Sandman and running back Jeremy Simmons in the second half.
Late in the third quarter, Sul Ross finally got on the board with a six-play, 82-yard drive that finished with a 43-yard catch-and-run by Byron Jones. The extra point was blocked, though, and the Tiger lead was 10 points (16-6).
Trinity answered right away with its only points of the third quarter, pulling back to a comfortable 23-6 lead. The Tiger defense then forced a turnover to interrupt the ensuing drive by Sul Ross, turning that into another score that made it 30-6 for the Tigers. A long drive by the Lobos made it 30-12, but Trinity forced two more interceptions in the fourth quarter to end any chance of a comeback.
Simmons finished with 106 yards on 24 carries, as well as picking up 64 yards on five receptions. Sandman had 45 yards on three catches, while Zack Allen also had five grabs for 34 yards.
Julian Turner led Trinity's defense with 17 tackles, including seven solo stops and 2.0 tackles for loss. Josh Cook had 10 tackles, while Brad Hood finished with a total of eight. Hood also made an acrobatic interception at the start of the second quarter. Jakob Coker had seven tackles and an interception, while Luke Packard and Manny Menezes also picked off passes in the game.
The safety was also the first for the Tiger defense this season, as well as the first since 2013 - ironically enough against Sul Ross. The blocked punt was also the first for Trinity since the 2013 game against Sul Ross.
Trinity will hit the road next weekend, taking on Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers return home October 3 against Hardin-Simmons University, and the 2015 class of the Trinity Athletics Hall of Fame will be inducted during halftime.