Jacksonville FL- Kellen Mond scored four touchdowns on the evening as his team IMG defeated Trinity Christian 34-21. It was a performance that certainly lived up to the hype and enthusiasm surrounding the talented duel threat Quarterback. Mond came into the game leading IMG in passing (1191yds ,15TDs), rushing (523yds, 8 TDs) and points (48pts). He would show the capacity crowd on hand at Trinity Christian just how he came to do so.
Trinity crowd making noise after that Wade TD grab @DuvalSports @Athletics_TCA pic.twitter.com/ckz96pCwSG
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
The game began not with Mond scoring but with Trinity Christian’s Rasheed Martin putting up points. Quarterback DJ Mathews ( FSU Commit) who took over starting QB duties from Legend Brumbaugh, drove the Conquerors down field. Martin would take the pitch right 9 yards for the games first touchdown putting Trinity up 7-0.
Rasheed Martiin 9yd TD run. Trinity up 7-0 2:32 1st @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/HJavIZa3LQ
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 21, 2016
Martin 9yd TD run. Trinity leads 7-0 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/T1CbGebbKC
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 21, 2016
But IMG would respond. Mond would hook up with Jhamon Ausbon (LSU Commit) for a forty yard touchdown to pull within one of Trinity. The PAT would be no good , and the score was 7-6. On both scoring drives, both Trinity and IMG showed why they are two of the best teams in the Country. Shaun Wade ( Ohio State Commit) got a chunk of yards on a running play to set up Trinity’s first TD. While Ausbon made a very difficult catch on the IMG TD. It was a glimpse of what these athletes will showcase on Saturdays very soon at the collegiate level.
D.Pate sack on Mond forces punt @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/RDAPu40NCZ
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
Both defenses started strong. Trinity and IMG were forced to punt on some of their early drives. IMG’s Dylan Moses (Alabama Commit) sacked Mathews to force a Trinity punt. TJ Robinson for Trinity came up with a big sack as well on Mond to stall a drive. The defenses seemed very prepared for the challenge on stopping some of the best athletes in the country.
TC defense holds off Mond on 3rd 19 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ofD1uVDDhN
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 21, 2016
IMG defense hold TC on 4th and 3 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/JriLZKmUGZ
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 21, 2016
TC defense clears off IMG. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/oN1ZeHILCt
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
IMG would force a fumble which was recovered by Oregon commit Tre McKitty, thwarting a nice Trinity drive. However Shaun Wade returned the favor picking off Mond and returned it 40 yards. Trinity linebacker Eriq Gilyard’s sack ended the first half with Trinity leading 7-6. It was a first half performance that Trinity was pleased with even though the coaches felt they left a lot of scoring opportunities slip away. A stiff contest between two great clubs will always come down to the turnover battle, and in the second half IMG got the upper hand in that department.
Turnovers in the 1st half
IMG Academy: 1
Trinity Christian: 1#HSFB@DuvalSports— HSSportsFlorida (@HSSportsFL) October 22, 2016
Mond completes 35yd pass to 7yd line,then keeps its for a IMG TD. IMG leads 13-7 8:12 3rd @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/eVkDKX1VzJ
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
After Kellen Mond ran his first of three touchdowns on the night putting IMG up 13-7, IMG would get a big play from Robert Beal Jr who intercepted a pass and returned it for an Ascender touchdown. IMG lead 20-7 and the play proved to be a critical turning point in the game as Trinity was forced to play catch-up. In both of their losses prior to coming into the game against Cocoa and Tallahassee Lincoln, Trinity struggled when falling behind in the second half of games. It would be the case again against IMG. After Trinity responded with a long touchdown from Mathews to Wade to come within six points 20-14. Mond returned the favor with a 29 yard touchdown run putting is team up by two scores 26-14.
Img pick 6 by #8 but S.Wade catches 50yd bomb from Matthews. Score 20-14 3rd 6:02 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/CZRoubEoWB
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
K.Mond 29yd TD on 4th and 1 @DuvalSports IMG 26-14. MOND 3RD TD OF GAME pic.twitter.com/RJu7zuVEWu
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
Things got worse before they got better for Trinity. An errant snap out of the back of the endzone resulted in a safety for IMG making it 28-14 with 5:46 to play in the fourth. Kellen Mond would rip a 40 yard touchdown, his fourth score of the game to put it out of reach for the home team. Shaun Wade would put a firm stamp on the game with another touchdown through the air, this time from QB Legend Brumbaugh who was inserted late for Mathews. However the game would end with that score 34-21 in favor of the visiting IMG Ascenders.
IMG 34 TRINITY 21 FINAL @DuvalSports @IMG @IMGAcademy @Athletics_TCA pic.twitter.com/wKwXojUdDr
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 22, 2016
Trinity can hold their heads high knowing they had a chance to take down the number one team in the state and arguably the county. Rasheed Martin rushed for over 100 yards. The defense stepped up big at times including two sacks from TJ Robinson. Yet the inability to match the big plays of IMG Quarterback Kellen Mond ultimately resulted in their defeat. Mond who attended High School in Texas before enrolling at IMG, is committed to Texas A&M. His virtuoso performance Friday Night is what kept IMG undefeated on the season at 7-0. Trinity fell to 5-3, but will shift its focus on winning the district next week. They face undefeated Episcopal on the road, and the winner takes the division.
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