WESTSIDE – We waited a long time for private school area powers Trinity Christian and Bolles to finally meet on the field and boy were we treated well with not just one meeting but two memorable meetings including a three overtime thriller in the first round of the playoffs.
“Wide Right!” yelled the Conqueror faithful behind the North end zone at Trinity Christian Friday night, after Bolles kicker Santi Leon pulled his potential game winning field goal just right of the uprights.
Reminiscent of the epic Florida State and Miami college football thrillers, Bolles and Trinity Part II certainly lived up to the avidity to which many fans expected.
The miss was Bolles’ third failed attempt at potentially winning the game, and sent the contest into its third overtime.
In the final overtime period, Bolles quarterback Josiah Johnson dropped back on third down, felt pressure from his right and tossed a pass to the left corner of the end zone, but it was intercepted by Trinity defensive back Tyreke Johnson.
The five-star play by the five-star college recruit ended the Bulldog drive and set his team up in prime position to win the game.
After a pass interference call on first down, Trinity would trot out it’s kicker Clayton Roerig to win the game. The snap, the hold, and the kick, was good as players and coaches stormed the field. Trinity Christian defeated Bolles 24-21 in three overtimes, to advance to the second round of the class 5A state playoffs.
Tyreke Johnson has the turnover chain for his Big time interception in the third overtime to lift Trinity over Bolles 24-21! pic.twitter.com/8PBU2URdah
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 11, 2017
From start to finish, the game presented two teams that were evenly matched, superbly coached and playoff ready.
On the first drive of the game Bolles came out firing thanks to Johnson. Johnson stood tall in the pocket and hit Wale Onasanya on a 50 yard pass play while absorbing a late hit by Trinity.
A roughing the passer penalty was tacked on to the play and Bolles was in business deep into Conqueror territory. Five plays later, running back James Omlor bull dozed his way in for a touchdown and Bolles led early 7-0.
On the ensuing drive, running back Marcus Crowley got loose for a 29 yard gain putting Trinity in Bolles territory. A few plays later, quarterback Austin Thomas found wide receiver Isaiah Washington for a 30 yard touchdown pass and just like that Trinity tied the game 7-7 early in the first quarter.
Isaiah Washington looks real good tonight. Getting open! He scored the first TD for Trinity. Tied 7-7 vs Bolles pic.twitter.com/XkhZoleTUj
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 11, 2017
It would be that type of game for both ball clubs, as they went toe to toe in every facet of the game.
Bolles responded to the Trinity scored with impressive running by Omlor. His hard running produced first downs behind big Orlando Heggs, Nick Lewis and the Bulldog offensive line. Yet Bolles’ drive would be stuffed just across mid-field on fourth down, thanks to the hard nosed defense of Trinity.
It would be Trinity’s turn to put the pressure on, and they would do so with nice gains by Marcus Crowley. Crowley found creases opened by big Jessie Urbina and Nick Worthington to advance the ball beyond mid field. Yet the Bulldog defense would stiffen, forcing the Trinity punt.
The rest of the first half would play out in this manner as both teams jockeyed for field position but failed to put up any points as both went into halftime tied at 7-7.
The second half started much like the first half ended, with Bolles and Trinity tussling for field position and making punishing plays on defense.
Early in the third quarter Bolles found themselves in Trinity territory again, but a big hit by Evan McGhee stalled the Bulldog drive.
Trinity seemed to be on their way to scoring points on the back of effective running bay Crowley. But seemingly on que, Crowley would fumble the football after gaining a huge 20 yard run giving the ball back to Bolles.
Trinity decided to go back to their big play wide receiver Isaiah Washington and he delivered. Thomas connected with Washington on a 17 yard pass play moving the chains late in the third.
Crowley would redeem himself from am earlier fumble by busting a 27 yard run to put his team in the red zone. He ran angry all night and looked the part two plays later when he broke several tackles and ran over the Bolles defender banging his way in for a Trinity touchdown.
Trinity hoped to distance themselves from their new district rival, but Bolles responded in dramatic fashion.
Situated just before mid-field at their own 38 yard line, Johnson dropped back and rocketed a beautiful spiral down the middle of the field hitting his big play receiver Chris Sanders II in stride. Sanders would do the rest, racing to the end zone for the Bolles touchdown and tying the score 14 all in the fourth quarter.
Momentum shifted in Bolles favor quickly with that play, as Bolles stopped Trinity on their next possession.
Bolles would put together a beautiful old school drive behind Omlor who broke a 30 yard run down to the Trinity 17 yard line with 2:50 to play.
On third, Trinity’s defense would get pressure from linebacker Andrew Brown who hit Johnson as he attempted to throw the ball. The ball would ricochet high in the air and fall into the hands of offensive lineman Orlando Heggs for a ten yard loss.
The loss backed Bolles up on fourth down and a decision by head coach Wayne Belger had to be made. Do you go for the first down or attempt a 41 yard field goal. Belger elected to go for the field goal but the kick sailed way short of the mark.
Trinity got the ball but was forced to punt on four downs and Bolles had another chance to win the game with under a minute to play.
Yet linebacker Eriq Gilyard showed why he is the leader of the defense by sacking Johnson on consecutive downs to end regulation as Bolles and Trinity went into overtime tied 14-14.
In overtime, Trinity elected to play defense first and Bolles answered the call. Johnson would hit Jayden McCloud on a pass to the right corner of the end zone to put Bolles up 21-14.
Trinity quickly responded when Thomas connected with Washington in the end zone on their possession in overtime, as Trinity tied the score 21-21.
In the second overtime, Trinity would start on offense and get all the way to the Bolles two yard line. Bolles would bring in Heggs and Lewis to beef up the line and the run was stuffed on the one yard line.
Bolles would take over on offense with only a field goal needed to win the game. Knowing this, they elected to kick on first down and travel back across the bridge as victors but that moment would not come.
A high snap was bobbled by the holder and picked up by CJ Grimes who advanced the ball to the 7 yard line before being tackled by a host of Conquerors. It was the second failed field goal attempt of the night for Bolles. Their third would sail wide right and set up Trinity to gain the hard fought victory.
