Jacksonville Fl- Trailing 25-22 with only two minutes to play in the Class 5A State Semifinal game, North Marion’s sideline was shockingly calm. Their coaching staff was collected and their players were confident. No three people exemplified this more than Head Coach Willie Offord, senior quarterback Corey Wilsher and sophomore wide receiver Brenden Shipp. Wilsher would guide his team down the field with just minutes remaining, in need of a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win. After navigating the offense to the Trinity 17 yard line with just 30 seconds left in the game, Coach Offord dialed up his big play receiver Brenden Shipp’s number and Shipp answered with a beautiful over the shoulder touchdown catch to take the lead 29-22. With just 24 seconds left in the game, Trinity ran out of time on their ensuing drive as North Marion celebrated an unprecedented upset victory over number one seeded and previously undefeated, Trinity Christian.
Brenden Shipp with the catch hear round the state North Marion 29 Trinity 25 ! .24 Seconds wow @DuvalSports @OcalaPreps @FlaHSFootball @ThePrepZone @FHSAA pic.twitter.com/EoQFtEiLR8
— Andre' Ellisđź—Ż (@andreellis55) December 1, 2018
North Marion moved the ball with ease between the twenties early on, but failed to score points on two consecutive red-zone trips. Third time was a charm however, as Quarterback Corey Wilsher hit wide receiver Brenden Shipp on a quick screen for 22 yards as North Marion tied the game 7-7.
Brenden Shipp from Corey Wilsher TD North Marion 7-7 vs Trinity 2nd 5:00 @OcalaPreps pic.twitter.com/Skir1pty0w
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) December 1, 2018
Shipp wasn’t finished, as he attempted to take the Colts to the ship in Orlando. Wilsher would throw a quick screen to Zac ” Buc” Offord behind the line of scrimmage, and Offord would rocket a 35-yard pass to the endzone in which Shipp made an incredible catch with Trinity’s defensive back draped all over him. North Marion, a 25 point underdog in one reputable publication, found themselves up 14-7 going into halftime to a shocked home Trinity Christian crowd! Said Coach Offord after the game ” we appreciate everybody else that had us at the 42-14 loss , we used that as bulletin board material”.
North Marion, an undersized team came out of the gate content with running the ball against a larger defensive front. They achieved early success as four yards here, and three yards there by the running tandem of Joleeco Gaskin II and M’Quandre Counsil resulted in 3rd and short conversions for the Colts. Their first drive got them to the 1-yard line but Trinity held them on four downs with a goal-line stand. Trinity’s stand-out defensive tackle William Tippens and defensive back Stephen Williams stuffed the Colt ball carrier at the one yard line forcing a turnover on downs.
#99 William Tippens stuffs the hole for Trinity Goalline stand vs Norh Marion 1st 4:59 0-0 @OcalaPreps @TC_Jax_Football pic.twitter.com/MpyfYYx4rB
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) December 1, 2018
Trinity drove down the field thanks to pin point passing by quarterback Ja’Cory Jordan including passes to Isaiah Washington and running by Marcus Crowley. However a 4th and 5 was stopped by North Marion’s line backer Tre Davis giving the ball back to North Marion. North Marion was forced to punt back to Trinity who began to gain traction on offense.
Tre Davis with a big tackle for North Marion! They stop Trinity on 4th and 5 at the Colt 17yd line! 0-0 end of 1st @OcalaPreps @FlaHSFootball pic.twitter.com/7unaNizrNm
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) December 1, 2018
Jordan hit Dreshawn Dawkins early in the game effectively spreading the ball around as the drive ended with old faithful, running back Marcus Crowley racing around the right end for the touchdown. Trinity took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
RB Marcus Crowley around the end on the direct snap! Touchdown Trinity! They lead North Marion 7-0! 8:18 2nd @TC_Jax_Football @OcalaPreps pic.twitter.com/Vavx28Ubbe
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) December 1, 2018
Though he scored in the second quarter, Crowley would save most of his damage for the second half. Trailing 14-7, the Conquerors came out of the gate smoking. The previous week, they hung 27 second half points on Bolles, and early on it seemed like they’d repeat that feat. On their first drive, they used a steady dose of Crowley on the ground gaining first downs. He’d find pay dirt for a touchdown, and also a 2 point conversion when North Marion was penalized on the extra point. In one possession, Trinity had taken the lead.
North Marion drove right back down the field, however they’d miss a 32 yard field goal as the score remained 15-14 Trinity, but not for long. On the next drive, Jordan would find Malik Myers for a long 31-yard pass completion. The play would set up Jordan hitting big play wide receiver Isaiah Washington on a 8 yard touchdown reception, giving Trinity a 22-14 lead.
Jaree Turner with an AMAZING CATCH WOW! North Marion trails Trinity 20-22 4th 9:40 pic.twitter.com/nMRXwATwqD
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) December 1, 2018
However North Marion would not go quietly back to Citra, Florida as they put together a drive early in the fourth quarter to put them in scoring position. Wilsher would pick apart the Trinity secondary on the drive, hitting a slant for a big first down, and also a big 33 yard fly down the right sideline. He’d finish off the drive with a near perfect pass to wide receiver Jaree Turner who leaped over the defender for the catch and amazingly brought one foot down in bounds for the touchdown.North Marion would convert on the 2-point conversion and we went into the final minutes of the game tied at 22-22.
Trinity would drive down the field with the assistance of 30-yards of penalties committed by North Marion. The Colts were flagged for a face mask and personal foul penalties on the drive. They found themselves first and goal deep inside Colt territory having three cracks at the end-zone. The North Marion defense would hold them and Trinity converted the field goal to lead 25-22 with just over two minutes in the game.
An unsung hero for North Marion was Jyron ” Pappa” Gilmore. Gilmore gained chunks of yards in the game on quick screens and on return yards. North Marion saw that Trinity began to kick the ball short on kickoffs and moved Gilmore up to the 30 yard line. Gilmore would catch the ensuing kickoff and nearly break it for a touchdown advancing it to midfield. The play set the Colts offense up in perfect position to execute their game wining touchdown drive to win the game.
North Marion (13-2)Â will face (12-2) Cardinal Gibbons ( Ft. Lauterdale)Â in Camping World Stadium in Orlando on December 7th at 3 pm. The winner will be crowned Class 5A State Champion. The Colt’s season is already a tremendous success seeing that last year they were 3-7. Quite an improvement in one year.
For Trinity, this was a tough loss for a team full of talented seniors. Said Head Coach Verlon Dorminey after the game, ” I don’t think we played very well on both sides of the ball tonight and we made some very costly penalties”. It was a game that Trinity had every chance to win, yet they could never seem to put the proverbial nail in the coffin of North Marion. Credit goes to the North Marion’s defensive line that never allowed Crowley to burst one of his signature long back breaking runs. Said Coach Dorminey ” we kept waiting for the big play from Marcus but we just couldn’t get it.
