Plantation Fl- With under a minute left to play in a scoreless game, Trinity Christian (4-1) was forced to punt from its own 40 yard line to Plantation American Heritage (3-1). Punter Caleb Stevenson boomed a soaring punt to the Patriot’s 25 yard line, bouncing high in the air off the artificial turf of Heritage Field and tipped by safety #20 James Williams of American Heritage. Defensive back #2 Christian Ellis would race down the field to recover the muffed punt for Trinity at the Patriot 15-yard line with just :12 seconds remaining in regulation.
Stevenson would trot out again, this time to attempt a 32-yard field goal for the win. However, two offsides penalties by American Heritage would move the ball up 10-yards granting Trinity the opportunity to attempt a 22-yard field goal instead. The snap, the hold, and Stevenson’s kick would knock it through the uprights as time expired to the elation of the Conqueror players who stormed the field. Trinity would stun American Heritage 3-0 on Friday night.
From it’s onset, the game was a defensive battle all the way throughout as both teams sold out to stop the run. For Trinity, their first drive would stall after two nice runs by running-back Treyaun Webb (Georgia Commit). American Heritage would take over and stall on 4th down, yet an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Trinity would give American Heritage a first down. Quarterback Vinson Davis would evade the rush and fire a ball to his intended receiver #5 Michael Watkins III in the end-zone, yet Trinity’s defensive back #7 Terrell Jackson would recover in time to break up the pass in the end zone. The score remained 0-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter saw American Heritage take a shot to the end-zone as Davis tried to hit his 6’4 wide receiver and Syracuse commit Oronde Gadsden II (son of NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden) for a touchdown. But a pass interference call in the end-zone prevented the score but gave the Patriots the ball in the red-zone at the 12-yard line. Runs by Mark Fletcher and Vinson Davis were able to achieve a first down at the two yard line.
But Trinity would swarm on defense, as defensive back #21 Harold Stubbs, linebacker #13 Lucius Lattimore, and linebacker #9 Jaeden Kinlock would make big tackles in the redzone. American Heritage would attempt to go to the air, but defensive back #2 Christian Ellis would swoop in the passing lane and intercept the ball at the Patriot 1-yard line returning 40 yards to prevent the score.
American Heritage’s Earl Little Jr would register a big hit on defense and defensive end Marvin Jones Jr (son of former NFL linebacker Marvin Jones) would swallow up the backfield to cement the defensive first half. At halftime, both teams would go into the locker room looking for answers on offense tied 0-0.
Trinity, already without its 6’4 wide receiver Marcus Burke (Florida Commit) who did not dress due to injury, now saw their top running-back Treyaun Webb sidelined with an injury and did not return in the second half. Yet American Heritage could not take advantage. Every time the Patriots would get positive plays with Fletcher and Davis running for first downs on the zone read, several drives stalled thanks to the drive stopping plays by Trinity.
Linebacker #10 Bryce Capers made tackles in the back field as Trinity forced a field goal attempt by American Heritage. Yet Defensive back #6 Corey Coley ( Maryland Commit) knifed in to block the field goal in the second half keeping the score knotted at 0-0.
The fourth quarter saw Trinity getting innovative on offense and defense. As injuries mounted and several players coming out due to cramps, on offense slot Kaleb Killian was put in the backfield for a spark. On defense, offensive tackle Austin Barber (Minnesota Commit) was put in to stuff the run. Both seemed to work as field position and clock now became the most important factors in the 0-0 game.
Sacks by #50 linebacker Johnathan Goddard, and tackles for losses by #33 linebacker Caden Morrell kept American Heritage’s big play offense at bay. A team that scored 28 points in the first half on the road against Bartram Trail two week’s prior, now was struggling to score at home.
“You cant say enough about our defense, keeping them out of the end-zone just an incredible effort by our players. I told them thank you three times in the locker room”– Trinity Head Coach Verlon Dorminey
With the offense struggling, Trinity knew it would need to make a play on special teams and it did just that when Ellis recovered the muffed punt. Taken off special teams earlier in the game to nurse an injury, Ellis asked the coaching staff to be placed back on the punt coverage team in the closing moments of the game. Said Ellis after the game, “I was battling an injury but big time players make big time plays and I knew I wanted to make a play for my team”. The recovery set up the game winning field goal as Trinity avenged last year’s loss to American Heritage 3-0.
The win stunned an American Heritage team ranked #6 in the state of Florida, and #20 in the nation (MaxPreps). It was the first time they’d been shutout since 2006 (Immokalee 43-0) . It also bolstered bragging rights by Trinity Christian and Northeast Florida, as Duval County got the best of Broward County in this battle of North and South Florida.
Trinity travels to Lee (4-0) next week, while Plantation American Heritage travels to Venice (6-1).
