Jacksonville Fl- A long overdue matchup of Westside neighbors commenced last night under storm clouds and eventual thunderstorms which included an hour rain delay. But when the clouds cleared, it revealed a thunderous run by Treyaun Webb late in the 4th quarter. A closing argument over Ed White defeating them 48-40, as the case of who would win between these neighboring programs was finally settled. Yet it was not without a fight to the finish.
Early on, it seemed as if the game would be a blow out as Trinity jumped out to a 21-0 lead over Ed White. After an Ed White punt, Trinity began a long drive utilizing their dynamic duo in the backfield. This would foreshadow the game as junior running back Darnell Rogers and senior running back Treyaun Webb ran wild. It would be Webb who struck first on a 15-yard touchdown run to give Trinity a 7-0 lead.
Trinity’s defense would then step up. Their opportunistic play saw them take a deflection to the house for a pick-6 by Jaykob Jones to increase the score to 14-0 in the first quarter. However, the defense wouldn’t stop there.
On the very next drive after long runs by Ed White’s Benny Lewis, Trinity would capitalize on Ed White mistakes as Isiah Teal over-shot his intended receiver and was intercepted by Trinity’s Kyle Boylston.
It didn’t take long for Trinity to turn the turnover into points as Darnell Rogers rumbled from 65 yards out for another Conqueror touchdown ballooning the lead to 21-0 in the first quarter.
Up until that point, Ed White had moved the ball effectively thanks to runs by junior Benny Lewis. However, the drives stalled abruptly thanks to the Trinity defense making plays. Yet in the second quarter Ed White went to their playmaker to make something happen and he did.
Wake Forest commit Davaughn Patterson was inserted on offense and went to work running the football effectively. The senior got the ball and broke several tackles for Ed White’s first score, cutting the lead to 14 points.
Trailing 21-7, Ed White’s defense began to gain confidence and stuff the run game from Trinity. Linebackers Jamari Allen and Lawrence Neloms both new additions to Commander defense showed why they are revamped in the middle.
Stuffing the run forced Trinity to go to the air, resulting in a Colin Hurley interception in the middle of the second quarter. The interception was made by Ed White’s Jordan Jackson, who high pointed the ball nicely for the pic.
Ed White would drive down the field, but fumble away an opportunity to score on a bad exchange from the quarterback and running back, resulting in a fumble recovery by the new addition to the Trinity defense Bryce Kazmierczak.
White’s defense would hold again, but this time divvying out a dose of their own medicine to Trinity. A blocked punt by Ed White, gave Ed White exceptional field position on the Trinity 30-yard line.
It wouldn’t take long for Coach Lawrence Johnson to give it to Patterson again who broke too many tackles to count on his way to the endzone. The score brought Ed White to within 5-points thanks to two converted 2-point conversions 21-16. They would settle for this margin going into halftime.
In the third Trinity Christian and coach Verlon Dorminey made adjustments. The Ed White linebackers blitzed the A-gaps stifling the run in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Trinity implemented their patented sweeps. Darnell Rogers would score from a yard out to push the lead to 28-16 early in the third. The PAT would be blocked.
Ed White would respond, when Davaughn Patterson rumbled in from 5-yards out, taking a Trinity defender’s helmet with him to pull to with three points 27-24.
Trinity would drive down the field again, culminating in an unorthodox touchdown as ED White’s Malcom Wilson jarred the ball lose from Treyaun Webb on the goal-line but it was recovered by offensive lineman senior Christian Markum for the score. Trinity led 34-24 in the third quarter.
After a punt by Ed White, it was Darnell Rogers who got the rock and rolled, this time from 40-yards out to increase their lead to 41-24 to end the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th quarter, as the rain poured down at Ed white and their sideline was just as dreary as the weather, their senior wide receiver took matters into his own hands. Gabriel Garmon went in on defense and recovered a fumble to scamper 55-yards for a touchdown. The touchdown opened up a high scoring affair, but also opened up the sky as more rain and lightning began to fall. With 41-32 was the score with a little over 8 minutes to play.
After an hour rain delay, play resumed and Ed White came out where they left off. Johnson called senior quarterback Isiah Teal’s number several times converting first downs. The 6 foot 3 inch quarterback seemed unstoppable as he scampered for a touchdown and 2-point conversion to bring Ed White to within one point trailing 41-40.
This put the pressure back on Trinity, so they put the ball on the back of senior Treyaun Webb, Webb would take the hand off on a trap left, but cut on a dime up field to avoid over pursuing linebackers and was off to the races. The touchdown and extra point gave Trinity a 48-40 lead with 3:46 on the clock.
Ed White would make one final attempt to score, converting an amazing 4th down play as Teal dumped it off to Patterson who weaved his way breaking tackles for a first down to save hope.
However on 4th down from the Trinity 20-yard line, Isiah Teal scrambled right to buy time but was sacked by defensive end Jacqary Sineus to end the game.
It was truly a game worth waiting all these years to see, and one certainly worth waiting an extra hour to conclude. Because the teams had never played, there was much speculation over who would win this matchup. Well, at least for this season, the law firm of Webb & Rogers settled Trinity’s case. Ed White (0-1) will face Sandalwood (1-0) next week, while Trinity Christian (0-1) will host Raines (1-0)
