FB: Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference

[Ron Boerger]

Since we don't have much insight into the Hawks, some relevant statistics from their season:

Scoring:  37.7 / Opponents 22.8
Rushing:  190.5 / 102.7
Passing:  313.0 / 268.8
Total:  503.5 / 371.5
Turnovers:  14 / 15
Net punting average:  28.2 / 35.5
Sacks:  19 / 4
Red Zone scoring:  89% / 57%
Red Zone TDs:  86% / 57%

HC has outscored opponents 152-51 in first half; 74-70 in second; been outscored 6-0 in OT.

Leading rusher:  Trevor Manuel; 146 rushes, 663 yard (4.5 ypc), 8 TD.
QB:  Neal Posey; 136-of-208 for 1711 yards (285.2 yds/gm), 17 TD, 6 INT, 155.7 eff
Leading receivers:  Cody Pearcy (24 rcpt/323 yds, 4TD); Del Green (19 rcpt/188 yds, 1 TD); Austin Worley (17/276 yds, 3 TD); Willy McDowell (16/211, 6 TD)

Defensive leaders: 
- Kirk Johnson:  41 tackles (27 solo), 6 for loss including 2 sacks.
- Keith Anthony:  39 tackles (29 solo), 1 for loss,  has 5 interceptions, 3 pass breakups.
- DJ Chappell:  36 tackles (21 solo), 9.5 for loss including 4 sacks.
- Justin Brown:  25 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups.

Will try to do same for Trinity later.

[Ron Boerger]

And now, for Trinity:

Scoring:  33.2 / Opponents 8.0
Rushing:  192.0 / 89.6
Passing:  166.0/ 107.8
Total:  358.0 / 197.4
Turnovers:  5 / 14
Net punting average:  37.9 / 32.2
Sacks:  10 / 12
Red Zone scoring:  100% / 86%
Red Zone TDs:  67% / 57%

Trinity has outscored opponents 88-13 in first half; 78-27 in second; no OT.

Leading rushers:  Pat Granchelli; 89 rushes, 422 yard (4.7 ypc), 3 TD; Desmond King, 45 rushes, 298 yard (6.6 ypc); 3 TD.
QB:  Nyk McKissic; 54-of-81 for 753 yards (150.6 yds/gm), 10 TD, 1 INT, 183.0 eff
Leading receivers:  Jonathan Osei-Kuffour  (13 rcpt/230 yds, 2 TD); Mason Lytal (11 rcpt/98 yds, 2 TD); Hagen Kattner (10 rcpt/100 yds, 2 TD).

Defensive leaders: 
- Nick Darling:  35 tackles (16 solo), 3.5 for loss.
- Tom Puskarich :  33 tackles (11 solo), 3.5 for loss,  1 sack, 1 pass breakup.
- Ben Robinson:  32 tackles (18 solo), 7.5 for loss including 1 sack, 2 INTs, 2 passes broken up.
- Tyler Barrett:  21 tackles (13 solo), 3.5 for loss, 4 interceptions.

[Ron Boerger]

A few things that stand out:

Both teams have a stiff rushing defense.  Huntingdon's passing attack is much more prolific than Trinity's, but their defense also yields much more passing yardage.  Will Trinity try to open things up against the Hawks?

Can Trinity protect Nyk McKissic?  HC is averaging nearly four sacks per game.  Can the Tiger defense get pressure on Neal Posey versus an Huntingdon offensive line that's yielding less than a sack per game?

If it comes down to a special teams battle, Trinity could have an edge.  Besides averaging nearly ten yards more net per punt, Trinity is 6 for 8 on field goals to Huntingdon's 1-of-4.  Then again, the Hawks have a higher red zone TD conversion rate so the field goals attempted have been longer.   Huntingdon's opponents have yet to make a field goal attempt this season.

Last year's result in Montgomery:  Huntingdon 56, Trinity 30.  After a wild 35-24 first half with four touchdowns scored in the last four minutes, the Hawks' defense stiffened with two interceptions and a fumble recovery to seal the win. 

[Ron Boerger]

Going to be a beautiful day for football in SA ... sunny, highs in the mid-80s, no humidity, very light breeze.  About to hit the road and will probably do some updates from the game.   From articles earlier this week in the Montgomery newspaper. Huntingdon is highly motivated again today after beating two top 25 (AFCA?) teams and still not being ranked. 

The Montgomery News has a nice preview of today's game.  The SAEN has their usual worthless 2-3 sentence 'preview.'    Here's the Trinity SID preview (.pdf); can't find anything on the Huntingdon site.

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity takes the opening kick and scores on a nice 79-yard drive.  7-0 early 1st.

[Ron Boerger]

After an exchange of punts, Huntingdon drives 80 yards to tie the score.  Key play a flea flicker off a reverse for about 40 yards.  3:50 1st.

[Ron Boerger]

not a lot of defense so far.  On third and ten McKissick finds a wide-open Osei-Kuffour from 25 yards out.  14-7 Trinity, 14:50 2nd.

[Ron Boerger]

Nick Darling gets an interception off a tip, but the Hawk D holds.  A 37-yd Biel FG makes it 17-7 Trinity with 8:46 before the half.

[Ron Boerger]

Huntingdon fails to convert on a fourth and five at the Trinity 25.  At the half, it's 17-7 TU.

Hawks have been hurt by a come of drops on what otherwise would have been big plays.  Defenses both improved as the half progressed.

[TigerDad]

Thanks for the running commentary, Ron. Glad the Tigers are playing well. LIKE.

Trinity Live Stats here:
http://www.trinity.edu/departments/athletics/Football/livestats/xlive.htm

Tu leads 24-7 at 8:18 in the 3rd.

[Ron Boerger]

trinity gets an interception return to the 11,.drive goes nowhere, but on a busted play FG holder Kennemer scores on a run from 11 yards out.  24-7, 8:13 3rd.

[Ron Boerger]

Huntingdon goes from the semi-hurryup to the full version and gets to the TU 1, but after a stop for no gain the Tigers force a fumble and take over at their 6.  Still 24-7, 1:38 3rd.

[jknezek]

Centre all over B-SC.  45-20 late in the 4th. Thought this would be a close win for B-SC at home. Having watched the Centre-W&L game, I probably shouldn't have under-rated Centre...

[Ron Boerger]

Trinity gets an int  on fourth-and-13 at their 5.  HC holds and have it at their 43.  First pass sets Hawks up inside the TU 10.  3 Minutes to go.

[Ron Boerger]

HC pass into end zone on 4th down is batted away.  Trinity takes over on their 7.   Under two minutes to play, Hawks have one time out.