September 12th, 2009
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James Villarreal (51) sacks Trinity QB Robert Davidson during Saturday's 22-21 Trinity win at Matador Stadium. Villarreal finished with two sacks. - Photo by Patrick Zarate
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SEGUIN, Texas – Freshman kicker Garrett Biel booted a game-winning 34-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock to lift the Trinity Tigers to a 22-21 road victory over Texas Lutheran.
Saturday at a soggy Matador Stadium in Seguin, the Tigers (2-0) rallied to erase a 21-12 fourth-quarter deficit.
TLU dropped to 0-1 with the loss in its home and season-opener.
After TLU freshman quarterback Rocky Huff hit Vernon Hughes for an 11-yard score at the 13:23 mark of the final quarter, the Bulldogs held the nine-point edge.
But Trinity, behind junior quarterback Robert Davidson, responded to the Bulldog challenge over the final minutes of the game.
Trinity recovered a fumble in TLU territory midway through the fourth quarter and turned the turnover into seven points. Davidson hit wide receiver Cory Scherr in the back of the endzone at the 5:45 mark to cut the TLU lead to 21-19.
After a defensive stop against the Bulldogs, Davidson drove the Tigers 49 yards in 14 plays for the game-winning field goal. Davidson finished with 30 completions on 47 attempts for 287 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.
Biel nailed the field goal to end the game and was mobbed by his teammates, who rushed the field. Biel was a perfect 3-for-3 after connecting on field goals of 25, 28, and 34 yards.
The game was largely a defensive stand-off between the two clubs. Neither team was able to establish a running attack. Trinity rushed 31 times for 21 yards, and TLU rushed 26 times for 26 yards.
TLU took the lead in the second quarter on a fake field goal. Frank Vera, the Bulldogs’ senior punter and holder, took the snap on what appeared to be a 26-yard field goal attempt by Allen Cain.
But Vera rose up out of his stance and tossed a perfect strike to senior Steven Thrash, who was uncovered on the far right sideline.
Trinity lost track of Thrash on the field of play, and Thrash scored untouched after the perfect pass from Vera. For Vera, the TD pass was the third of his career. All the TD passes for Vera have come on trick plays.
TLU led 14-3 in the second quarter on a one-yard plunge from Anthony Smith. The Smith TD capped a six-play, 40-yard drive.
The Bulldogs enjoyed excellent field position for most of the evening thanks to Vera, who pinned five punts inside the Trinity 20, and thanks to punt and kick returner Brian Box, who accumulated 172 of total return yardage.
Huff, TLU’s true freshman quarterback, received the start due to injury to projected starter Jarret Buchholtz. Huff was 16 for 24 for 114 yards with a TD and an interception. He was sacked twice.
Of TLU’s six sacks on Davidson, seniors James Villarreal and Eric Walker combined for four of them. Villarreal had two sacks along with three total tackles and two quarterback hurries. Walker collected eight total tackles with three tackles for loss and two sacks for 15 yards.
Junior linebacker Jack Moses and freshman defensive lineman Chris Kyle led TLU with nine total tackles apiece. Moses had two tackles for loss, and Kyle also had two tackles for loss.
TLU must rebound from Saturday’s heart-breaking loss and prepare for next Saturday’s home game against No. 3-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor. Kickoff at Seguin’s Matador Stadium is set for 6 p.m.