Varsity Football Conquerors Win Grueling Battle of Unbeaten Powerhouses
Treyaun Webb pulled off the play of the game in the third quarter to put his team ahead to stay before adding some insurance as Trinity Christian Academy defeated University Christian School 20-13 in what became the TCA Conquerors’ toughest game of the season. The win virtually sealed the district championship and home-field advantage against UC should these two teams meet again in the playoffs.
In a battle of two nine-time state champions who each came into Week 8 of 2022 with perfect records, the Conquerors and Christians justified the moniker of this contest as Jacksonville’s most anticipated game of the season.
With the score tied 7-7, the Conquerors found themselves in a 3rd-and-20 situation with the ball at their own 7 midway through the third quarter. Webb took the snap and tried to go right to no avail. Upon cutting back to the inside, he broke a potential tackle in the backfield and two more just past the line of scrimmage. He then outraced the defense and shook off a fourth tackler who also tried to strip the ball near midfield before one last man pulled him down at the goal line. Webb, though, hit the pylon before landing out of bounds to complete the 93-yard touchdown run.
The extra point failed as the snap went astray, but Trinity led 13-7 with 5:41 left in the third quarter.
Webb, Darnell Rogers, and Tyrone Summerall rotated at the quarterback position due to a wrist injury that Colin Hurley suffered in the previous game. Hurley may miss the remaining regular-season games, but he should return for the playoffs.
With 7:51 left in the game, Webb crossed the goal line on a 20-yard run around the left side to cap a 9-play, 81-yard drive for the insurance points the Conquerors would end up needing.
University came right back on the ensuing drive thanks in large part to the combination of quarterback Dwayne Stuckey and receiver Jenoa Alford. The pair combined for 4 completions and 49 yards during the drive; the fourth pass gave University 1st and 10 at the Trinity 11. Star running back Orel Gray then converted a 4th-and-1 rush to set up 1st and Goal inside the 1; from there, Gray scored the touchdown with a burst through the line. University missed the PAT, and the Conquerors led 20-13 with 4:37 left on the clock.
University took the lead halfway through the second quarter on Gray’s first touchdown of the game. Stuckey and Alford connected for a 59-yard slant route to set up 1st and Goal at the 10. Gray then used two plays to rush the ball in to put UC up 7-0.
That was University’s only lead of the night.
Trinity responded with a 7-play, 42-yard drive near the end of the half that culminated in Rogers’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:14 showing. Webb appeared to have scored from 15 yards out but was ruled out of bounds at the 4. After an offsides penalty, Rogers tied the game at 7-7 (Bialek kick).
Webb totaled 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 carries while Rogers rushed 22 times for 133 yards and a score. All this came with no completed passes.
Cam Anderson added to his 1M-leading tackle total with 18 to give him 97 in seven games. Tomarion McCray sacked Stuckey twice, once for 21 yards lost. The defense totaled 60 tackles with 7 for a total loss of 31 yards.
For University, Gray finished with 91 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries. Stuckey was 12 for 21 for 175 yards, and Alford caught 7 passes for 133 yards.
The Conquerors (7-0) will play another district game at Christ’s Church Academy (1-6) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20. TCA will then host district opponent Providence on October 28 before closing the regular season with Quincy’s Munroe High School on November 4.
Statistics: Larry Withers, TCA Statistician
Photo: TCA Football Fan Zone on Facebook