Trinity downs Ryle 42-23 to win back-to-back 6A State Titles
No. 3 Trinity won its second consecutive Class 6A State Championship Saturday night, downing No. 6 Ryle 42-23 to secure its 29th state title since 1968.
After falling behind 14-0, the Shamrocks outscored Ryle 42-9 over the remainder of the game.
Trinity sophomore quarterback Zane Johnson was named the game’s MVP, passing for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Sophomore running back Jamaurion Berry ran for 81 yards and two scores, while senior back Christopher Wilson totaled 77 rush yards.
The Shamrocks put up 141 rushing yards on a Raider defense that allowed just an average of 108 per game this season.
Ryle falls in its second ever State Title appearance, with both losses now coming to Trinity.
Tale of two quarters in the first half
If you didn’t know that this was Ryle’s first State Championship appearance in 18 years, you wouldn’t have known by the way the Raiders came out of the gate swinging.
Ryle punted to end its first possession, but then forced two consecutive three-and-outs for the Trinity offense, which garnered -9 yards in six plays. Following the first Shamrock punt, Ryle quarterback Nathan Verax connected with wide receiver Gavin Lyons for separate gains of 19 yards and 23 yards to get the Raider offense rolling.
Verax gave Ryle an early lead after connecting with wide receiver Landon Lorms for a 27-yard score, marking the duo’s 12th touchdown connection of the season. Once they got the ball back, Verax and Lorms one upped that score with another major one.
The junior quarterback floated a deep ball to Lorms, which he snagged over top of the defender for the 55-yard score. A mossing like that could very well make its way to SportsCenter. What a grab it was for the senior receiver, who caught his second score of the game.
Following the Lorms score however, Trinity bounced back in a big way.
The Shamrocks, led by running backs Jamaurion Berry and Christopher Wilson, drove right down the field and responded with six points of their own. Berry scored from six yards out, but the duo combined for 42 yards on the drive. After then forcing a Ryle punt, Trinity quarterback Zane Johnson drove the ‘Rocks right back down the field.
Johnson hit wide receiver Mason Scherer in stride for a 30-yard touchdown, tying the game up right before the half. It looked like things may have gotten out of hand for the Shamrocks in the first quarter, but the ship was righted and the game was knotted up at 14 apiece at the break.
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Shamrocks hold on to clinch 6A Title
After an offensively-heavy first half, defense prevailed to open the second half.
The teams totaled three possessions in the first four minutes of the half, until Ryle kicker Gavin Moses drilled a 39-yard field goal on the fourth possession to give the Raiders a 17-14 lead.
From this point, the Shamrocks took over and dominated the remainder of the game. Quarterback Zane Johnson led a masterful drive, culminating in a 40-yard passing touchdown to wide receiver Jason Hagan to give Trinity its first lead of the game.
Feeling the pressure of its first deficit of the game, the Raiders didTrinity-downs-Ryle-win-back-to-back-6A-State-Titles only thing you can not do when trailing by three.
Quarterback Nathan Verax dropped back and threw a rocket pass to Trinity DB Caleb Ricks, who returned the pass for a 35-yard interception return touchdown. Verax completed just 14 of 36 passes for the Raiders Saturday night, passing for 269 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Ricks pick six almost certainly sealed the deal for the Shamrocks, especially after Jamaurion Berry rushed for an 11-yard score following a Ryle punt on the ensuing possession. Trailing by 18 points, things went from bad to worse when Verax threw his second pick-six of the game, this time to Trinity DE Bailey Vance.
Trinity has now won back-to-back State Championships for the 13th time in school history, and it will take a grand effort from another 6A team next season to prevent the three-peat.
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