Schroeder scores three times as Trinity edges Independent (+video)
Running back Sam Schroeder provided many of the tough yards for Trinity Academy against Independent on Friday.
So it seemed sensible that the 215-pound junior would get the call with the Knights facing a third-and-9 play in Independent territory with 1:19 remaining.
Instead, quarterback Joshua Osborne rifled a 17-yard pass to senior Christian Wead – Wead’s only reception of the game – for a first down that allowed Trinity to hold on for a 31-27 victory in its home opener.
“It worked,” said Schroeder, who finished with 28 carries for 148 yards and three rushing touchdowns. “Whatever works.”
Trinity (2-0) maintained its mastery over Independent. But after winning the previous four meetings by an average margin of almost 43 points, Trinity had to overcome two deficits and four turnovers on Friday.
“We knew coming in it wasn’t going to be a rollover or a cupcake,” Trinity coach Jared McDaniel said. “We didn’t do a lot of things to help ourselves.”
McDaniel’s theory was based on the assortment of returning skill position players Independent featured. And the Panthers (0-2) delivered. Quarterback Luke Boline passed for 163 yards and four touchdowns, three to senior wide receiver Chad Eikleberry.
Independent running back Chris Taylor added 105 yards on 16 carries.
But like Trinity, Independent was plagued by four turnovers. Two came on muffed punts and another was a fumble in Trinity territory with 3:12 remaining.
“We never gave up defensively,” McDaniel said. “We were put in some pretty tough spots, but our guys kept going up front, which I think really helped us out.”
Taylor broke free for a 70-yard run – Independent’s longest play of the game – in the opening quarter to set up the first of the Boline-to-Eikleberry touchdowns. But Trinity countered with the next 19 points. Schroeder scored on a 3-yard run, Osbornelin and Mitchell List connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass and Osborne ran in from 13 yards on a drive that was prolonged by Shase Williams’ mishandling of List’s punt near midfield.
“It was just a couple big plays by them,” said Boline, who completed 17 of 28 passes.
Boline and Eikleberry connected again on a 2-yard touchdown five seconds before halftime to make it 19-14. After Trinity fumbled on its opening possession of the third quarter, Independent marched 54 yards and went ahead 21-19 on Boline’s 12-yard pass to Williams.
Schroeder answered with a 3-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, then put Trinity up 31-21 on a 2-yard touchdown run with 8:16 to play after Independent turned the ball over on downs at its own 12.
“Our mindset coming in was that we were just going to roll the whole time,” Schroeder said. “We all had to work our butts off tonight.”
Independent | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | — | 27 |
Trinity Academy | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | — | 31 |
I—Eikleberry 9 pass from Boline (Bowman kick)
TA—Schroeder 3 run (List kick)
TA—List 10 pass from Osborne (kick blocked)
TA—Osborne 13 run (run failed)
I—Eikleberry 2 pass from Boline (Bowman kick)
I—Williams 12 pass from Boline (Bowman kick)
TA—Schroeder 3 run (pass failed)
TA—Schroeder 2 run (run failed)
I—Eikleberry 18 pass from Boline (kick blocked)
Individual Statistics
Rushing—Independent, Taylor 16-105, Wood 6-18, Boline 1-1, Brown 4-1. Trinity, Schroeder 28-148, Osborne 23-75, Bennett 1-12, Hardin 2-5.
Passing—Independent, Boline 17-28-163-1, Wood 1-3-4-0. Trinity, Osborne 12-18-114-1.
Receiving—Independent, Williams 6-73, Eikleberry 6-61, Barnett 4-18, Wood 1-8, Brown 1-7. Trinity, List 5-29, Bennett 3-25, Loon 2-35, Wead 1-17, Schroeder 1-8.
Top performers
Rushing
Sam Schroeder, W. Trinity28-148
Chris Taylor, Independent16-105
Passing
Luke Boline, Independent17-28-163
Joshua Osborne, W. Trinity12-18-114
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 8:20 AM with the headline "Schroeder scores three times as Trinity edges Independent (+video)."