A match up that was already difficult became even more of an uphill battle as four starters missed the game Friday night at Trinity. Christian Snipes and Broderick Williams on offense and Bryson Dabney and TJ Merritt on defense. The Eagles could have phoned it in amidst the circumstances they faced, but to their credit fought all the way to the end in a 41-19 loss to the Wildcats.
The weather was predicted to be meddlesome all night, but besides a lightning delay before the game started, the weather held off and not a drop of rain fell during the game. Neither team scored in the first period as both defenses dominated. ACA’s first two drives started inside their own 10-yard line which made play calling very difficult. The Eagles longest play of the quarter was an eight-yard run by AC Walters.
Trinity scored on the first play of the second quarter for the night’s initial points. Alabama Christian tried to answer as Teilan Long returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards into Wildcat territory. ACA drove to the Trinity 26, but a bad snap sailed over the head of David Ortiz-Ramirez on second down which cost the offense 19 yards. AC Walters was intercepted two plays later to end the drive. The Wildcats struck quickly with a 4-play, 90-yard drive to extend the lead to 13-0 with 6:12 left in the half. For the fourth straight game ACA allowed a late first half score as Trinity scored with just 57.4 seconds left and took a 21-0 lead into the half.
The second half started in good fashion as David Ortiz-Ramirez returned the kick 23 yards to start the drive on the ACA 40-yard line and Teilan Long ran a reverse 19 yards down to the Wildcat 41-yard line on the first offensive snap. Unfortunately, the drive stalled and ACA punted away to Trinity. The Wildcats scored on the next play on a 74-yard pass play for a 28-0 lead. The offense finally put together a drive and marched 65 yards in eight plays for a score. The pass was mixed in more often and was effective. On 4th and goal from the one AC Walters used the jump pass to Jackson Burton to cut the lead to 6-28. The score breathed some life into the team as the defense stopped the home team in three plays to force a punt. A terrible snap on the punt and a personal foul against the Wildcats gave the Eagles the ball on the Trinity 26-yard line. The period ended with ACA back on the one poised to score.
On the first play of the final quarter, AC Walters had a one-yard plunge to make the score 12-28. Trinity responded with a score to stretch the lead back to 34-12 with 9:03 left. The Wildcats got the ball back again and methodically drove the field to score again with just 1:15 left in the game. ACA took over on its own 32-yard line on its next possession. Ethan Dabney produced the highlight of the night as he broke out of the pack and raced down the right sideline for a 68-yard touchdown for the Eagles. Jordan Sanders helped get the ball right back as ACA recovered the onside kick. On the next play, a frustrated Wildcat defender had a dirty, gutless play that cost his team 15 yards and got him immediately pulled from the game by his coaches. The white hat pulled the team together before the next snap to make sure there were no more cheap shots thrown. ACA ran one more play and the game was over.
Jackson Burton led the team with 11 tackles followed by Jordan Sanders with eight and Teilan Long with six. AC Walters finished the night completing six of nine passes for 75 yards and a touchdown and also had a rushing touchdown. Ethan Dabney finished with three carries for 75 yards and a score to finish as the team's leading rusher.
Next week, Alabama Christian is back at home as they face PCA for Homecoming.