SAN ANTONIO – In their first home playoff game since 2014, Trinity pieced together two scoring drives in the second half to rally past Hardin-Simmons 14-7 and punch their tickets to the second round of the NCAA Division III football playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
The weather was certainly a factor. With driving rain and 40-degree temperatures hampering Trinity’s high-powered offense throughout the first half, the Tigers fell behind 7-0 in the waning seconds of the second quarter on a seven-yard touchdown run from Noah Garcia. That marked the first time all season Trinity had trailed at halftime.
The second half was a different story.
After a penalty pushed Trinity back to their own eight-yard line on the opening kickoff, the Tigers methodically drove down the field. Senior wide receiver Ryan Merrifield was nearly unstoppable on the drive, converting crucial third- and fourth-down situations. Running back Winston Hutchison capped the 19-play, 92-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 7-7. That one drive burned the first 9:46 of the third quarter.
Both teams then traded big plays and punts until midway through the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tucker Horn once again pieced together a drive featuring a key third-down conversion to Merrifield and a consistent presence from Hutchison that eventually came to a breaking point at the Hardin-Simmons 38-yard line. One 3rd-and-6, Horn dialed up a deep ball for a wide-open Merrifield, who made the grab in stride for a 38-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner. Trinity’s defense was tested on the ensuing drive, but Casey Hampton sealed a remarkable, resilient victory with an interception on the goal line. Merrifield ended the game with six catches for 110 yards and a TD, all in the second half.
MOVING ON! Trinity (@TUFootballTX) rallies in the second half to defeat Hardin-Simmons 14-7, advancing to the second round of the NCAA #d3football playoffs! #KSATsports@TrinityUTigers @Trinity_U