Bulldogs lead early, force OT, drop region road contest 22-21

SM-Tn Sports

Columbia Academy was impressive in the early stages of Friday’s Division II-A West Region matchup with host Trinity Christian, but had to rally late to force overtime before falling 22-21.

The Bulldogs, coming out of a two-week COVID pause that caused them to miss league contests against University School of Jackson and Jackson Christian, shook off back-to-back encroachment penalties to open the game before forcing a three-and-out.

Taking possession after a punt at their own 7-yard line, the visitors ripped off 15 plays before scoring on Devon Del Carmen’s 6-yard run with three minutes remaining in the opening period.

CA (0-5, 0-3) forced a second punt, but muffed it with the hosts recovering at the ‘Dawgs 37. After converting a fourth-and-8, Trinity (5-2, 4-1) scored a game-tying touchdown at the 9:45 mark of the second quarter.

The deadlock held up into the fourth quarter, despite a pair of Columbia Academy turnovers, before the Lions moved ahead with 10 minutes left in regulation on a Needham Goodwin 34-yard run.

The Bulldogs’ defense came up with a second fourth-down stop with just under four minutes to play, and the offense responded with a 64-yard scoring drive. Bryant Beranek threw to Collins Malone for 35 yards on fourth-and-28 inside the final minute, then scored three plays later to tie the game and force the extra period.

In overtime, Max Ballard – who finished with 130 rushing yards on 18 carries – scored from seven yards out on second down to give CA a 21-14 lead. Trinity answered with a Goodwin 10-yard run on its first offensive play, then added a Goodwin two-point conversion run for the victory.

Columbia Academy put up 279 offensive yards, outgaining the Lions by more than 60 yards, but the Bulldogs committed nine penalties for 55 yards and three turnovers in their fifth loss.

CA returns home Friday to take on Tipton-Rosemark Academy.

Trinity Chr. 22, Columbia Acad. 21 (OT)
at Trinity Christian Acad., Jackson

SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
CA — Devon Del Carmen 6 run (2:56), Will Garrison kick
SECOND QUARTER
TC — Harrison Freeman 1 run (9:45), Conner Graves kick
FOURTH QUARTER
TC — Needham Goodwin 34 run (10:12), Graves kick
CA — Bryant Beranek 1 run (0:26), Garrison kick
OVERTIME
CA — Max Ballard 7 run, Garrison kick
TC — Goodwin 10 run, Goodwin kick
TEAM STATISTICSCATC
First Downs1913
Rushes-Yards47-19034-183
Passing Yards8935
Comps-Atts-Ints7-12-15-8-1
Penalties-Yards9-552-15
Fumbles-Lost4-20-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Columbia Acad. – Devon Del Carmen 8-5, Bryant Beranek 5-(-7), Canon Lansdell 2-8, Chris Modeste 6-27, Nathan Thomas 2-13, Max Ballard 18-130, Collins Malone 3-16, Camren Horton 1-(-1)
Trinity Chr. – Jake Wilson 14-54, Needham Goodwin 13-100, Conner
Graves 1-10, Harrison Freeman 6-19
Passing
Columbia Acad. – Bryant Beranek 7-12-1, 89
Trinity Chr. – Jake Wilson 4-7-1, 16, Needham Goodwin 1-1-0, 19
Receiving
Columbia Acad. – Canon Lansdell 1-15, Connor Rosson 1-13, Max Ballard 1-3, Collins Malone 4-58
Trinity Chr. – Connor Graves 1-4, Will Allen Smith 4-31

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