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Montgomery Bell Academy battled nationally ranked Trinity down to the wire, but the Big Red couldn’t put the ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter and lost 27-23 at Tommy Owen Stadium Friday night.

“The defense gave us a chance to win, but we just couldn’t put the points on the board in the second half,” said MBA quarterback Dylan Hall, who threw for 297 yards in the loss.

“We knew from the film that their quarterback (Hall) has supreme command of the offense,” said Trinity coach Bob Beatty. “MBA is a solid team. We showed our character in the fourth quarter, though.”

MBA marched downfield for a touchdown on their first possession of the second half to take a 20-10 lead, and the Big Red could smell upset. “We expected to compete,” said Hall, “and in the third quarter we really felt we were going to win.”

Trinity responded immediately when James Quick took a screen pass from Travis Wright, escaped five tacklers on the sideline, reversed his field and cruised to a 78-yard score. He also scored on a 77-yard pass in the first half and had 240 total yards receiving.

Then the Shamrocks took the lead for good late in the quarter when Wright connected with Dalyn Dawkins for a 35-yard score and Drew Ward added the extra-point to put Trinity ahead 24-23. Ward then added a 25-yard FG in the fourth quarter for the final points.

MBA moved inside the Shamrocks’ 15 twice in the second half, but settled for three total points.

JeTari Donald gave the Big Red one last chance when he blocked a punt and fell on it at the Shamrocks’ 37 with four seconds left. But Hall had to rush his Hail Mary pass, and it fell short as the clock expired.

The Big Red scored their first touchdown midway through the first quarter on a Hall-to- Grey Reames 35-yard pass. The extra-point snap was bobbled, and the Shamrocks led 7-6.

Ward kicked a 39-yard field goal following a time-consuming drive in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 10-6. MBA went three and out, but back-to-back sacks by Morris Eguakun and Franklin Garsten stopped the Shamrocks’ next drive, and Trinity didn’t threaten again in the half.

Facing a third-and-10 on his 18 with two minutes left in the half, Hall tossed a short pass to Tony Birdsong who cut left, broke two tackles and raced down the sideline for an 82-yard score to give the Big Red a 13-10 halftime lead.

Birdsong led all MBA receivers with five catches for 132 yards. Michael Lacey was the leading rusher with 35 yards on two carries.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2...d|mostview