[TNT-MB1]

Reggie Bonnafon accounted for 376 yards and five touchdowns Friday night to lead the Trinity High School football team in a 38-30 slugfest against district rival Manual.

While Bonnafon, a University of Louisville commitment, had a hand in all five of the Shamrocks’ touchdowns, his biggest play came with less than five minutes remaining. With the Rocks (4-3, 2-0 District Four) pinned back to their 3-yard line on a third-and-19, Bonnafon scrambled into his end zone and found a streaking Rodjay Burns for a 57-yard pass and a crucial first down.

Initially, Bonnafon was trying to find Cody Swabek over the middle for a shorter pass, but with Swabek covered, Bonnafon went for his second option.

“Rodjay will go out and get any ball I get close to him,” said Bonnafon, who completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 263 yards and four touchdowns.

While the Shamrocks would not score on the drive, they were able to drain the clock and give the Crimsons (6-1, 0-1) only 20 seconds to go 83 yards for a potential tying score. They also benefited from a roughing the kicker penalty that negated a punt later in the drive. Plays such as those showed Manual’s youthfulness at critical times, Crimsons coach Oliver Lucas said.

“That’s a sign of a team of one who’s been there and one who hasn’t,” he said.

Draining the clock was about the only way Trinity could stop Manual quarterback Mason Motley. With the Shamrocks focused on stopping running back Michael Nero, who was limited to 47 yards on 19 carries, Motley more than had his way with the defense, completing 15 of 27 passes for 417 yards and two TDs. Six of Motley’s passes went for at least 25 yards.

“They like to stack the box against the run,” Motley said. “We just knew we could get them both ways.”

Three times Trinity jumped out to leads of at least 14 points only to see Manual climb back behind Motley’s arm. On the second play of the second half, Nero drifted past Trinity’s secondary and Motley connected with him on a 75-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-16. It was one of three scores by Nero, who also scored touchdowns on short runs.

(Page 2 of 2)

But the extra-point kick failed and the Crimsons could no closer. Manual hasn’t beaten Trinity since 2003.

Despite the win, Trinity coach Bob Beatty found need for improvement in his defense, citing the young secondary as well as the defensive line, which he said must do a better job of applying pressure. That’s especially true with the Shamrocks playing at Male next week.

“That’s what team defense is all about,” Beatty said. “They don’t have a choice. They’re going to get better.”

While Lucas was pleased with his kids’ effort and resiliency, he wasn’t taking it as a moral victory.

“Nothing good comes from losing,” he said. “Moral victories go in the loss column. There’s no way I thought we’d score 30 and lose.”

Manual hasn’t defeated Trinity since 2003. Lucas said junior receiver William Blackford separated his shoulder in the first half and is gone for the season.

“It’s a real big loss,” Motley said. “We don’t have the numbers like Trinity and St. X. He was my go-to guy. Now, I’m going to have to find a new one.”