Game Notes: Trinity Collegiate at Ben Lippen

OPENING KICKOFF: Friday's non-region matchup marks the 9th meeting between Trinity Collegiate (0-1) and Ben Lippen (1-0) in a series that dates back to 2018. The all-time series is tied at 4-4, with the Falcons collecting victories in the last two meetings. The Titans emerged victorious, 28-21, in the last matchup in Columbia, upsetting the #2 seed Falcons in the quarterfinals of the 2022 SCISA 4A playoffs. 

WHEN LAST WE MET: Ben Lippen took advantage of two non-offensive touchdowns and strong defensive play to carry them to a 20-0 win over the Titans in Darlington. Despite outgaining the Falcons, Ben Lippen registered 5 sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown to keep Trinity out of the endzone. Robert Mack (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville Middle School) paced the Titans offensively with 103 all purpose yards. Defensively, Trinity was paced by Walker Willcox, Jr. (Florence, S.C./Royall Elementary School) with 9 tackles, including 1 for loss. James Herbert (8 tackles, 2 for loss) and Mac Burch (Florence, S.C./All Saints Episcopal Day School) with 7 tackles, 2 for loss and a forced fumble also put up strong defensive performances.

LAST TIME OUT: Pee Dee Academy, the defending SCISA 2A State Champions, emerged victorious over the Titans in a hard-fought defensive battle, 14-12. After combining for 60 points in less than 3 full quarters to open the 2024 season, the teams combined for just 26 in the 2025 opener. Sophomore Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville Middle School) collected two touchdown passes from senior Davidson Lynch (Florence, S.C./All Saints Episcopal Day School) to lead the Titan offense. Defensively, the Titans were led by senior Walker Willcox, Jr. and junior Andre Jackson, Jr. (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville Middle School), who each recorded a dozen tackles. Willcox added one tackle for loss and blocked a crucial point after attempt to keep it a one-score game while Jackson added three tackles for loss as well. 

WITH HONORS: Three Titan football players were named Athlete of the Week. Senior two-way lineman Johnathon Cottingham (Darlington, S.C./Darlington Middle School) was named the high school male athlete of the week after recording 9 tackles (1 for loss) and recovering a fumble on defense to go along with six pancake blocks on offense. Garrison Copeland won the game ball for catching two touchdown passes and picking up four tackles with one for loss on defense. 8th graders Dre'den Bethea (Florence, S.C./JL Cain Elementary School) and George Taflinger (Florence, S.C./The King's Academy) shared middle school male athlete of the week honors after starting on varsity as 8th graders. 

LEADING THE WAY: The Titans have a senior-heavy squad this year, with eleven total seniors on the roster. They are: Oliver Brodie (Charleston, S.C./Briggs Elementary School), Mac Burch, Johnathan Charles (Florence, S.C./Wilson High School), Drew Cockrell (Chesterfield, S.C./Chesterfield Ruby Middle School), Johnathon Cottingham, Matthew Dameron (Hartsville, S.C/Hartsville Middle School), Kyler Johnson (Darlington, S.C./Darlington Middle School), Davidson Lynch, Jy'ell Preston (Darlington, S.C./Darlington Middle School), Walker Willcox, Jr. and Desmond Williams II (Florence, S.C./Wilson High School).

STRONG FOUNDATION: The Titans are playing their 17th season of football, entering play with a 109-79 overall record. After spending their first three seasons playing eight-man football, during which they recorded a 9-21 (.300) record, the Titans are 100-58 (.633) since moving to eleven-man football for the 2012 season. Trinity is the only SCISA school to have competed across all five classifications of football offered by the league (eight-man, 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A). 

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Trinity started two eighth graders on offense in Week 1 against Pee Dee, as Dre'den Bethea started at wide receiver and hauled in three passes for 48 yards and George Taflinger started on the offensive line and also played defense, where he tallied two tackles. 

SPECIAL TEAMS STAR: Davidson Lynch proved worthy of his selection as preseason All-Pee Dee punter last Friday night, booting 5 kicks for a total of 192 yards, including a long of 51. . 

RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT OFF: Desmond Williams II led the Titans in receiving yards last season and started off his senior season four receptions for 74 yards, leading the Titans in all major receiving categories except for touchdowns. 

DEFENSIVE STATEMENT: The 12 points allowed against Pee Dee in Week 1 were the least allowed by a Trinity defense in a season opener since a 28-10 win over Charlotte Country Day (N.C.) on August 20th, 2021. 

TITAN TIDBITS: This is only the second game in the history of Trinity Collegiate football to be played on August 29th. The Titans are 1-0 on August 29th, defeating The King's Academy 49-0 back in 2014.

COACHES' CORNER: Shawn Fagan enters his first season as Head Football Coach at Trinity Collegiate School, bringing 14 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. A Florence, SC native, Fagan attended Charleston Southern University, where he earned his degree and began his coaching career. From 2008–2011, Fagan served at Charleston Southern as a student assistant on defense before coaching outside linebackers. During his tenure, the Buccaneers posted the highest win percentage in the Big South Conference and competed against top-ranked opponents, including the No. 1 Florida Gators in 2009. Fagan's coaching journey has taken him to a variety of programs, including Kentucky Christian University (Running Backs Coach, 2015), Northwood Academy (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator, 2016–2018), Cathedral Academy (Head Coach, 2019–2021), Pinewood Preparatory School (Co-Offensive Coordinator, 2022), and St. John's Christian Academy (Running Backs/Special Teams, 2023; Offensive and Defensive Line Coach, 2024). His leadership has helped teams earn multiple postseason appearances, including a playoff berth with Northwood in 2016, a semifinal run with Pinewood Prep in 2022, and a playoff appearance with St. John's in 2023.

THE WORD ON BEN LIPPEN: The Falcons opened the 2025 season on August 15th on the road at First Baptist School in Charleston, coming home with a 28-7 win. They had a bye week last Friday night.