Titans Pick Up Key Road Win at Ben Lippen

Columbia, S.C.- The Trinity Collegiate Titans started their three-game road trip in strong fashion, earning a 26-13 victory over SCISA 4A opponent Ben Lippen on Friday night in Columbia. This also marked the first victory of the Coach Shawn Fagan era of Trinity Football.

Quarterback Davidson Lynch (Florence, S.C./All Saints Episcopal Day School) led the way through the air, throwing for 237 yards and a touchdown, while also adding a rushing score. His top target, Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville Middle School), hauled in six receptions for 117 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give the Titans an early lead.

After Ben Lippen answered with a short rushing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7, the defenses held firm until halftime. The Falcons briefly took the lead in the third quarter with a 38-yard touchdown pass, but sniffed out the fake extra point attempt to keep the margin at 6. Trinity Collegiate responded immediately. After a 37-yard kickoff return by Jy'ell Preston (Darlington, S.C./Darlington Middle School) set the Titan offense up with a short field, Robert Mack (Hartsville, S.C./Hartsville Middle School) broke free for a 31-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, with the ensuing Parker Phipps (Florence, S.C./All Saints Episcopal Day School) extra point putting the Titans back in front 14-13. Mack finished the night with 79 rushing yards on 14 carries.

The Titans' defense and special teams controlled the fourth quarter. After an offensive drive stalled, Davidson Lynch's 39-yard punt was downed by Walker Willcox, Jr. (Florence, S.C./Royall Elementary School) at the one yard line. Two plays later, Mac Burch (Florence, S.C./All Saints Episcopal  Day School) delivered a safety to extend the lead. The Trinity defense would dominate the rest of the game. Burch would come up big on the very first play of the next drive for the Falcons, intercepting a Ben Lippen pass to set the offense up with a short field. Lynch added a one-yard touchdown run to cap the ensuing drive. Robert Mack would shut the door on the Falcons penultimate drive with an interception retuned for 23 yards. The Titans would drive into scoring territory again and Parker Phipps sealed the win with a 27-yard field goal. Phipps was perfect on the night, converting all three of his extra points as well. Garrison Copeland capped his big night by ending the Falcons last drive of the night with an interception in the endzone. 

Defensively, Walker Willcox, Jr. anchored the unit with a team-high 23 tackles, including four for loss. The 23 tackles are one shy of his own school record, set last year against Wilson Hall. Mac Burch chipped in 14 stops, with five for loss, to go along with a safety and an interception. 

With the 26-13 win, the Titans even their record at 1-1 and will look to carry on this momentum into a matchup with the defending SCISA 3A State Champions, Pinewood Prep. They will meet the Panthers next Friday, September 5th in Summerville. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM.