Game Notes: Trinity Collegiate at First Baptist

OPENING KICKOFF: Friday's non-region matchup marks the 7th meeting between Trinity Collegiate (1-2) and First Baptist (1-3) in a series that dates back to 2016. The Hurricanes lead the all-time series 4-2, earning victories in the first four meetings, including the 2016 SCISA 2A Semifinals and 2017 SCISA 2A State Championship. The Titans have taken the last two meetings, including the last meeting in Charleston in 2021.

WHEN LAST WE MET:  Logan Galloway stepped in front of a First Baptist pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown to provide the only points of the night in a 6-0 win for the Titans in Darlington. This defensive battle is the only time in school history that the Titans had scored all their points on defense. It would also propel the Titans to a school record three game consecutive shutout streak. Offensively for Trinity, Andre Jackson, Jr. (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) led the way with 103 yards rushing on 10 carries. The Titan defense was led by Mac Burch (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) with 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Galloway also helped carry the day for the Titans with 9 tackles, 1 for loss, and the aforementioned pick six. James Herbert contributed to the shutout with 5 tackles, 4 going for a loss, and 3 sacks. 

LAST TIME OUT: A slow first quarter doomed the Titans in their matchup with the defending SCISA 3A State Champions, Pinewood Prep. The Titans fought hard over the final three quarters, racking up almost 400 yards of offense and only allowing two offensive touchdowns over the final three frames. Davidson Lynch (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) contributed 271 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) and Desmond Williams II (Florence, SC/Wilson High School) both had over 100 yards receiving with Copeland hauling in two 50+ yard touchdowns. Williams II also had an interception on defense. Defensively Walker Willcox, Jr. (Florence, SC/Royall Elementary School) and Mac Burch led the Titans. Willcox had 12 tackles, with 7 going for loss. Burch had 8 tackles, 3 for loss, and a sack.

WITH HONORS: Walker Willcox is tied for third in the state of South Carolina in total tackles. Garrison Copeland is 11th in the state in receiving yards. Davidson Lynch sits tied for 15th in the state in passing yards. 

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

STRONG FOUNDATION: The Titans are playing their 17th season of football, entering play with a 110-80 overall record. After spending their first three seasons playing eight-man football, during which they recorded a 9-21 (.300) record, the Titans are 101-59 (.631) 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: Two 8th Graders are on the varsity roster for the Titans: Dre'den Bethea (Florence, SC/JL Cain Elementary School) and George Taflinger (Florence, SC/The King's Academy).

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT: Parker Phipps (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) had his first career touchback on a kickoff last Friday night. 

DYNAMIC DUO: Walker Willcox and Mac Burch are leading the Titan defense from the inside linebacker position. Willcox ranks #43 nationally with 47 tackles, 12 of which went for loss. Burch has 31 tackles, 9 for loss, 1 sack, 1 safety, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble. 

TWO-WAY STAR: Desmond Williams II contributed on both sides of the ball last week, snagging seven passes for 122 yards and hauling in an errant Panther pass for an interception on defense. 

DEFENSIVE STATEMENT: The 69 points allowed through the first three games of a season are the least allowed by a Trinity defense in their first three games since allowing 62 total to open the 2016 season.

TITAN TIDBITS: This is the second game in the history of Trinity Collegiate football to be played on September 12th. The Titans are 1-0 on this date. On September 12th, 2014 the Titans defeated Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 45-6… This is the first regular season football game between the Titans and Hurricanes in Charleston since 2021. In that meeting, the Titans ran away with a 51-15 win over the Hurricanes, racking up 432 yards on the ground. Reggion Bennett ran for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns while Tre' McLeod added 111 yards and 2 touchdowns to the ground game. Defensively, Grant Epps and Townsend Matthews each tallied 4 tackles for loss and McLeod pitched in with an interception and a blocked kick. 

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. He has a record of 1-2 at Trinity Collegiate School.  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 FIRST BAPTIST: This is First Baptist's 5th game of the 2025 season. The Hurricanes are 1-3 on the year, falling to SCISA 4A opponents Ben Lippen, Porter-Gaud and Northwood Academy before racking up a 42-6 road win over Saint John's last Friday night. This is also the first matchup this season that will see Coach Fagan face off against a fellow coach also in their first year at a school.