Playoff Game Notes: Trinity Collegiate at Hilton Head Christian

OPENING KICKOFF: Friday's SCISA 3A Quarterfinal matchup marks the 4th meeting between Trinity Collegiate (5-5) and Hilton Head Christian (5-5) in a series that dates back to 2014. The Titans lead the all-time series 4-0, but have not faced off against the Eagles since the 2019 SCISA 2A State Championship Game

WHEN LAST WE MET: In a state championship game for the ages played on the turf at Benedict College in a monsoon rain, the Titans prevailed over the Eagles in overtime by a score of 55-49 to win the 2019 SCISA 2A State Championship. This would be the first state championship in the modern era of Trinity Collegiate football. The Titans would finish 14-2 on the season, winning 14 straight after losing their first two to open the season. 

LAST TIME OUT: The Titans fell to Florence Christian in the regular season finale, 49-20. Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) accounted for three touchdowns, two coming on passes to Desmond Williams II (Florence, SC/Wilson High School) and Andre Jackson, Jr. (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School). Walker Willcox, Jr. (Florence, SC/Royall Elementary School) set a school record with 25 tackles, surpassing his own previous high of 24 set twice, once against Wilson Hall in 2024 and once against Laurence Manning just last week. He also added three tackles for loss.

WITH HONORS: Several Titans players rank among the national and state leaders in various statistical categories. Walker Willcox, Jr. ranks 15th nationally in tackles with 166. This is good for second among all South Carolina schools and first in SCISA and the Pee Dee Region. Davidson Lynch (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) ranks 16th in South Carolina in passing yards and third in SCISA. Garrison Copeland ranks 12th in South Carolina in receiving 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 (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School), 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 114-83 overall record. After spending their first three seasons playing eight-man football, during which they recorded a 9-21 (.300) record, the Titans are 105-62 (.629) 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: Eighth Grader Dre'den Bethea (Florence, SC/JL Cain Elementary School) is the third leading receiver for the Titans this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT: Parker Phipps (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) is 2-of-3 on field goals on the season and 26-of-27 on extra points. This is the most extra points made in a season by a Titan kicker since 2019.

DEFENSIVE DYNAMO: Walker Willcox, Jr. leads the Titan defense from the inside linebacker position. Willcox ranks 15th nationally with 166 tackles, 36 of which went for loss. He ranks second nationally in tackles for loss among players with at least 100 tackles. He has also forced two fumbles and recovered one as well. Willcox's 166 tackles are a new single season school record, surpassing Spencer Scott's 13-game total of 133 from the 2021 season. He has also set the school record for tackles in a career with 299, surpassing James Herbert's total of 292 from 2021-2024. Additionally, he has the four highest single-game tackle performances in school history: 25 against Florence Christian, 24 against Laurence Manning, 24 against Wilson Hall, and 23 against Ben Lippen. 

TWO-WAY STAR: Robert Mack (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) impacted both offense and defense. Offensively, he led the team in rushing. Defensively, he collected seven tackles, one for loss, and recovered a fumble. 

DEFENSIVE STATEMENT: The 204 points allowed during the regular season are the least allowed by a Trinity defense in their first nine games since allowing 190 points during the 2018 regular  season.

TITAN TIDBITS: This is the second game in the history of Trinity Collegiate football to be played on November 7th. The Titans are 0-1 on this date. On November 7th, 2014 the Titans fell to Curtis Baptist (GA) on the road by a score of 19-8 in a SCISA 1A Quarterfinal matchup…This is the 15th straight season that the Titans have qualified for the playoffs. 

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 5-5 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 HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN: This is Hilton Head Christian's 10th game of the 2025 season. The Eagles are 5-5 on the year, with two wins over John Paul II and wins over Hilton Head Prep, First Baptist, and Battery Creek. They have lost to Bulloch Academy (GA), Pinewood Prep, Bethesda Academy (GA), Hammond and Porter-Gaud.