Titans fall: No. 2 Velva proves too much for Trinity in 11B quarterfinals
Oct. 31—VELVA, N.D. — After an impressive first round shutout performance against Ray / Powers Lake, Dickinson Trinity suited up and traveled to Velva expecting a hard fought battle against the No. 2 team and undefeated Velva-Drake-Anamoose-Garrison — it would be exactly that with a 36-13 final result.
A plethora of points came late in the game with the Aggies (11-0) holding on to a 6-0 lead from the first quarter. The lead extending in the third quarter 28-0, did not reflect the strong defensive performance that the Titans (9-2) had in the first half.
Trinity held possession for the majority of the first quarter, but would be unable to convert with quarterback Jace Kovash feeling the pressure early and often. Velva's winning lead began with a pitch play to the left side for a 10-yard touchdown in the last four minutes of the first quarter.
The score would remain 6-0 the rest of the first half, but was full of back and forth hard nosed football action. The Aggies were knocking on the doorstep, eventually reaching the red zone twice, but Trinity's defense was up for the task in collecting two fumbles and an interception in the first half.
Velva's star running back Payton Bodine's stiff arm secured his way into the endzone from a 32 yard rush — to get the scoring started in the second half. Bodine would be lethal against the Titans, tallying three touchdowns on the day.
Trinity finally got onto the scoreboard on a fourth down, four yard running play. It was brought in by Ty Dassinger with 22 second left in the third.
The Aggies QB Benjamin Schepp carried in their final TD of the game, but Dassinger would run in the final touchdown of the game in its last remaining seconds. The points would only reduce the deficit by 23 points.
The Titans season has come to a bitter end, while Velva will continue onto the semifinals for another home playoff game.
