How Trinity football's red zone mishaps cost the Shamrocks against St. Xavier

J.L. Kirven, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read
Trinity's Isaac Bowman can't haul in a pass in the end zone against St. Xavier's Samuel Crsum at Louisville's Cardinal Stadium. Sept. 23, 2022

The red zone was where Trinity football's hopes and dreams were put to rest Friday night.

After making it inside St. Xavier's 20-yard line four different times, Trinity only came away with two Kellan McLaughlin field goals, a blocked field goal and a turnover on downs in the Shamrocks' 13-8 loss to the Tigers at Cardinal Stadium.

Trinity (3-3) coach Jay Cobb was disappointed in his offense's performance. Late in the first half, Trinity put St. Xavier on its heels twice. Jeremiah Lynn came down with a 56-yard bomb from Drew Allen to put the Shamrocks on the 2-yard line. After a pair of penalties and tackles for loss, however, Trinity settled for a 28-yard field goal.

"Obviously, we have to get better offensively," Cobb said. "We have to a better job of play calling and executing down in the red zone. We just didn't do it."

Trinity would get another shot at the end zone before the half. Once again, a huge connection from Allen to Lynn set the 'Rocks up deep in Tigers' territory, only for the offense to stall and settle for another field goal.

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Had Trinity finished its drives, the 'Rocks would've entered the half with a touchdown lead, rather than a one-point deficit.

Cobb's frustration only grew in the second half. After Allen hit Lynn for a 40-yard gain on the Shamrocks' first play of the third quarter, Trinity set up shop at St. Xavier's 20-yard line.

Whatever halftime pep talks were had didn't help Trinity. The Shamrocks gained a measly 2 yards before sending McLaughlin back on the field. But St. X's Jack Fitzgerald got a hand on the kick.

"Last week we didn't finish well," Fitzgerald said. "A big focus for us was playing together and being physical. When we do that good things happen."

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Trinity hoped to finish the game on a strong note. Despite the offense's troubles, the Shamrocks once again found themselves in a prime situation to score a touchdown and eventually take the lead.

Down by five with six minutes to go, Trinity made it down to the St. Xavier 14-yard line. At this point, a McLaughlin field goal couldn't bail the Shamrocks out. And with the Rocks facing fourth-and-14, Trinity's prayer heave to Lynn in the end zone wasn't good enough.

"We have to finish these things," Cobb said. "We had a Wildcat package down there for [Lynn] down there but we didn't execute it the right way. So there were some things that he did well and others things that he didn't."

That chance would be Trinity's last. Cobb watched as the final 3:38 ticked away, marking a second straight loss on the year and in the series with St. Xavier.

Follow Courier Journal reporter J.L. Kirven on Twitter @JL_Kirven for more updates on Louisville prep sports.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA football: Trinity's red zone mishaps cost it against St. Xavier