Trinity pounds Roughriders, while new opponent ends up on schedule for next week

The Trinity Titans rumbled their way to an impressive 42-0 victory on Friday night at the Biesiot Activities Center over the Southern McLean Roughriders.

Trinity head coach John Odermann said that his team wanted to come out of the gates and make a statement, and that is exactly what they did by scoring touchdowns on their first six drives of the game.

The contest was basically over at the end of the first quarter when the Titans led 28-0.

“Our kids came out focused and they executed on offense and defense,” Odermann said. “Something we have been doing the last few weeks is setting three offense and defensive and one special teams goals for a game, and I think that has done a good job (making us) focus.”

Senior Nathaniel Jilek set the tone with a rushing touchdown for the first score of the game, and then he took all the air out of the Roughriders sideline when he ran a blocked punt back to the one-yard line.

Trinity (5-1, 4-1 in Region 4) had three scoring drives in the first half that all were one single play.

The Roughriders (2-4, 0-4 in Region 4) had a chance to avoid a shut out on their last drive of the game when they reached the red zone for the first time, but they were unable to convert.

“The big thing that I take away from this game is that this is the first complete game we have played,” Odermann said. “We had junior varsity guys in the game in the second half, and that is big for us to be able to get those guys reps and valuable experience. I can’t tell you how proud I am of our defensive effort.”

Linebacker and offensive lineman Tanner Soehren even got in on the scoring action by lining up as a full back and scoring on an 11 yard run late in the first quarter.

Jilek led the team with 92 yards on ten carries and a long run of 48 yards.

Starting quarterback Jake Daniel threw a touchdown pass to Logan Bentz and went 3-4 for 37 yards, while Drew Kovash went 2-2 with a 30 yard dime to Nick Deschamp on a scoring play.

Despite the success, Trinity had several penalties on offense, and for the night they totaled seven for 37 yards.

They even had a touchdown called back in the second half.

The players went into the contest thinking they wouldn’t see the field for two weeks since they won’t play Heart River next week due to COVID-19 reasons, but in reality, the Titans had scheduled a game vs. No. 2 ranked Velva.

The Aggies had a game postponed as well versus Tigoa due to COVID-19, and the two teams will square off next Friday at the Biesiot Activities Center at 5 p.m.

“That was intentional. When we scheduled the game against Velva yesterday, I didn’t want our guys to know about it until after the game,” Odermann said. “I didn’t want it to be a distraction…. They are a perennial power. They reload every year. To be able to get a game of this quality this late in the season, we will be able to measure ourselves up against a playoff team and see where we are at. Let’s see where we are at and play a team that is pretty good. When I got the call asking if we wanted to play Velva, my heart rate was about 170 beats per minute, and for a fat guy like me that isn’t a good thing. I was excited, because going from not having a game to one against a quality opponent is really great.”

1/18: Jake Daniel finds the end zone for Trinity in their 42-0 win over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

2/18: Jake Daniel and Tanner Soehren celebrate after a touchdown in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

3/18: Nathaniel Jilek scored the first two touchdowns of the game for the Titans versus Southern McLean on Friday night. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

4/18: Jake Daniel directs a huddle for Trinity in their 42-0 win over the Roughriders on Friday night. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

5/18: Jake Daniel (3) and Tanner Soehren celebrate after a touchdown in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

6/18: Ethan Hirschfield's name is called in the starting line ups before the Titans, 42-0, victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

7/18: Nick Deschamp (81) and Tanner Soehren (74) before Trinity's 42-0 win over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

8/18: Jake Daniel drops back to pass in the Titans win over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

9/18: Logan Bentz makes a catch for the Titans in their victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

10/18: Jake Daniel signals touchdown as a teammate scores in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

11/18: Nick Deschamp gets ready for a play on defense in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

12/18: Thomas Jacobs drags a Roughrider defender in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

13/18: Jake Daniel finds Logan Bentz for a touchdown in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

14/18: Nick Deschamp (81), Carter Ehlis (4) and Logan Bentz (27) line up out wide during Trinity's victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

15/18: Aiden Haich kicks an extra point in the Titans victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

16/18: Tanner Soehren reacts after scoring a touchdown in the Titans victory over the Roughriders on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

17/18: Trinity players mob Tanner Soehren after he scored a touchdown for the Titans in their victory over Southern McLean on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Biesiot Activities Center. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)

18/18: Aiden Haich kicks the ball off for Trinity in their win over Southern McLean. (Jake Wright / The Dickinson Press)