Turnovers prove costly to Trinity in loss to Ringgold
Trinity’s Joey Koroly gets tackled Friday by Ringgold’s Dalton Holt.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Trinity’s Joseph Koroly fights for the first down in a game against Ringgold at Trinity on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.
Ringgold’s George Martin looks to pass Friday as Trinity ‘s Garrett Briant is in pursuit.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s Chacar Berry get pasted Trinity’s Garret Briant during a game at Trinity on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter Ringgold’s George Martin picks up yards against Trinity during a game at Trinity on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.
From the opening kick at Hiller Stadium, it was evident who was playing for their WPIAL playoff lives. There was little question as to who was searching to end a two-year absence from the postseason.
However, that same hope Trinity had of getting its first WPIAL playoff win since 2007 diminished with three second-half fumbles, as the Hillers fell to Ringgold, 16-10, in Big 10 Conference play Friday night.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Trinity head coach Jon Miller.
A win would have put Trinity (4-5, 4-5) in the playoffs. Chartiers Valley gained the lone wild-card spot in Class AAA, edging Gateway and Trinity on Gardner Points.
The Hillers’ fumbles led to the nine second-half points, a 27-yard field goal by Joe Romano and a three-yard touchdown run by Chacar Berry, which was all that Ringgold (8-1, 8-1) needed.
Trinity senior kicker Sam Trapuzzano connected on a 36-yard field goal to open the scoring with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter.
The Hillers extended that lead by riding sophomore running back Joey Koroly the entire way down the field. Koroly carried the ball 13 straight times behind his senior-dominated offensive line, capping off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run off right tackle.
However, the Rams made defensive adjustments that paid dividends, slowing the Trinity offense the remainder of the game.
“We just slid our defensive formation to prevent the stretch play that they had success with,” explained Ringgold head coach Nick Milchovich. “I thought our defense responded and played very well (with the adjustment). We rose to the occasion when we had to and that’s the mark of a champion.”
That “champion” stopped the Hillers twice on fourth and short in the waning minutes of the game.
The turnovers forced by the Ringgold defense finally allowed the Rams’ offense to click by the middle of the second quarter.
A 13-yard touchdown pass from George Martin to Easton Fine narrowed the gap to 10-7.
Ringgold had an opportunity late in the second quarter to tie the score. However, the Rams were stopped on a fourth-and-goal at the Trinity 5-yard line.
“Our field-goal team has been an adventure,” said Milchovich. “We started to find our way in the second quarter and I told them that I believed in them, just for them to believe in me.”
Berry regained his prominent role in the backfield for Ringgold, piling up 132 yards and the lone second-half touchdown on 26 carries.
Koroly carried the ball 28 times for 87 yards and the Hillers’ only touchdown of the night.
“We controlled our own destiny with these last two games,” said a dejected Miller. “We were one play away from having a celebration out there on that field. It’s just heartbreaking.”