Aug 23, 2016 4 min read

Second-year Trinity head coach Jon Miller hasn’t done much to motivate his players since the end of last season. He hasn’t had to spend much time on that aspect of the job. That’s because after stumbling out of the gate last year, the Hillers got their act together by midseason and came within “two or three plays” of making the Class AAA playoffs out of the Big 10 Conference.

Trinity lost its first two games but came back to win four of its next five and jump into playoff contention. A pair of losses to playoff qualifiers West Mifflin and Ringgold, by a combined eight points, to close the year had the Hillers and the postseason going their separate ways.

“Two fumbles and an interception,” Miller says of the difference between Trinity and a playoff team. “The Ringgold game, we had the ball on the two-yard line and fumbled. That game was frustrating because the game plan worked perfectly – we controlled the clock but turned the ball over on three of our first four drives in the second half. If we don’t do that, then we probably win. Then the West Mifflin game, it was a dropped pass and an interception that cost us. If we win those two games, then we’re 6-3 and a decent seed in the playoffs instead of 4-5 and watching.”

Trinity, however, became a good team during the middle of the season and Miller expects a carryover effect. Other teams might be watching Trinity come November.

“These guys realize how close they are,” Miller said. “There is, however, a lot of work to be done to get back to that point and beyond.”

A good starting point for the Hillers, who will be playing in the Class AAAA Big 9 this season after statewide expansion to six classifications, is their skill-position players. There is plenty of experience, talent and potential in the group, which is led by junior tailback Joey Koroly, junior quarterback Dylan Kern and senior tight end Robert Nelson.

Despite an injury that gave him a late start to last season and sharing the position, Koroly rushed for almost 700 yards. Kern moved into the starting lineup by midseason and played a key role in the Hillers’ surge.

“Kern is a fantastic leader and kid,” Miller said, “and it has been well-documented the ability Koroly has to break open a game.”

The Hillers are expecting big things from the 6-4 Nelson, who has 4.6 speed. “He’s someone who is going to surprise a lot of people,” Miller said.

Nelson and the Hillers are motivated by being on the brink of the playoffs last season. The returning players saw what it takes to be a playoff team and how close the Hillers were to reaching that level of play. “It’s tough to look back and see a couple of plays that you want to change,” Nelson said.

Graduation delivered a big hit, but junior Ben Phillis (6-5, 285) gives Trinity somebody to build around as a two-way tackle.

“Last year, we had some big guys. We’ll have a more athletic group up front,” Miller explained. “Ben Phillis was one of our better linemen last year and he’s worked his tail off to get better. I think people will be surprised by what we’ll be able to do up front.”

Defense is where the Hillers must show significant improvement in order to make the postseason. Trinity gave up 22 points per game last season and Miller said that number must drop, either through better defense or the offense controlling the football for long drives.

“We’re going to be a lot faster,” said Miller, who likes his group of linebackers led by Saul Wells. Tanner Hudak is being counted on to be an impact player on defense at safety, as is Adam Raggi at outside linebacker.

“We’re focusing on them playing strong, fast defense,” Miller said. “We dropped our points per game allowed by 14 points last year. If you look at all the good teams, from Class A to 6-A, they all give up 14 points or less a game. You have to do that to be a championship team.”

The defense returns only three starters and there is no time for slowly working in inexperienced newcomers. The schedule opens with conference games Sept. 2 against West Mifflin and Sept. 9 against defending WPIAL champion Thomas Jefferson.

The Hillers know they can’t afford another 0-2 start and play catch-up in the standings all season.

“We take on the two most experienced teams in the conference first,” Miller said. “We have to be good early. That’s why we’re doing extra work.”