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Koroly, Kern lead Trinity to rout of AG

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After a close loss to Belle Vernon last week, the reality for the Trinity High School football was the playoffs started Friday night.

If the Hillers plan on being in the postseason, then every game the rest of the regular season has the importance of a playoff game and the Hillers need wins.

Nothing short of winning their final games will cut it for the Hillers if they plan on making a trip to the playoffs.

Trinity seniors Joey Koroly and Dylan Kern did their part to make sure the Hillers’ playoff chances remained alive for another week.

Koroly and Kern had big nights as Trinity played its most complete game of the season, routing visiting Albert Gallatin 48-8 in a Big Nine Conference battle at Hiller Field.

“We are a veteran group and we showed why tonight,” Trinity head coach John Miller said. “It’s one step at a time for us. We realize what’s at stake. I’m proud of our seniors and our leaders for handling this game just like it’s a Thomas Jefferson or Belle Vernon game.”

Koroly ran for 280 yards on 18 carries, including three runs of 50 yards or more, and hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Trinity (3-3, 4-3) showed balance on offense as it has success through the air. Kern threw for 105 yards and three touchdowns.

“It’s nice when we can switch things up,” Miller said. “Joey is going to get his yards, and the more we can spread things out and throw the ball, then the more success we can have. The offensive line was great, too. They worked real hard all week and did a great job of protecting Dylan and opening holes for the run game.”

The Hillers started fast and never took their foot off the accelerator.

Koroly raced 58 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game to give the Hillers the early lead.

“We just wanted to treat tonight like any other game,” said Koroly. “We know what we need to do and we came out focused and started putting points on the board.”

Trinity then drove 90 yards for a score in just three plays to make it 13-0. Koroly’s 51-yard run set up a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Cole Bair.

Albert Gallatin (1-5, 1-6) drove the ball down to the Trinity 10-yard line on its next drive, but the Hillers stiffened and AG tuned the ball over on downs. Trinity turned that into a seven-play, 87-yard drive that ended with a Tanner Hudak 14-yard touchdown run making it 20-0.

The Hillers scored on their first five possessions.

“We just wanted to give everything we’ve got,” said Kern. “Our mentality was that we have nothing to lose. Just because we beat (AG) last year didn’t guarantee us anything this year. They beat a team (West Mifflin) that we lost to, so we came out focused and wanted to beat them.”

After an AG 14-play drive stalled at the Trinity 31, Kern hit AJ Mauro with a 14-yard touchdown pass.

Kern hit Koroly with a 30-yard touchdown on a screen pass and Koroly added a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 34-0 late in the second quarter.

The Hillers racked up 408 yards in the first half.

“The offense starts with Joe,” said Kern. “Everything really clicks when he gets going. Once he gets going, it opens things up in the passing game. In the end it all starts with Joe and we are fine with that. We will ride him the whole way.”

The Trinity defense wouldn’t be kept off the scoreboard, either.

Jared Embert intercepted Colonials’ quarterback Domonick Lewellen and raced 62 yards for a score to send the game into halftime with Trinity holding a 48-0 advantage.

Dalton Bedillion also intercepted a pass, one of two Trinity takeaways.

“You win games playing defense and that’s a thing we have been doing well,” Miller said. “After last week, we really wanted to grind down on defense and the kids did a great job getting to the ball and making plays.”

The Hillers will try to keep their playoff hopes alive next Friday when they travel to Greensburg Salem.

“It’s a big game,” added Miller. “They handed it to us last year so the kids don’t need any extra motivation to get ready for them.”

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