Just a few observations from this 3 quarter scrimmage:

Trinity's defense is again the backbone of the program. LB Brady McEnaney came up huge with a red zone INT, and then a strip-sack fumble recovery to stop another drive. How he doesn't have a D-1 offer is mind boggling to me. DL Nate Tronzo has picked up where Mitchell Toney left off. Tronzo is a game wrecker and was pulling double-teams all day. DL JC Wilson, Claude Mahan, and Jahbarri Frost also looked very good against the run as Springfield had almost no room to move the ball. I thought the linebackers flowed to the ball very well and kept the Wildcats QB on roller skates for most of the game. The back end gave up a few touchdowns, but CB Brandon Stafford's pick-6 was a bright spot. 

This was a tough matchup for the offense. But in saying that, this might be the best defense Trinity will see all year. The secondary for Springfield was elite and will keep them in every game they play in 2023. QB Jackson Hepner earned the start and he tried to fit in nearly every throw due to suffocating coverage. Will DeSensi came in and made a few nice plays with his mobility but the Rocks just couldn't punch it in against the Wildcats. RB Clint Sansbury was fantastic and amassed what I believe was close to 200 total yards. He had a huge run down to the 1 on the first drive and also had a few screen passes and runs where he drug defenders down the field for 10-15 yards each time. 

The touchdown drive came in the third quarter when Freshman QB Zane Johnson entered. Johnson showed why he has so much hype coming in, showing major arm talent and poise. After zipping one past an open Luke Sasser, he walked up to him and apologized, then on the next drive hit him in stride after dodging two blitzes and stepping up in the pocket. Sansbury finished it off with a run up the middle on fourth down into the end zone.

K/P Carson Hilbert made a 45-yard field goal into the wind, which would have been good from 55-60 yards. He also hit 2 touchbacks and did a nice job punting.

While Springfield technically won the game with a score of 28-17, much of this game was Coach Cobb trying out some things and not necessarily worrying about down and distance. I heard some people complaining about not going for it on 4th and short or when Trinity did go for it on 4th and long, but it must be said that he was clearly trying to test the troops out there and see what they were capable of. All and all, this was a good showing for both teams and Trinity now has a much better picture of what to work on if they are to compete for a State Championship this year.     

Here's a few highlights from the scrimmage:

 

What’re your thoughts on the Oline this year?  Also, just how good is this freshman team I keep hearing about?  
 

Quick, Dawkins, Hatcher good? 

 

Side note…. The Dline and linebackers look big 

 

On 8/6/2023 at 12:30 PM, Trinity23 said:

What’re your thoughts on the Oline this year?  Also, just how good is this freshman team I keep hearing about?  
 

Quick, Dawkins, Hatcher good? 

 

Side note…. The Dline and linebackers look big 

Very early to tell but they have the hype. I was on staff and around the '13 guys as Freshmen a lot and this team has a little different feel. Quick was touted as the next Mike Bush and he definitely lived up to that. Ryan White became the best DB in school history and had a tremendous career at Vanderbilt. Dalyn Dawkins became a superstar and had was on a few NFL rosters. Travis Wright became the winningest QB in school history (more wins than Brian, Jeff, DeSensi, Petrino, et al.) Hatcher, Trey Wright, Bobby Bryant, Connor Hill and some others I am for sure forgetting all had All-State type careers.

That being said, I am not putting these guys in that category after one scrimmage. The QB looks the part, for sure. Outstanding arm talent and poise. Dad is a coach and it shows. Also quick to own a mistake and put the reassurance back in his WR to come back to him. The corner also looks very solid, albeit small for a Varsity player. The LB's and DL that I saw are big and fast and will grow under this outstanding defensive staff. Didn't see much of the OL, but they are big also. The jury is out, but it will be fun to see how it plays out. 

Offensive line for Varsity looks further along than last year, but still things to work on. The snap by Kays over Hepner's head was bad. Higgins looked great and I thought Kays was solid other than the fumble. They blocked the screen plays well and Sansbury had some room to run. Hernandez and Bratcher will continue to gel with the others and hopefully we have a formidable unit by Week 11!

The DL I mentioned in the OP is actually Julian, not Frost. I did not have a roster and was corrected by someone on staff. Apologies.

St Ed’s won over Springfield Oh for the ship. 
3rd straight runner up for Springfield. 

was trying to find this last night...thanks for the update...can't believe they beat Moeller last week!