This was a very close game that Trinity broke open in the 4th quarter. 

Trinity takes care of business in the second half after tailing at the break 17 - 21 and outscore Ballard 18 to 0 in the second.  This game was close.

Congrats to the Shamrocks! Ballard started the season 2-5 but really improved and finished having a good season.

Another Boyle County run at our 50 Game Win Streak ended tonight.  Go Rocks!

Well, my prediction was off a little. 35-21 is tolerable when you win!   It was not pretty. Many went home at halftime to be near their fireplace and watch WDRB+. 

Nice effort Ballard!  Going to be hard to beat T.

Kudos to Ballard. The Bruins were prepared and came into Marshall Stadium tonight much improved from the last time these two met and ready to wreak havoc. They gave Trinity as much trouble as any team has all year. That is true in both games. Ballard has a very good head coach in Matt Kuehn. 

Trinity tailed 21-17 at half and all the momentum was going Ballard's way. Two early turnovers and busted coverages on D killed the Rocks early. However, Trinity goes on to outscore the Bruins 18-0 in the second half of play and wins it. A ton of credit to that T defense for stepping up. D-lineman Frost and Vance made an impact late. Sophomore Myles Howze with the INT to end Ballard's last drive and seal the game. 

JB Berry with three rushing TDs and had the last two-point conversion to get them to 35. Another big game for him and the Trinity rushing game, which seemed to improve as the night went on (just like the team as a whole).

Great win. Ugly but will take it. Nice season BAllard.

Clearly these 2 do not care for each other.

Did not care for all the USP. Not saying not deserved.

 

Donuts & Hot Choc.

Next

What a great statement by the Trinity defense in the second half. They went into shutdown mode which they seem to do in the second half of every game.

Running game was very good. However, was not expecting to be without the Rocks biggest playmaker in Jeremiah Linn. Need him back next week to stretch the field. The short passing game was 50/50 tonight.

A little taken back by some the questionable OC decisions...How do you not go up 5 and not be ready to go for two? Late in the fourth you can seal the game, you have a kicker who made a 55yd field goal earlier and you throw a middle pass short...over a 35 yd field goal. That burned three seconds and resulted in nothing. Also on fourth and short, speed it up. Take so much time to get the play in. 

We had a three hour game. I have never seen a crew take 2 minutes to talk over every flag. This crew looked so overwhelmed. Do not know where they came from. I hope it's their last assignment.

The hot chocolate rocked again.   

When did officials decide not to enforce kneepad rule? Checkout the WDRB+ broadcast available. Ballard had several players with no knee coverage.?‍?  The same could be said for taunting. Both teams were guilty and not a single flag was thrown for this outward lack of respect.

1 minute ago, thsrocks said:

When did officials decide not to enforce kneepad rule? Checkout the WDRB+ broadcast available. Ballard had several players with no knee coverage.?‍?  The same could be said for taunting. Both teams were guilty and not a single flag was thrown for this outward lack of respect.

All year, all the time, officiating joke considering it is an area of emphasis this year.

Ballard came into Marshall Stadium prepared to compete, leaving no doubt about their determination. While most fans enjoy easy blowout victories, a tough, hard-fought game this late in the season can be invaluable—especially when you come away with a win and a healthy roster.

Here are a few key takeaways from the game:

 

1. Caleb Ricks' Hit: It’s unfortunate that #4 Caleb Ricks’ incredible tackle was penalized. The hit was clean, textbook, and executed with precision and force. Unfortunately, the officiating crew near Ballard’s sideline seemed influenced by the emotions of the crowd and sideline. The video clip is attached for your review. Please note the quality is not the best.
2. Double Running Back Set: The double running back formation with cross-blocking caused significant issues for Ballard in the second quarter. That offensive set was impressive and operated like a well-oiled machine. It was disappointing not to see more of it in the second half.
3. Field Goal by Carson Hilbert: #9 Carson Hilbert nailed an impressive 55-yard field goal. While it’s unconfirmed, this might just be a school record.
4. Ballard’s Head Coach: Ballard’s head coach appeared to spend more time on the field than some of the coaches at the Toy Bowl this year.
5. Senior Leadership: The senior ROCKS are becoming increasingly cohesive. Over the last few games, they have truly stepped up, providing invaluable leadership. At this stage of the season, that leadership is priceless.
6. Trinity’s Offensive Pace: I’d like to see Trinity’s offense pick up the pace. It seems like #9 thrives at a quicker tempo than what we’re currently running. Additionally, the quarterback and wide receivers would benefit from a “let’s get on the same page” meeting to fine-tune their timing and communication. Small adjustments like these could make a big difference in elevating the offensive rhythm and execution.
7. Defensive Resilience: This defensive group consistently finds ways to overcome obstacles and adapt on the fly. A prime example was #44 Nick Lococo’s massive interception return for a touchdown. That play didn’t just bring the Rocks back to life—it electrified the stands at a much-needed moment.

 

A well-deserved win for the ROCKS and a great test of resilience as they prepare for the next challenges!

 

There’s nothing better than Thanksgiving Day morning football practice at Trinity! A perfect blend of tradition, hard work, and gratitude—what a way to kick off the holiday! ??

Carson Hilbert's 55 yarder is the new school record. Beats Kellan McLaughlin's 53 yarder against St. X (OH) in 2021.

 

Video of the kick

Amazing kick!  Impressed!

On 11/22/2024 at 10:48 PM, Tigerpride94 said:

Congrats to the Shamrocks! Ballard started the season 2-5 but really improved and finished having a good season.

It feels like Ballard is getting closer and closer to the top of Class 6A. Their improvement this year was impressive and they've been making deeper playoff runs recently.