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Turnovers, injury hurt Hillers in loss to CV
BRIDGEVILLE - Things didn't seem like they could get much worse for the Trinity High School football team after Chartiers Valley linebacker Devin Greene returned an Ian Haley interception 70 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Then, on arguably the Hillers' biggest play from scrimmage - a fourth-and-three from the Colts' 39 midway through the third quarter, neither of Trinity's go-to guys, Mike Yancich and Andrew Sweat, were on the field. Not surprisingly, the conversion attempt failed.
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After that, the Hillers were bit by the turnover bug.
Then, well, things kind of snowballed.
Trinity's Class AAA Big Seven Conference opener didn't exactly follow the script. The Hillers were unable to slow Chartiers Valley's relentless no-huddle, option offense and they made enough mistakes to last the rest of the season during a humbling 44-17 defeat Friday night at Chartiers Valley High School Stadium.
"We're on the brink but it's not like the season's over," Trinity coach Ed Dalton said. "There's some fatality to all of this. I just don't know what we have to do. We practiced for 14 hours this week."
Trinity (0-1, 2-2) practiced the Colts' tricky fast-paced attack.
The Hillers prepared for both of Chartiers Valley's multi-purpose threats, Santino Coury and Justin Burda, who can line up at quarterback, receiver or tailback on any given play. Both are fast and agile. Both were a handful last night.
Coury, Burda and fullback Jim Riley each had at least 70 yards rushing. The trio accounted for five touchdowns, including Riley's 15-yard fumble on a kickoff return to close the scoring.
Even with Sweat's 17 tackles, Trinity struggled defensively.
Chartiers Valley (2-0, 3-1) with more than 350 yards of offense.
"It's a difficult offense to stop when it's executued properly," Colts coach Chris Saluga said. "And, for the most part, we executed."
At times, so did the Hillers, though they seemed to lack offensive identity without Yancich at tailback and Sweat forced out of his customary fullback position. Yancich hobbled off the field but said he'll be ready for next week.
"It will be OK," Yancich said. "It's just a knee sprain."
The Hillers sure could have used their top runner, even though Sweat filled in admirably at tailback. The Ohio State recruit finished 63 yards rushing and scored on a 15-yard touchdown to pull Trinity with 27-17.
Shortly afterward, the game unraveled for Trinity for the second time.
Two fourth-quarter fumbles led to 14 points, a 4-yard score by Coury and Riley's 15-yard fumble return.
"We've played four of 12 quarters without Mike and Andrew due to cramps or whatever else. These guys should be ready for that,"
Dalton said. "We come right down and score and we give it right back. I can't take that away from them."
Trinity also lost to Chartiers Valley for the first time in six meetings.
An much of the blame can be pinned on the final 3:15 of the second quarter. The Colts scored three touchdowns during that span, capped by Green's interception return.
"We give up a 60-yard pass and we turn right around and give them that interception," Dalton said. "That's where the game turned. We can't be very good if we do things like that."
