Message received: Hillers won’t settle
Trinity head coach Jon Miller is hoping Tyler Denman can help the Hillers knock off West Mifflin and qualify for the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
Trinity senior Dajour Hull has been one of the focal points of the Hillers’ offense.
There is hope and anticipation around the Trinity School District that after a two-year absence from the WPIAL playoffs, the football program could again play meaningful games late in October or maybe into November.
First-year head coach Jon Miller is enjoying every bit of the community’s support, but the Hillers’ coaching staff had a message for the players this week: Don’t settle for making the playoffs. They want the program’s first postseason win since 2007 and just the fourth in the last 30 years.
“We don’t want to just get there and be glad we’re there,” Miller said. “We want to make some noise and make a run at it. Once it happens, it becomes a habit and you get used to winning there and the atmosphere. That’s something we need to foster and work towards.”
After narrowly missing the postseason last fall, the Hillers (4-3, 4-3) can put themselves in position for their first playoff appearance since 2012 by winning the final two regular season games and can put themselves in position for a wild card spot in Class AAA by winning one.
Trinity is doing it with a hard-nosed defense and a prolific rushing attack behind a physical offensive line. The next chance is tonight’s Big Ten Conference game against West Mifflin (5-2, 5-2) at Titan Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
“It’d be nice to win these next two and go into the playoffs winning six of our last seven,” Miller said. “That’s a pretty big step, but to me, the growth of the program is going to be with playoff wins. That’s where you turn the corner, having success and making runs in that tournament.”
The Titans are averaging more than 300 rushing yards per game and are led by senior dual-threat quarterback Karlyn Garner. He has thrown for 320 yards and ran for 563 with 11 total touchdowns.
Unlike in recent seasons, Trinity’s defense has been stout against the run and is holding opponents not named Thomas Jefferson to 19.7 points per game.
“Defense has definitely been a strong point for us last year, as opposed to the past,” senior defensive back Sam Trapuzzano said. “Coach Miller and (defensive coordinator Brendon Steele) have great schemes, and we have veterans who have stepped up, especially our D-line and linebackers.”
Those are the same linemen who are leading one of the top rushing attacks in the conference. In the two games since the loss to Thomas Jefferson, when the Hillers were held to 72 yards on offense, senior Dajour Hull and sophomore Joey Koroly have combined for 680 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
In those wins, Trinity has outscored its two opponents 106-27. Hull credits his linemen: sophomore left tackle Ben Phillis, senior left guard Mac Chambers, senior center Trey Banco, senior right guard Toby Cullings and senior right tackle Brandon Wolfe.
“Those guys have been a big factor, having experience and doing great for us last year, too,” Hull said. “They’ve helped us build the running game, have our passing game going and they’re the ones who keep us going late in games and push us to these wins.”
Following a Week 2 loss to Laurel Highlands, in which the Hillers allowed 44 points and they dropped to 0-2, sophomore Dylan Kern took over as the starting quarterback. That allowed Trinity to use senior Garrett Briant’s athleticism in a variety of ways.
It took longer than Miller anticipated, but the Hillers are beginning to forge an identity – one built around the veteran line and an opportunistic defense that is preparing for a dynamic offense.
“We’ve started to find our groove. We have two dynamic running backs,” Miller said. “If I gave one kid the ball the entire game, we’d definitely have one over 1,000 yards, but that’s not how it works. We have kids who can take it to the house every time and our line is doing what it does best.”
In Class AAA, the top five teams in each conference make the playoffs and one wild-card team, which is determined by conference record in Weeks 2 through 9, Gardner Point System based on those games, point-differential for those games and, finally, if a tie isn’t resolved, there is a coin flip.
The Hillers aren’t getting tied up in the logistics. They’re embracing every moment and the challenge that lies ahead.
“I love the excitement and I’m all for it,” Miller said. “The district has been dying for success and something to get excited about. The home games have been fantastic with the people coming to support and the student section. We want to maintain that as long as possible. It helps the kids and they deserve it for their hard work.”