Aaron Lineweaver, Euless Trinity era starts rocky as Trojans defeated by Prosper
A Lineweaver is back on the sideline for the Euless Trinity football team.
No, it’s not Steve.
Aaron Lineweaver, the son of the legendary head coach Steve Lineweaver, is in his first year after getting hired in January. Steve led Trinity to three UIL state football championships.
Aaron spent most of his previous years with Southlake Carroll.
His emotions were high all week leading up to the game.
“Lot of excitement, nerves and anxious,” he said. “I’m just thankful the game started because it’s been a stressful and emotional week ... for a lot of other reasons, but that’s a part of it and that’s why we coach. It’s fun.”
Despite scoring first, the Aaron Lineweaver era didn’t get off to the best start as Trinity fell to Prosper, 17-13, in the season opener on Thursday night at Pennington Field.
However, Lineweaver was proud of his kids’ effort and physicality.
“Both teams played hard and it came down to a few plays, and they made a few more plays than we did,” he said. “We just have to clean some things up. You’re young. Made some young mistakes. We’ll be all right.”
A big reason for Trinity’s physical play was from 3-star Oklahoma State committed defensive end Ricky Lolohea. He had some nice moments and big hits, which included two tackles for no gain as he pushed right past the Prosper line. He also added a hurry and pressured Prosper quarterback Harrison Rosar that led to an incomplete pass.
Lolohea, 6-4 and 290 pounds, is ranked in the top 120 defensive linemen in the nation among the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports. He’s also in the top 200 of all senior athletes in the state, and is No. 34 in the Fort Worth-area Top 100.
“We were hitting people in the mouth and getting back there, and putting pressure on the QB,” he said. “We just kept making calls, blitzing a lot and hitting through the gap.”
Coming out of halftime even at seven apiece, Trinity (0-1) grabbed a 13-7 lead on its opening drive of the third quarter. Starting quarterback Ethan Williams kept it on a run, made a nice cut back and scored from 22 yards with 10:12 left in the frame. But the extra point was missed.
Prosper (1-0), which went to the regional final a season ago, would score the next 10 points.
Prentice Sanders, who didn’t see the field until the second half, capped off an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter.
Sanders finished with 98 yards rushing.
Then Josh Kennedy added a 38-yard field goal for a 17-13 lead just before the fourth.
The Prosper defense shut down the Trinity offense in the fourth, but the Trojans got new life when Devin Ugbaja picked off his second pass of the night midway through the quarter.
But two plays later, Prosper got it back when Carson McClendon picked off a Trinity pass.
Trinity had one more chance late, but couldn’t manage to cross midfield before the clock ran out.
“We had the effort and for four quarters, we were physical. At that end of it, that’s all you can ask, but we just need to execute a little bit better here and there,” Lineweaver said.
Trinity running back Gary Maddox, who is in the Star-Telegram Top 100, led the offense with 162 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Williams added 45 yards on the ground.
Overall, the Trojans rushed for 247 yards behind their big offensive line, where 12 players on the roster combine for over 3,700 pounds, an average of 305 pounds per player.
“Gary is such a tough, physical runner. He works so hard,” Lineweaver said. “We got a chance to be pretty good because of Gary.”
Prosper gained 324 yards of offense, but had three interceptions, two to Ugbaja.
The Eagles had a short field to work with to start the game and after Rosar connected for 20 yards to Javan Henry, Prosper was set up at the Trinity 20.
But on the next play, Rosar was pressured and lofted up a pass that Trinity defensive back Lamont Potts easily secured at the goal line and returned it 35 yards.
Two plays later and Maddox broke off a 47-yard run to the Prosper 20.
Trinity, which went to the regional semifinals last season, inched its way forward and on third-and-goal, Maddox muscled his way for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead with 5:08 left in the opening quarter.
Maddox had rushed for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns during the past two seasons while sitting behind Star-Telegram all-area offensive MVP Ollie Gordon, who is now at Oklahoma State.
Prosper responded well on its second drive going 59 yards on three plays. Rosar, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, hit Hunter Summers for 22 yards and then found Brayden Rymer down the Trinity sideline for a 40-yard score that tied the game at 7 with 3:27 left in the first quarter.
Trinity punted on its next three drives while Prosper threw a pick to Ugbaja, who caught an overthrown pass on the first play of the second quarter.
This story was originally published August 25, 2022 at 9:30 PM.
