Euless Trinity stops 2-point conversion in overtime to hold off Haslet Eaton

Euless Trinity stopped a 2-point conversion attempt to come away with a hard-fought 24-23 overtime victory over Haslet Eaton in a key District 4-6A matchup Thursday at Northwest ISD Stadium.

Trinity (6-2, 4-2) chose to go on offense to begin the overtime. JT Harris ripped off a 21-yard gain on the first snap, then scampered around the end for a 4-yard TD to give the Trojans a 24-17 lead.

On the first play of its offensive series, Eaton quarterback Kalika Nisa connected with Tredrick Holt on a 25-yard TD pass. The Eagles (3-5, 2-4) decided to go for the win rather than a PAT attempt to continue the game.

Trinity defensive back Chayce Davis, who had a pair of interceptions the week before against Keller, batted the ball out of the hands of the Eaton receiver to preserve the Trojans’ victory.

Harris, who finished with a game-high 148 rushing yards on 21 carries and two TDs, was determined in the Trinity overtime possession.

“I kept telling myself, gotta get it, gotta get,” Harris said. “And the defense came up with the big stop.”

“Just a great win for us,” added Harris, who had 271 rushing yards on 15 carries and four TDs last week in a 55-37 win over Keller. That came after Harris missed two games “to take care of some dental issues”.

“Just great to get rolling again,” said Harris, a Texas State pledge. “The offensive line did such a fantastic job again. They open the holes.”

Trinity head coach Aaron Lineweaver, in his fourth year leading the program, called Harris “just a tremendous back”.

“Just a great job by JT,” Lineweaver said. “It really made some big runs for us.”

Lineweaver also praised his offensive line and the defense.

“The defense really kept us in the game,” Lineweaver said. “And we really needed their efforts tonight.”

Eaton jumped out to a 7-0 advantage, taking the opening kickoff and marching 51 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard TD run by Chris Duharte.

Harris deadlocked the contest at 7-7 with a 31-yard TD burst with less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

Quarterback Mack Lineweaver, son of the head coach, drove the Trojans 56 yards in five plays, tossing a 20-yard scoring pass to Brendon Cary to give Trinity a 14-7 lead. That drive came after the Trojans’ defense held on downs on a fourth-and-five at its 44-yard line.

Trinity linebacker Gordon Mohetau came up with an interception off a tipped pass at its own 40-yard line 24 seconds before intermission that culminated in a Jayden Boye 40-yard field goal as time expired, stretching the Trojans’ edge to 17-7 heading into the break.

After a scoreless third quarter, Eaton’s Alijah Lash — a San Diego State pledge as a defensive end — powered in from one yard out on third-and-goal with 8:11 left to narrow the Trinity lead to 17-14.

The ensuing kickoff was a pooch kick recovered by Eaton’s Xavier Whitis at the Trinity 22-yard line. That led to Peyton Ertle’s game-tying 34-yard field goal with 6:14 left in regulation.

Trinity failed to convert a fourth-and-4 at the Eaton 47 with 3:37 remaining.

Eaton then reached the Trinity 28, lost three yards, and a 48-yard go-ahead field goal attempt fell just short with under a minute left.

The Trojans, in regulation’s final series, picked up a pair of first downs to the Eagles’ 37-yard line. However, a one-yard loss and a 15-yard penalty, then an incomplete pass sent the contest into overtime.

“Both teams gave it their all,” Aaron Lineweaver said. “Left it all out there on the field.”

Mack Lineweaver finished with an efficient 115 passing yards, completing 10 of 14 passes without an interception and the one TD.

“Getting more and more comfortable in the offense as the season moves along,” he said. “The offensive line does an incredible job, and JT is an amazing running back. And the defense came up with key stops throughout this game, and made the key play on the conversion attempt. Just a great team win. Now we get ready for the next one.”

Nisa completed 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards with one interception and one TD for Eaton.

Euless Trinity secured its 40th postseason berth with the triumph and next hosts Justin Northwest at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Pennington Field.

Haslet Eaton faces Keller Timber Creek at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Keller ISD Stadium.

Southlake Carroll, Trophy Club Byron Nelson and Trinity have all made the playoffs from 4-6A. Eaton is in a battle with L.D. Bell, Keller and Keller Central for the district’s final playoff spot.