Euless Trinity trounces L.D. Bell in rivalry game, ends Blue Raiders’ season

Senior fullback Jayden Hollins ran for three touchdowns -- covering 35, 14 and 30 yards -- while Texas State commit JT Harris ran for 91 yards and another score as the Euless Trinity Trojans rolled past the Hurst L.D. Bell Blue Raiders, 31-3, in a 4-6A regular-season finale Thursday at Pennington Field.

Hollins finished with a game-high 122 rushing yards on just five carries in his most productive game in his high school career.

“The holes just opened up for me,” said Hollins. “The offensive line did a great job up front blocking, and I just hit the openings.”

Hollins said this was even more special in such a big rivalry game.

“Excited. Emotional,” Hollins said. “In a game like this, great way to end the regular season. But we not done yet. Time to get ready for the playoffs.”

Trinity head coach Aaron Lineweaver said his team played a “very efficient game.”

“Emotions run high in this rivalry game,” said Lineweaver. “I thought our offense did a good job, and the defense made some key stops and was tremendous throughout the game.”

Coach Lineweaver praised Hollins on his big game.

“He does a great job for us,” Lineweaver said. “He is an excellent blocker. Great speed. Adds another dimension for us offensively.”

The Trojans wasted no time in assuming control of the contest.

Euless Trinity quarterback Mack Lineweaver marched the Trojans 75 yards on nine plays -- all runs -- using 4:13 off the clock, on the game’s initial possession, with Hollins capping the drive with a burst up the middle.

After a Grady Matcham 26-yard field goal, keyed by a Tyler Bowman 64-yard kickoff return, sliced the Trinity lead to 7-3, Trinity answered with a 10-play, 75-yard drive in 4:07, with Hollins’ second TD stretching the Trojans’ advantage to 14-3 with 11:44 left in the second quarter. That score held for the remainder of the period heading into the break.

L.D. Bell seemed to gain momentum entering the third period. The Blue Raiders used 17 plays and over eight minutes off the clock, taking the second half kickoff from its own 20 to the Trinity nine-yard line, where the drive stalled.

Trinity standout John Meredith then blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt that would have made it a one-score game.

“I was just able to get my hands on it,” said Meredith. “That gave us back the momentum.”

A 40-yard Hollins run led to a Jayden Boye 26-yard field goal that moved the lead to 17-3.

Harris, who had 202 rushing yards on just six attempts a week ago in a 53-14 win over Justin Northwest, scored on a one-yard TD power run with 8:40 left in the game.

In the next Bell series, Caleb Adom interception led to Hollins’ final TD run of 30 yards to seal the victory. Adom, earlier in the second half, had a pick-six negated by a Trinity offsides penalty.

Euless Trinity flashed a new offensive wrinkle that will certainly draw attention from upcoming playoff opponents.

Meredith, the No. 1 state prospect -- No. 6 nationally -- rated by 247Sports in the 2027 class as a premier defensive back, took snaps out of the wildcat formation, and also lined up at wide receiver.

Meredith ran for 34 yards on five carries from the quarterback position while missing on his lone pass attempt.

“Anything we can use to our advantage,” said coach Lineweaver. “John is such a talented player, and very versatile.”

With Trinity facing a second-and-20 from the Bell 44-yard line with six seconds left before halftime, Meredith -- lining up at wideout -- came down with a Hail Mary from Lineweaver at the five-yard line.

With multiple Bell defenders draped all over him, he powered and stretched his way for an apparent TD. However, officials ruled that Meredith was down just shy of the goal line, with no time left on the clock.

The win has Trinity heading into the post-season with confidence

“We will be ready,” said coach Lineweaver. “Whoever we play. Wherever we play.”

The Bell loss -- its fifth straight after a promising 5-0 start -- ended the Blue Raiders’ season.

Trinity has held the upper hand in the storied rivalry. Trinity drubbed L.D. Bell, 63-13, a year ago. However, L.D. Bell managed to upset Trinity, 24-21, in the 2023 matchup, its first triumph over the Trojans since 1997.

Euless Trinity (8-2, 6-2) is the district No. 3 seed, and will face an opponent at a date, time and location to be determined in the Class 6A DI bi-district playoff round.

The lone points for Bell, for the second straight game, came from placekicker Grady Matcham, who had a 53-yarder last week in the 42-3 loss to Trophy Club Byron Nelson.