Euless Trinity downs Arlington Lamar in playoff rematch at Globe Life Park
With time running out of an exciting first high school football game ever at Globe Life Park, it was only appropriate that Euless Trinity quarterback Valentino Foni connected on a pass to Ollie Gordon down the right side for 28 yards and a touchdown with 28 seconds to play to give the Trojans a 35-28 win over Arlington Lamar on Thursday night.
In April, the Rangers and Arlington ISD finalized an agreement to play at least 14 regular-season games at Globe Life Park, which had been the home of the XFL’s Dallas Renegades earlier this year until the league permanently suspended operations because of the coronavirus.
Globe Life Park was converted to a multi-purpose facility with a synthetic grass surface after the 2019 baseball season.
The park is set to host at least 19 high school football games this season.
It was a seesaw battle the entire evening and the season opener for both teams after a one-month delay because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was also a playoff rematch from last November when Lamar upset Trinity, 37-34, in the bi-district round.
Trinity’s offense was fueled by Foni and Gordon as the two combined for 429 yards rushing, 206 on 17 carries by Foni and 223 on 27 runs by Gordon. Foni scored one touchdown on a 67-yard keeper while Gordon scored on runs of 4, 77 and 34 yards.
Lamar (0-1) had built a 21-14 halftime lead only to see Trinity (1-0) hold the Vikings scoreless in the second half until Anthony Williams finally broke loose on a 25-yard TD to tie the score at 28 with only 1:21 to play.
The third quarter belonged to Trinity as the Trojans flipped the score from being down seven to up by seven, 28-21, when Gordon scored his third rushing TD from 34 yards with just five seconds remaining in the period.
Trinity’s defense stifled Lamar for almost all of the second half until the Vikings mounted the tying drive aided by a personal foul penalty and a clutch run by Williams.
The two teams traded scores on the first four possessions of the game before the Trinity defense made the first stop only to see the Trojans offense turn the ball over shortly after with a little more than five minutes left in the first half.
Before the slow down midway in the second quarter, Lamar marched 40 yards for the initial score of the game on a 5-yard run by Caleb Phillips. The good field position was provided by Kobe Long returning the opening kickoff 54 yards. Blake Ford booted the point after to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 8:51 left in the first quarter.
Trinity roared down the field on its first possession for the 7-7 tie with Gordon smashing in from four yards out to cap a 12-play drive covering 75 yards with 2:50 left in the opening quarter. The key play was a third-and-15 conversion from the Trojans’ 37 when Foni connected for the exact yardage needed to Profele Ashlock.
The Vikings scored their second TD when Williams dashed 17 yards for the score to cap a 70-yard drive that used 15 plays. Lamar led 14-7 with 9:11 left in the second quarter.
Trinity struck quick on its next possession when Foni kept the ball around the left side and sprinted 67 yards for a score and tie ball game with 8:23 left before halftime.
A stop by Trinity was aided by a pressure defense led by linebacker Nai Mose, but the Lamar defense returned the favor with its fumble recovery by Anthony Grimaldi two plays after the Trojans received a 45-yard punt from Lamar quarterback Cade Carlson.
Lamar got its third score of the first half when a bad snap caused Foni to punt only 17 yards, giving the Vikings superb field position at the Trinity 34. The Vikings soon cashed in on a 14-yard run by Williams with only 17 seconds before intermission.
Foni finished the game with 53 yards passing on 3 of 6 passing while Carlson connected on 10 of 20 passes for 65 yards. Williams paced the Vikings’ running game with 88 yards on 16 carries and three TDs.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 11:56 PM.