Eagles topple Warriors by 20 at home

In their first three games, the Trinity Christian Eagles were outscored 112-39. However, the Eagles continued their midseason turnaround with their second big win in their last three games. The Eagles hosted the Arlington Newman International Academy Warriors in a final pre-district tune up Friday night, October. 4, and walked away after posting an impressive result in front of their home fans. TCA won the game by a final score of 56-36.

“We’ve found our identity a few weeks back with the game before homecoming in terms of who we are and what we need to do offensively, and we’ve just been building on top of that,” Eagles head coach Cody McKenzie said. “We’ve got some good guys up front that are moving bodies up there – we are a little more grown up on the line and we’re maximizing that. We can hit people down the field with number six (Canaan Kaznowski) at quarterback – they’re just finally putting it together.”

The first half was a fast-paced seesaw battle between the two foes that featured five lead changes. The Eagles scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Pearson Kuykendall that gave Trinity Christian a 7-0 lead with 7:02 left in the first quarter. Then, NIA quarterback Brady Reynolds called his own number from 67 yards out to put six on the board, and the visitors converted on the two-point conversion attempt to take an 8-7 lead at the 6:26 mark.

After the Warriors scored again to make it 14-7, TCA tied the game on a 29-yard touchdown run with 1:39 to go in the first quarter by Eagles quarterback Kaznowski, which was set up by a long kickoff return by Kuykendall. After a defensive stop by TCA, sophomore Owen Coates capped off the next Eagles scoring drive with an 11-yard run. Coates’ first rushing touchdown helped TCA reclaim a 20-14 advantage with 8:01 remaining before halftime.

After that, the Warriors used another big play to retake a 22-20 edge following a 68-yard touchdown pass with 6:26 left, but TCA responded once again with another strong offensive drive. The Eagles marched down the field and Coates capitalized with a 3-yard scoring run and a two-point conversion run by Kuykendall that gave TCA a 28-22 lead with 1:39 left in the first half.

While TCA’s offense was rolling, McKenzie and his staff made adjustments to limit NIA’s big plays on offense, and the defense responded accordingly.

“In the first half, we gave up the big plays, so we adjusted some things in coverage and our numbers in the box to get after those guys,” McKenzie said. “The kids executed everything we asked of them. Our big struggle right now is giving up those big plays, but having our defensive backs step up in the box really helped us out.”

With 10:59 left in the third quarter, Coates found paydirt for the third time, this time from 15 yards out that extended TCA’s cushion to 35-22 after Micah Harless’ successful point after attempt. Then, the Eagles ushered NIA off the field, forcing the visitors to turn the ball over on downs near midfield, and the offense made the Warrior defense pay once more courtesy of a 40-yard pitch-and-catch score from Kaznowski to 6-foot-5 sophomore Hank Nash. Following Harless’ successful PAT, TCA held an impressive 42-22 advantage with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Next, the Trinity Christian defense flexed its muscles. With NIA driving the ball near its own 30 yard line, junior Kadin James forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Christian Valdez at the NIA 31 with just under seven minutes left. Kaznowski put the game out of reach with 5:11 to go in the third after hit scrambled outside the pocket and hit a wide open Braxton Lewis for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Warriors scored two touchdowns in garbage time during the fourth quarter while Kaznowski added a 27-yard rushing touchdown in the final quarter, which ultimately resulted in a 30-point win for the Eagles – the team’s second win in their last three games.

“When you put in a few years where you’re winning one game a year, you know that’s what’s going to get you to where you want to be – and then it happens,” McKenzie said. “You believe in yourself and each other, you practice a little bit better and you’re stepping on the field playing football knowing they have a chance to compete.”

TCA (2-4) will begin district play at 7 p.m. Friday at undefeated Pantego Christian (5-0).