Trinity Falls Short, Lamar Wins

Record Sixth Straight State Title

                                                       By Jim Wieners

Trinity Catholic High School Football fell short of finishing 2016 unbeaten, as well as getting the schools first state title, as the Titans lost 26-18 to Lamar in the Class Two Championship game, Nov. 25 at Plaster Stadium on the Missouri State University campus.

It was the eighth state runner-up trophy for Trinity after it opened in Aug. 2003, after the St. Thomas Aquinas-Mercy-Rosary merger, and the first in a sport other than Soccer. That includes four runner-up finishes for Boys Soccer (2003, 2005, 2008 and 2011) and three for Girls Soccer (2009, 2010 and 2016). Before the Merger, Mercy High, which was based in University City, lost 14-8 in the 1969 Class 3A Final to Kansas City-DeLaSalle. (Correction from last week: DeLaSalle is now an Education Center and a Missouri State High School Activities Association Affiliate Registered School).

Lamar (14-0) is the first MSHSAA member high school to win six straight state titles in a row, all in Class Two and it all began in 2011, It broke a three-way tie with current Class Four Webb City (2010-2014 and won 13 titles overall) and current Class One Ste. Genevieve-Valle Catholic (1988-1992 and holds an MSHSAA record 14 titles overall). Jefferson City, with 10 overall state titles, have won only three in a row (1976-1978) while Kansas City-Rockhurst, with nine titles, have repeated only once (1986-1987). Lamar goes into 2017 with a 35-game winning streak dating back to Oct. 11, 2013 and during their six-year title run has a 76-5 overall record.

Trinity (12-1) is the third area high school that went to the state championship game unbeaten but returned with a loss. The Titans join Hazelwood Central, which had their only loss in five title games (1977, 1978, 1983, 1986 and 2010) while Hazelwood East lost only the 2001 title game. Among North County high schools that finished second Hazelwood Central done that an MSHSAA-record 10 times, McCluer North has lost five title games, Hazelwood East lost twice while Berkeley, McCluer High and Pattonvile each lost once.

Trinity’s eight-point loss was Lamar’s their smallest margin of victory during the Tigers’ six consecutive title years (the largest was a 42-0 shutout of Lawson in 2013). Trinity got the ball first and had the chance to score first but sophomore quarterback Isaiah Williams threw the first of five interceptions at the Lamar five with 9:13 left in the opening quarter only to have Trinity get the ball back on a fumble recovers at the Lamar six eight seconds later. After Williams was sacked, the first of four times, back to the Lamar 16 senior kicker Brendan Larkin’s 34-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.

Lamar had the ball for the last 7:23 of the first quarter and kept the ball on the ground for 80 yards in 15 rushing plays. Stuart McKraus ran the ball the last 11for the first of his two touchdowns as the first quarter came to an end. Lamar’s second drive in the second quarter went 76 yards, nine plays in 4:08 from their 20 but was stopped at the Trinity 5 so Eduardo Montayo booted a 22-yard field goal with 2:11 left in the half and Lamar led 10-0.

Trinity’s first two possessions in the third quarter resulted in touchdowns but the extra points were no good as the Titans’ 12-10 lead was the second Lamar opponent to go ahead of the Tigers (Blair Oaks led twice in the third quarter in 2012). Williams ran for a 37-yard touchdown, six plays and 86 yards after sophomore Bryce Childress recovered a McKraus fumble. The Titans next possession went 68 yards in 1:14 but the third play was a 65-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Marcus Washington.

Lamar took the next drive 67 yards in 11 plays, finished the final 5:18 of the third quarter and McKraus scored on a one-yard run the first play of the fourth quarter. Lamar’s Anthony Wilkers intercepted Williams pass on Trinity’s next drive and from the Lamar 13 the Tigers took 1:30 to run five plays for 87 yards and an 11-yard Cooper Lucas touchdown run. A two-point conversion put Lamar up 26-12 with 9:04 left.

After an exchange of possessions Trinity got the ball at the Titan 35 with 2:53 left but had only one time out left. Trey Mooney picked off Williams pass but Mooney fumbled, senior Darion Bolden recovered and Williams scored from five

yards out but missed the two-point conversion pass with 1:27 left.

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