Sherman, Texas - The Trinity football team edged Austin College 7-6 to clinch the outright Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship on Saturday afternoon.

Trinity (10-0) earned its first undefeated regular season since going 9-0 in 2005.  The Tigers reached 10 wins for the first time since the 2002 season in which the team advanced all the way to the Stagg Bowl, finishing 14-1 overall.

After scoring on the opening play of the second quarter to make it 7-0, Trinity's offense could not manage any more points; however, the defense came through with a strong effort in allowing just 209 total yards, and forcing three turnovers.

The final turnover came in the final minute, as Thomas Puskarich recorded the third Tiger interception of the day to seal the win.  Tyler Barrett and Von'Darrick Jones also recorded interceptions for the defense, which gave up just 138 yards passing in the game.

Puskarich led Trinity with eight tackles, while fellow linebacker Ben Robinson had seven total stops.  Bradley Drenon recorded 1.5 sacks, and the Tigers had 10 tackles for loss in the game.

Offensively, Patrick Granchelli carried the ball 31 times for a career-best 146 yards in the game, overcoming Trinity's lack of production in the passing game - accounting for just 50 yards through the air.  Granchelli's 31 rushes are tied for the 11th-most in Trinity history.

Austin College managed two third-quarter field goals, but failed to find the end zone against the tough Trinity defense.  Only three drives made it into Trinity territory, and two of those resulted in field goals.

After a 26-yard run set up first-and-goal at the Trinity five, the Tigers held Austin to just three points, and it would be the last score of the game.

Austin gained just 41 yards in the fourth quarter, resulting in three punts and the game-sealing interception by Puskarich.

Trinity had previously clinched the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs, and will await tomorrow's announcement from the NCAA for matchups and the full bracket.