No. 6/8 Tiger Football returns home for a tough test against Maryville College.

The Tigers (5-0, 2-0 SAA) continued their dominant start to the season with a 35-7 road win over Southwestern University. After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, Trinity responded with three touchdowns in the second quarter to take control of the game. Hondo Franklin connected with Jason Love for a 27-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 21-7 advantage heading into halftime. Trinity continued to pull away in the second half, with Maddox Morkovsky scoring twice on the ground to cap off the victory. Franklin had his best game of the season, completing 17-of-27 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Delvin Gantt (Burton, Texas / Burton) came up with two interceptions and 107 return yards, with both turnovers leading directly to Trinity touchdowns. TJ Scannell added 10 tackles and a sack, while Jackson Priesmeyer (Sugar Land, Texas / Strake Jesuit) recorded three tackles for loss, including a sack.

SAA Defensive Player of the Week - Delvin Gantt

For the first time in his career, Delvin Gantt has been selected as the SAA Defensive Player of the Week.
From the SAA Press Release:
Gantt led the #6/8 Trinity football team to a convincing 35-7 win over Southwestern over the weekend, remaining undefeated at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in SAA play this season. Gantt recorded two interceptions and 107 yards in returns to lead a stingy Tiger defense. Both interceptions led to Trinity touchdowns, with the first coming in the second quarter and setting up a touchdown on the very next play. His second interception came midway through the fourth quarter and, after a 77-yard return, led to Trinity's final touchdown to make it a 35-7 lead with 7:31 remaining.

D3football.com Poll - Tigers at 8

In the latest D3football.com national poll, the Tigers are ranked No. 8. Trinity remains unbeaten after opening conference play with wins over Berry and Southwestern. The Tigers have continued to establish themselves among the nation's top teams, allowing just 13 points combined in their first two SAA games.
 
AFCA Coaches Poll - Tigers at 6

In the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) national poll, the Tigers are ranked No. 6. Trinity enters the matchup at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play after another dominant defensive performance against Southwestern. The Tigers will look to continue their unbeaten start against a Maryville team that has also been perfect in SAA play.
 
Preview - Home Field Advantage

The Tigers will return to Trinity Multi-Purpose Stadium to take on Maryville College on Saturday, October 17th.

On the Maryville College Scots: The Scots enter this road matchup with a 3-3 overall record and a perfect 3-0 mark in SAA play. After opening the season with three straight losses to Heidelberg, Hanover, and Randolph-Macon, Maryville has responded with three consecutive conference wins over Rhodes (38-3), Centre (27-21), and Sewanee (51-13). The Scots have averaged 28.3 points per game this season while allowing 27.0 points per game. Their offense has been particularly effective on the ground, averaging 172.2 rushing yards per game and scoring 15 rushing touchdowns through six games.

Junior quarterback Jaxon Dabrowski leads the Maryville offense with 1,186 passing yards and seven touchdowns while completing 105-of-172 passes. He has also been a major threat on the ground, rushing for 356 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior running back Mushaba Zulu has added 399 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 70 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. The Scots have also received strong production from junior running back DaRell Brown, who has rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown.

The passing game is led by junior wide receiver Jalen McCullough, who has 198 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 25 receptions. Senior receiver Erozinis Edmondson leads the team with 230 receiving yards, while Dewey Whaley has added 215 yards on 11 receptions. Maryville has totaled 1,225 passing yards through six games and will look to balance its passing attack with an effective rushing game against the Tigers.

Defensively, the Scots defensive unit has recorded eight interceptions and 19 sacks through six games. Knox Kremblas made an immediate impact against Sewanee, returning an interception 29 yards for a touchdown on the opening offensive play. The Scots held Sewanee to just 259 total yards, including 33 rushing yards, and limited the Tigers to two conversions on 11 third-down attempts. Maryville's defense has also recovered five fumbles and recorded 22 takeaways through six games.

Special teams have been led by senior punter Brennon Saylor, who is averaging 34.8 yards per punt and has placed eight punts inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore kicker Jackson White has connected on 1-of-4 field-goal attempts and 19-of-21 extra points.

Maryville enters the matchup following a 51-13 win over Sewanee, scoring 28 points in the first quarter and controlling possession for 38:24. The Scots have won three straight conference games and will travel to San Antonio looking to hand Trinity its first loss of the season. The Tigers, meanwhile, will look to protect their unbeaten record and continue building momentum in the SAA race.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will continue conference play with another matchup against Millsaps on Saturday, October 24th.