No. 15/18 Tiger Football hits the road for a tough test against Millsaps College.

The Tigers (5-1, 2-1 SAA) suffered their first loss of the season in a hard-fought 16-12 contest against Maryville College. Franklin led the Tiger offense with 278 passing yards and a touchdown, while Tavarez hauled in 10 receptions for 125 yards and the team's lone touchdown. Defensively, Dorien Hill led the Tigers with 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. TJ Scannell added 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, while Jackson Priesmeyer recorded three tackles for loss. Despite the setback, Trinity's defense held Maryville to 231 total yards and just 101 rushing yards.

Preview - Road Test in Jackson

The Tigers will head to Jackson, Mississippi, to take on Millsaps College on Saturday, October 24th at 1:00 PM (CT). 

On the Millsaps College Majors: The Majors enter this home matchup with a 5-1 record and a perfect 3-0 mark in SAA play. After opening the season with wins over Belhaven (36-20) and Centenary (57-0), Millsaps fell to Hendrix 36-27 before responding with three straight conference victories over Rhodes (54-10), Centre (28-13), and Sewanee (62-14). The Majors have been one of the most productive offenses in the conference, averaging 44.0 points and 499.3 total yards per game through six contests. Their rushing attack has been especially effective, averaging 263.0 yards per game while scoring 20 rushing touchdowns.

Freshman quarterback Carl Reed Jr. has emerged as a key part of the Millsaps offense. Through five appearances, Reed has completed 33-of-50 passes for 599 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for 246 yards and four scores. He made his first collegiate start against Centre, completing 12-of-21 passes for 128 yards while adding 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Reed will be a major factor for the Majors as they look to continue their strong conference run.

In the backfield, senior Tameron Patterson leads the rushing attack with 660 yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt. Mitch Taylor has added 199 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Kevin Rogers II has contributed 158 yards and a touchdown. The Majors' ability to create explosive plays on the ground will present a challenge for a Trinity defense that has been effective at limiting opposing rushing attacks throughout the season. 

The passing game has also been productive, with Carl Reed Jr. leading the team in passing yards and touchdowns. Davis Dare leads the receiving corps with 282 yards on 18 receptions, while Sean Johnson has added 239 yards and two touchdowns. Derrick Tasby Jr. has contributed 185 receiving yards and three touchdowns, giving the Majors several options in the passing game. Millsaps has totaled 1,418 passing yards and 16 touchdowns through six games. 

Defensively, the Majors have been strong against opposing offenses, allowing just 15.5 points per game. The defense has recorded 19 sacks and forced seven interceptions through six games. Graduate defensive lineman Zabian Boutan has been a disruptive presence up front, recording three sacks and two forced fumbles in the 28-13 victory over Centre. Boutan also recovered a fumble in that game, including a late strip sack that helped seal the win. Millsaps will look to use its defensive pressure to disrupt a Trinity offense that threw for 287 yards against Maryville. 

The Majors enter the matchup following a dominant 62-14 road win over Sewanee, extending their winning streak to three games and maintaining their perfect conference record. Trinity will travel to Jackson looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season and keep pace in the SAA standings. With both teams aiming to strengthen their position in conference play, Saturday's matchup will be an important test for the Tigers on the road. 

Looking Ahead
The Tigers will return home to continue conference play against Sewanee on Saturday, October 31st.