The Trinity Bible College Lions football team was looking to rebound from a tough home loss last week as they welcomed Waldorf College Warriors to Bob Tatum Field for homecoming. Heading into the game the Lions were 2-2 and the Warriors were 2-1 and both teams were coming off losses. The teams would not have trouble finding the endzone in the game.

Waldorf College Warriors would not waste time taking control of the game as James Loydd would take the opening kick-off back 96 yards for a touchdown giving the Warriors the early 7 to 0 lead and the Warriors would not look back from there. Waldorf would add another touchdown just 3 minutes later on a 47 yard touchdown pass from Samuel Fisk to Stacy Long giving the Warriors a 14 to 0 lead. They would add a third touchdown in the first quarter on a 15 yard touchdown pass from Samuel Fisk to Lashawn Chapman pushing the Warriors lead to 21 to 0 over the Lions with 4 minutes left in the first quarter.  Waldorf would hold the Lions scoreless through the first quarter holding the 21 to 0 lead.

The second quarter would prove to be even more explosive as Waldorf would score with 13 minutes left in the quarter on an 11 yard touchdown pass from Samuel Fisk to Adam Isaacson. The Lions would finally find the endzone on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Austin Morris (Duval, FL) to Barry Bighorn (Culbertson, MT) capping an 8 play, 80 yard drive. However Waldorf would answer, returning the ensuing kick-off back 87 yards for a touchdown. Waldorf would then capitalize on the a Lions fumble scoring on the next drive on a one yard touchdown run giving the Warriors a 42 to 7 lead with 5 minutes left in the second quarter. Devin Christy (Lawndale, CA) would take the Warriors kick-off all the way 55 yards down to the Warriors 13 yard line giving the Lions great starting field position. The Lions would take only two plays to score on a 13 yard touchdown run by Jonny Perry (Fort Worth, TX) closing the Warriors lead to 42 to 14. The Warriors however found the Lions’ kryptonite as they would take the kick off back 74 yards for their 3^rd kick return touchdown in as many tries for the game. The Lions would block the extra point attempt and the Warriors lead was now 48 to 14 with 4 minutes left in the first half. The Lions defense would come up with a big play as they would force a Warriors fumble and sophomore Josh Conner (Nebraska City, NE) would do the scoop and score as he would pick up the fumble and return it 59 yards for a touchdown.  Waldorf would then score on their next offensive possession on a 30 yard touchdown run with 44 seconds left in the half. Waldorf College would head into halftime holding a 55 to 21 lead. Both team combined for 55 points in the second quarter, 21 by the Lions and 34 for the Warriors.

Waldorf would not take long to pick up where they left off in the first half this time scoring on defense on a 43 yard interception return for a touchdown by Kenny Brown. The Warriors would score one last time in the third quarter on an 8 yard touchdown pass giving the Warriors the commanding 69 to 21 lead after the third quarter.

The Lions would score just 4 seconds into the fourth quarter on a 4 yard touchdown pass from Jason Elliott (Thedford, NE) to Cooper Spurgin (Red Oak, TX) capping off a 7 play, 72 yard driving takings over 3 minutes. They then would score just 3 minutes later on a one play drive on a 79 yard touchdown pass from Jerel Richards (Savannah, GA) to Barry Bighorn. Waldorf College would add one more score on a 2 yard touchdown rush. Waldorf’s offense proved to be too much for the Lions as they would hold on to beat the Lions 76 to 35. The loss moves the Lions to 2-3 on the season.

            In the loss the Lions had three different players throw a touchdown pass, Austin Smith, Jason Elliott and Jerel Richards. Junior Barry Bighorn had another big day receiver catching 5 passes for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jonny Perry led the Lions in rushing with 15 carries for 140 yards and 1 touchdown. Devin Christy had 5 kick returns for 188 yards. The Lions were again led on defense by sophomore Seth Peterson (Dazey, ND) with 16 total tackles, and a half a sack. Jason Elliott added 10 total tackles and 2 tackles for loss and a forced fumble for the Lions defense. Diego Ramirez pitched in 9 tackles with 1 for loss and 1 forced fumble. The Lions defense forced 4 fumbles but only recovered two of them, Josh Conner (1 fumble recovery for 59 yards and a touchdown) and Devonte Davis (Desoto, TX).

The Lions ran 77 plays on offense for 371 yards of total offense compared to 66 plays for 397 yards of offense for the Warriors. The big difference maker in the game was special teams as the Warriors would have 4 kick returns for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns while the Lions had 10 kick returns for 263 yards and no touchdowns. The Lions did have a good day on the ground rushing the ball 50 times for 195 yards for 3.9 yards per carry.

The Lions now have a week off before traveling to Peru State on Saturday, October 6^th with kick off at 1pm. The next 3 games will be on the road for the Lions as their next home game is slated for Saturday, October 27^th at 2:00pm against Dakota College at Bottineau.