After a major roster restructuring due to seniors and fifth-years graduating, the Tigers lost almost their entire defense and Tucker Horn — one of the best quarterbacks Trinity University has ever fielded. These losses left the team in a tough spot entering this season in September.
There are signs the Tigers may not be the same caliber of team that went 8-0 in their conference and beat No. 15 Hardin-Simmons University 20-6 in the playoffs last year. Still, the Tigers have avoided any catastrophes and are in a recoverable position from their early season struggles.
For one thing, going from Tucker Horn to Ryan Back at quarterback is a tough switch. That is not to disparage Back’s talent: He is a great player who has stepped up massively this season. With that said, Horn threw for 30 touchdowns and zero interceptions over 11 games last season. Back had never started a game before this season’s opener.
It would be impossible to fill Horn’s shoes, so the story has been about the Tigers’ ups and downs trying to adapt to a brand-new lineup. Overall, the team has avoided major failures, standing at a 4-2 record, only losing to Texas Lutheran University (TLU) and Centre College (both have 5-1 records).
The loss to Centre, however, is a significant blow since Centre is a conference opponent. Trinity now sits third in the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) with a 2-1 conference record. They are behind Berry College and Centre College, who are both 3-0 in the SAA.
Trinity will have a chance to redeem themselves, as they face Berry College at home on Oct. 26. The Tigers are coming off two blowout conference victories against Sewanee and Rhodes College, but Berry is a formidable opponent.
Berry is 5-1 this season, their only loss being a 33-0 debacle against DePauw University, currently ranked No. 12 in the country. This lone loss aside, Berry has steamrolled its SAA opponents thus far, outscoring Southwestern University, Hendrix College and Sewanee 139-30, for a conference point differential of 109 to Trinity’s 31.
More competitive teams, like Berry, have revealed Trinity’s offensive woes. Trinity scored only two touchdowns in the season opener against TLU and struggled massively down the stretch to keep their defense off the field. Trinity failed to score a touchdown in the game against Centre until the fourth quarter down three scores.
Also, the 16-10 win against Washington and Lee University was hardly an offensive showcase, with Trinity scoring one offensive touchdown — the only one scored by either team that day. Still, this win was impressive, as Washington and Lee’s only other loss was to No. 6 Salisbury University.
Trinity has performed as expected against less competitive teams, such as Belhaven University and Rhodes, solidifying their standing as SAA contenders despite their struggles. Conceding 26 points to Sewanee is mildly alarming, but defensive lapses in effort can occur when up 24-0 in the second quarter. Just ask the Houston Texans.
Overall, the new Trinity lineup’s adjustment period has gone relatively well. The Tigers are perfectly capable of winning all four of their remaining games, winning the SAA championship and likely qualifying for the national championship tournament.
However, the upcoming contest against Berry is tough even on paper, as is the matchup against Millsaps College in Jackson, MS on Nov. 16. Cellar-dwelling Southwestern and Hendrix College are less formidable, but anything can happen in college football.
After the tough loss to Centre put the team at 2-2, facing Sewanee and Rhodes College gave Trinity two much-needed tune-up games. Particularly, these victories could massively benefit the confidence of new starter Ryan Back, who played well in both games.
In my honest opinion, though, I think Berry is likely to beat Trinity. The Tigers absolutely have a chance, but Berry has beaten better teams overall with two impressive wins against Huntingdon College (3-3) and Randolph-Macon College (5-1).
If the Tigers can win, though, it would allow them to remain SAA contenders and at least stay on the periphery of the national Division III football conversation. A loss would be devastating, so the Tigers need to come to play.
