American Heritage beats Trinity Christian 15-14 in overtime

JACKSONVILLE — Overtime hasn't been kind to Trinity Christian this season.

American Heritage quarterback Neimann Lawrence plowed into the end zone on a two-point conversion in overtime to lead the Patriots to a 15-14 win over the Conquerors on Friday, Sept. 11.

The loss dropped Trinity (No. 3 Class 1A) to 2-2. Both losses — Ed White in the season opener and American Heritage — have come in overtime.

Unfortunately for the Conquerors, this one seems very self-inflicted. American Heritage (2-2, No. 1 Class 4A) twice lined up to kick a tying extra point but Trinity Christian had a pre-snap penalty both times. With the ball now at the 1-yard line, American Heritage coach Mike Smith opted to go for the win.

"Lack of discipline," Trinity Christian coach

Verlon Dorminey said. "We've been hammering on them. To be in the neutral zone twice. To give them an opportunity. I wanted to go to the second overtime. Or at least give us a chance to block the extra point, but we didn't get to. And they got if."

The final play capped a furious ending to the game. Trinity Christian's offense didn't pose much of a threat until the final drive of the fourth quarter when Terel Dallas marched the team down the field and then found Christian Washington over the middle for a game-tying 24-yard touchdown pass with 57 seconds left.

American Heritage came right back down the field after a long catch-and-run by Michael Stringer, a personal foul and a run by Lawrence down to the 2-yard line. On the next play, Trinity Christian forced a fumble at the goal line and jumped on the loose ball in the end zone with 20 seconds left. It was the fourth takeaway of the game for the Conquerors defense.

Dallas scored on a 4-yard run on fourth down in overtime. Heritage responded on its first play with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lawerence to a wide open Stringer.

Three takeaways from Trinity Christian's loss

The game-tying drive was impressive

For 46-plus minutes, Trinity struggled to move the ball against a very strong American Heritage front seven. The Conquerors didn't a first down until the second quarter. Prior to Washington's touchdown, their two best drives ended with a missed field goal and a turnover on downs inside the 25-yard line. But Dallas was quick and accurate moving the ball down the field on the final drive and delivered a strike to Washington. Nothing came easy against American Heritage, which is why Trinity Christian's resolve and ability to get the game-tying touchdown was a definite positive.

Penalties were a problem for both teams

Neither coaching staff will be pleased with the number of penalties nor when they happened. American Heritage's first touchdown — a pass from Lawrence to Kentucky tight end commit Trae Proctor — was aided by a pair of penalties. American Heritage committed a personal foul after punting to Trinity Christian with less than 90 seconds left. Trinity originally lined up for a field goal in overtime. The kick was blocked but American Heritage jumped offside. Obviously, the two penalties at the end set up American Heritage's game-winner. It wasn't a flag-happy officiating crew either. Both coaches will want cleaner performances going forward.

Trinity still is in good position to accomplish its goals

Yeah, this one will sting. But losing to the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A, which happened to open the season on the USA Today Florida Super 25 national rankings, isn't anything to be ashamed of. Things don't get any easier with Columbia coming to campus in Week 5. But it's hard to imagine the Conquerors seeing teams with the kind of defensive size and speed up front that teams like American Heritage have. These games will make Trinity Christian that much better heading into the playoffs.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: American Heritage beats Trinity Christian 15-14 in overtime