Mount Berry, GA- The Berry College Vikings (11-1) dominated the Trinity University Tigers (10-2) in the first half of their rematch in this D-III third round playoff battle. In the regular season meeting between these two Southern Athletic foes, Berry defeated Trinity, 29-6, on this same field. Thanks to two first quarter turnovers, an INT by Trinity and a fumble by Berry, neither team scored on the first period.
They started the second frame in similar fashion. Trinty CB Judson Crockett made a pick in the end zone. The Tigers couldn’t capitalize and punted. Nate Ryan tiptoed down the right sideline to start Berry at midfield. QB Christian Lewis connected with Josh Rogers for a 24-yard TD pass. HC Tony Kunczewski decided to go for two, and the call succeeded to lead, 8-0.
Berry tries to pull away early
Later in the period, Trinity set up to punt from the 35. The snap sailed over the punter’s head, and he kicked it through the end zone to avoid a Berry recovery. The illegal kick spotted the Vikings at the one. Lewis took it over on a “tush push” for the 15-0 lead. A catch and fumble by the Tigers gave the ball back to the Vikings on their 44. 3:03 remained in the first half. Colby Sikes sped 28 yards down the right sideline to cap the first half scoring. Berry led, 22-0.
Trinity goes to long ball in the second half
After a stirring performance by the Berry drumline at intermission, Trinity followed with a 75-yard TD drive. Key plays came on long passes to Alejandro Tavarez. They first set up a three-yard TD pass to Chase Ravain by QB Hondo Franklin (28 for 45, 322 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT). Berry responded with a 66-yard drive. Lewis punctuated it with a one-yard plunge for a 28-7 lead. Trinity blocked to point after and Jaden Powell returned it the length of the field for a margin of 28-9.
Another long pass came when Tavarez (7 catches, 117 yards, 2 TDs) burned the Berry CB on another long pass route to get to the 20. Franklin followed up on another pass to Tavarez for a score from 15 yards out. A two-point conversion try was muffed. Trintiy trailed, 28-15, going onto the final period of play.
Fury in the fourth
Trinity drove starting the last period with a third and six at Berry’s 46. This possession got to the 23. On fourth and four, a pass to wide-open Jack Kiser went incomplete. Later, the Tigers regained the ball at the 15. A sack by Dawson Livingston set them back. On fourth and eight from their 17, HC Jerheme Herman decided with time remaining to put him in a position with no choice. The pass fell incomplete. But wait! A targeting call was reviewed and reversed; Berry took over and settled for Trey Richard’s 30-yard FG.
On the ensuing series, a controversial call kept the Trinity drive alive. On a fourth down, a Berry DB broke up a pass play. Initially, the same ref as before called for targeting. Again, the call was reversed. However, Berry got penalized for a 15-yard roughing call. It looked like a good solid, legal hit to break up the pass. It should have been Berry’s ball. Eventually, Tavarez hauled in a 23-yard TD pass from Franklin. Again, they connected on a two-point conversion to close the score, 31-23, with 2:57 to play.
Berry Vikings celebrate greatest victory ever
Trinity pulled off the onsides kick, but an unsportsmanlike call pushed them back to their 32. On a second-down, Franklin overthrew his intended receiver. Tipped, it was intercepted by Chaz Pope on the 38 with 56 seconds to play. The Vikings ending the threat with 56 seconds left and sealed Berry’s greatest win to move on to the quarterfinal round for the first time.
Surprisingly, they found out that John Carroll (11-1) had pulled a 14-7 upset over perennial D-III power and first-seed Mt. Union. Berry returns back to Valhalla Stadium against the Blue Steaks in the quarterfinals. The Division III championship game will be held in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, January 4 at 8 pm EST.
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Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Among 734 college games attended to date, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
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