Class 3A Championship: Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors vs. American Heritage (Delray Beach) Stallions
Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium – Orlando, Florida
Saturday – December 5, 2015: 1:07pm kickoff
TV: Bright House Sports Networks (Channel 1147)
Last Meeting: 2014 – Trinity Christian 27, American Heritage-Delray Beach 7 (Class 3A State Championship)
Head Coaches:
Trinity Christian – Verlon Dorminey (Tennessee Temple ’81) -25th season at Trinity Christian Academy (242-61 record)
AH-Delray – Keith Hindsley (Louisiana-Monroe ’96) -1st season at American Heritage-Delray (10-2 record)
The quick slant:
-Trinity Christian’s Offensive Coordinator is former UF Safety Gus Scott.
-Delray’s Devin Singletary has rushed for 1,000+ yards for three straight years.
-Rematch of the 2014 Class 3A State Championship
-Trinity Christian seeking their third consecutive state championship–would be their fourth in last six seasons and sixth overall as a program–the Conquerors are 37-3 in their last 40 games.
-Delray forced Trinity Christian to punt eight times in this game last season even though they were defeated by 20 points. Those eight punts by TCA’s Hunter Tomlin tied him with several others for most punts in one game in finals history.
-This is the fourth time these two have played in a state final game.
PROBABLE STARTERS – TRINITY CHRISTIAN
Offense:
WR – Damien McGhee 6-2/192 (Senior) -Presbyterian commit
LT – Jesse Urbina 6-0/260 (Sophomore)
LG – Kendall Brown 6-4/265 (Senior) -Appalachian State commit
C – Austin Gifford 6-1/243 (Senior)
RG – Sam Jones 6-1/231 (Junior)
RT – Matt Ahearn 6-6/300 (Senior)
TE – DeVante Porter 6-6/240 (Senior)
QB – Billy Cobb 6-1/200 (Senior) -Delaware State commit
RB – Rasheed Martin 5-8/167 (Junior) -UNC commit
RB – Jalin Buie 5-8/182 (Senior)
FL – D.J. Matthews 5-11/165 (Junior) -FSU commit
Defense:
LE – Chase Lasater 6-2/228 (Junior)
NT – Logan Gunderson 6-5/310 (Junior)
RE – Anthony Mitchell 6-0/243 (Senior)
Will – Dominique Ross 6-3/203 (Senior) -UNC Commit
Mike – Eriq Gilyard 6-0/205 (Sophomore)
Sam – T.J. Robinson 6-0/210 (Junior)
Nickel – Reggie Gunn 6-1/195 (Senior)
Dime – Chamarri Conner 6-1/175 (Sophomore)
CB – Shaun Wade 6-2/174 (Junior) -Ohio State commit
CB – Tyreke Johnson 6-2/170 (Sophomore)
S – Derrick Smith 6-3/184 (Junior)
PROBABLE STARTERS – AMERICAN HERITAGE (DELRAY BEACH)
Offense:
LE – Patrick Boylston 6-1/205 (Senior)
LT – Greg Begnoche 6-4/285 (Senior)
LG – Brandon Park 6-3/320 (Senior)
C – Charlie Brockwell 6-5/285 (Senior)
RG – Deon Humphrey 6-3/305 (Junior)
RT – Pierre Michel 6-3/275 (Junior)
WR – Keenan Duggan 6-0/185 (Senior)
QB – Cameron Smith 6-3/195 (Sophomore)
HB – Devin Singletary 5-9/195 (Senior) -Illinois commit
FB – Cornelius Smith 5-10/220 (Senior)
FL – DJ Davis 5-10/190 (Senior)
Defense:
LE – Richard Hughes 6-1/220 (Senior)
LT – Lamont McDougle 6-0/265 (Junior)
RT – Greg Begnoche 6-4/285 (Senior)
RE – Brandon Bailey 6-1/215 (Junior)
LB – Logan Wakefield 5-11/230 (Senior)
LB – Lawrence Graham 5-11/235 (Senior)
LB – Jaarobi Muezzin 6-1/205 (Senior)
DB – DJ Davis 5-10/190 (Senior)
DB – Josh Turner 6-1/185 (Junior)
DB – Jarques Mclellion 6-1/180 (Junior)
S – Alec Sinkfield 6-0/185 (Junior)
How they got here: Trinity Christian (13-0)
W, Trinity Catholic 49-6
W, Ribault 34-6
W, University Christian 35-20
W, West Orange 42-14
W, Providence 43-0
W, Godby 56-31
W, Duval Charter 51-6
W, Lincoln 49-18
W, Episcopal 52-7
W, Pine Forest 32-22
W, Pensacola Catholic 49-3**
W, Taylor County 51-0**
W, Tampa Catholic 47-14**
**-playoffs
How they got here: American Heritage-Delray Beach (10-2)
W, Naples 20-14
L, Bergen Catholic 37-7
W, Glades Central 35-19
W, Key West 48-20
L, Oxbridge Academy 24-7
W, Ft. Pierce Central 43-7
W, Cardinal Newman 48-10
W, International School of Broward 51-0
W, Gulliver Prep 38-14
W, Westminster Christian 27-19**
W, Oxbridge Academy 16-11**
W, Clearwater Central Catholic 31-24**
**-playoffs
Trinity Christian wins IF:
Stay the course and don’t get overconfident. Take care of the ball and score touchdowns inside the red zone–not kick field goals. Oh, and try not to commit so many dang penalties. (Conquerors have been flagged 119 times for a total of 1,168 yards this season)
American Heritage wins IF:
Devin Singletary sets the single-game record for yards rushed in a state championship game. That record by the way was set by Frostproof’s Travis Henry in 1996 against Union County in the 3A finals. Henry finished the evening with 328 yards on 34 carries. Obviously that’s MUCH easier said than done–but not out of the realm of possibility for this special talent in his final high school game.
They said it best: American Heritage-Delray Head Coach, Keith Hindsley
“We’re real excited as a group of coaches and players. We have one more step to get through to achieve our preseason goal–which is to win a state championship.”
They said it best: Trinity Christian Head Coach, Verlon Dorminey
“We’re excited guys, ya know? It never gets old–I can promise you that. That’s the goal is to get there (Orlando) every year.”
Coach Dorminey on coaching against the Stallions–but against three different head coaches:
“I’ll tell you what–I’m just happy to have a job evidently–know what I’m saying?”