2 weeks Ago By JUSTIN DRIGGERS Sports Writer
DARLINGTON , S.C. – Logan Galloway has been through this process before.
“Every year...
the start of the year’s been rough,” the Trinity Collegiate School senior defensive back said. “Getting used to your new teammates, getting the plays down, all that good stuff. But as the year goes on, we always get better.
“Nobody wants to play us at the end of the year.” Trinity Collegiate School welcomes Wilson Hall for Homecoming this week as the Titans get set for a key region showdown. The TCS defense has not allowed a score in three straight games, but will be tested against the Barons.
That sentiment might be true now as well considering the way the Titans’ defense has been playing as of late. After an 0-3 start to the season in which opposing teams scored a combined 103 points, TCS has rebounded with three straight victories – and all have come via shutouts. “We certainly played our toughest three games first up until this week with Wilson Hall,” Trinity coach Jared Amell said.
“We always pride ourselves on our team getting better each week. I think historically if you look at us, we always get better throughout the year, and that’s something that we’re doing again this year.” There’s nothing schematically the Titans’ defense is doing any differently, Galloway added, it’s more of just an attention to detail and the group starting to mesh as a unit.
“Being more focused on every aspect – not falling for things like trick plays,” he said. “Keeping our gaps sound and being more disciplined on the defensive side.” The TCS secondary has been one part that has shown improvement in the last few weeks, Amell said.
Galloway has been one of the top performers in that regard as he leads the squad with three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. “When you pitch three shutouts in a row, the whole defense is playing well,” Amell said. “But I think if you look at the last couple years, our secondary has struggled, and they’ve done a good job (this year).
” The linebacking corps has also been consistent, he added. James Herbert has a team-leading five sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Mac Burch has 12 tackles for a loss, Owen Bex has three sacks and senior defensive lineman Cade Hodge has three as well.
“I think after the first couple weeks, we started playing more aggressively and getting our jobs done,” Hodge said. “..
.I think we’ve stepped up and learned our roles, and we’re really on a roll right now.” That bodes well for the second half of the season.
Last week’s victory against Camden Military was the SCISA Region 2-3A opener for Trinity (3-3, 1-0), who now welcomes the Barons (6-1, 3-0) for a 7:30 p.m. Homecoming matchup Friday in what will likely be a key game in determining the region champ.
This is Wilson Hall’s final region game of the season with TCS still yet to play Northside Christian (Oct. 18) and Florence Christian (Nov. 1).
“It’s a good challenge – their line’s really good,” Hodge said. “But I think we stand a good chance..
.we have our home advantage, so that’s a big plus.” The Barons’ double-wing offense (with option mixed in) makes it even more important for the Titans' defense to play its assignments, Galloway added.
“Just keeping everybody gap-sound,” he said. “Not letting anybody get outside of our outside linebackers and our corners. Just making sure we keep the run down the middle.
“If we can do that, we can do anything this week.” [email protected] Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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