Warriors can’t quite hang on
OCP’s 12-point halftime lead dissipates, ending historic season
Jacksonville Trinity Christian football head coach Verlon Dorminey will have a chance at his ninth state championship after the Conquerors pulled out a hard-fought 29-21 state semifinal victory over Orlando Christian Prep.
But it was the strong showing by OCP, which qualified for the FHSAA football playoffs for the first time, that stood out on Friday night in a Class 2A state semifinal game played at Foundation Academy.
The Warriors, who finished 10-2, left an impression on Dorminey, a veteran coach who joined the career 300-win club earlier this season.
“Credit to Orlando Christian; they’re a great football team,” Dorminey said after his team pulled off the win after trailing 21-9 at halftime. “Their coach is doing a great job with them. I know exactly where he is, what he’s doing, because I was there 31 years ago. He’s done a great job with those kids.”
OCP had a chance to tie the score after recovering a fumble by the Conquerors (9-4) on their own 9-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors drove all the way up to the Trinity 1 but were stopped on fourth-and-goal with around three minutes remaining.
Trinity will make its 11th state final appearance on Thursday night in the 2A state final at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee.
The Conquerors will meet four-time 2A state champ Hialeah Champagnat Catholic (10-2).
OCP quarterback Vilay Nakkoun, a junior, completed 15-of-29 pass attempts for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He also ran for a score.
Warriors wideouts Nichalas Rawls (3 receptions, 83 yards) and Demarion Jenkins (2 receptions, 69 yards) both had big-play TD catches. Junior Rawls opened the scoring with a 58-yard reception from Nakkoun.
And early in the second quarter sophomore Jenkins sprinted past defenders on a 55-yard catch-and-run TD and a 2-point conversion run by Brian Thomas gave OCP a 14-6 lead.
Junior Thomas, OCP’s rushing leader, was held to 19 yards on 7 carries. He also had 3 receptions for 34 yards.
Penalties were a major hindrance for both teams. The Conquerors committed 21 penalties for 190 yards while the Warriors were penalized 15 times for 130 yards. The frequent stoppages contributed to the game lasting more than three hours.
Trinity Christian began its comeback with receiver/defensive back Keaton Thomas hauling in a 41-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the second half.
He intercepted a pass deep in Warriors’ territory to set up the go-ahead touchdown, a 1-yard run by Treyaun Webb.
After the Conquerors’ defense stopped the Warriors on a fourth-and-goal, Webb broke off a 99-yard touchdown.
Trinity quarterback Colin Hurley completed 14-of-20 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown.