NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Trine University football team started the season firing on all cylinders as they cruised to a lopsided victory over their hosts from Manchester University, defeating the Spartans 52-14.
A combination of juniors led the way offensively for the Thunder combining for five of the team's seven touchdowns. Alex Price (Reading, Mich. / Reading) finished the game 9-16 for 312 yards and two touchdowns after receiving the nod at quarterback to start the season. It is just the second time in his career that he has thrown for over 300 yards in a single game.
Xaine Kirby (Sweetser, Ind. / Eastbrook) led the running attack finishing the contest with 109 rushing yards with three touchdowns, leading all players in the game. It is the fourth time in his career that he has broken the century mark.
The Thunder started the game on offense and, after an opening play pass for 27 yards, stalled out four yards into the offensive zone. Instead of punting the ball away, the team converted on the first down on the back of Marcques Tagliaferri (Angola, Ind. / Angola) who received the snap instead of the punter and sprinted through the line.
Two plays later Kirby finished off the drive with a 16-yard run outside the left side of the offensive line for the touchdown.
The defense took the field for the first time and needed only one play to give the ball back to the offense. After a completed pass for the Spartans senior Aaron Dean () forced and then recovered a fumble, giving Trine the ball on their own 16-yard line. It was a short drive for the Thunder as well however ending in their own fumble.
Neither team found much traction on offense through the rest of the first quarter trading possessions. The Thunder defense, however continued to hold firm, defending a short field three times in the opening stanza to keep the home team off the scoreboard. As the quarter expired the defense was finally rewarded after a fantastic punt from sophomore Braden Moore (Fenton, Mich. / Fenton) pinned the opposition at their own two-yard line.
The flipped field position plus another defensive stop finally gave the Thunder the ball in the offensive zone to start their next drive. On the first play, Price would connect with junior Kyran Pearson (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart Central) for 38 yards to take the team inside the five-yard line. Kirby would finish off the drive with his second touchdown of the game to give the team a 14-0 lead.
After a few more exchanges of the ball, Trine started another drive at their own 30-yard line. Kirby moved the chains once with another double-digit run this time for 14 yards. Then Price connected with junior Brandon Kline (Callahan, Fla. / Yulee) for a 53 yard touchdown, building their lead to 21-0.
Price would strike again on the team's next drive connecting with sophomore Connor Arthur (Bryan, Ohio / Bryan) for a 29-yard touchdown and the team would finish half with a 46-yard field goal from senior Ryan Hibbets (Monticello, Ind. / Twin Lakes) to take a 31-0 lead into the half.
The defense came up with the next points for the team, ending the Spartans' opening drive of the second half in decisive fashion. Sophomore Jamon Gibson (Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic) came up with an interception and returned it 62 yards for the 38-0 lead.
The two teams would trade touchdowns through the rest of the game and the Thunder would end the game with the 52-14 victory.
The defensive performance for the Thunder was dominant throughout the entire game as the team allowed under 300 yards while recording five takeaways. The starting defense allowed no points and the reserves allowed only just two touchdowns in the final quarter of play.
The team will look to build on the lopsided victory when they host the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for the season's home opener on Saturday, Sept. 11. The contest which is the first meeting between the two programs is set to kick off at 7 p.m.