In the game’s closing seconds, the Blessed Trinity Titans threw a lob into the end zone that was completed for the game-winning touchdown as they defeated the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes 21-17 Friday night.
In the first half, the Titan offense sustained long drives and big plays. The first big play occurred in the first quarter on a 40-yard touchdown run. The Cartersville offense was stymied by the Titan defense and was forced to punt and had a missed field goal attempt. At the end of the first quarter, the Titans were up by seven.
Jonathan Cruz connected on a 55-yard field goal with 5:11 left in the second quarter to get Cartersville on the scoreboard, but Blessed Trinity would get the ball back for a final first-half drive. With seven seconds left, the Titans would score from the goal line to go up 14-3.
In the second half, Blessed Trinity would get the ball back first and with a chance to go up by 18 points. The Cartersville defense would make the second half adjustments and would keep the Titans offense off the field with several three-and-outs and stalled drives.
EJ Turner would get a receiving touchdown, but Cartersville would fail on the 2-point conversion. The important thing was Cartersville had cut the Titan lead to five.
On the ensuing drive, the Titans were forced to punt. Enter Marko Dudley who returned the ball 75 yards for a score. Following the 2-point conversion, Cartersville led 17-14. All momentum seemed to be going in the direction of Cartersville, but with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Blessed Trinity got the ball back at the Cartersville 46-yard line.
With the quarterback, Jake Smith rolling out and under heavy duress, a throw was lobbed into the end zone and hauled in by Ryan Davis with 12 seconds left to give the Titans a 21-17 lead.
Cartersville would get the ball back at its own 40-yard line, but there was not enough time to get a drive started and all hopes of another state championship appearance were dashed.
Cartersville finished the season 11-1 but had its 41-game winning streak snapped in the process. The Canes will now look at life after Trevor Lawrence with the senior quarterback heading to Clemson next Fall.