INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - The Independence Football team fell short in their season opener, a 28-15 loss at the hands of #14 Trinity Valley.
This is the second straight season the Pirates have dropped their opener to the Cardinals, last year losing a heartbreaker in overtime 37-30.
Independence came out and threw the first punch, as an interception from Donya Borden on Trinity Valley’s first offensive possession set the Pirates up in great field position. Starting quarterback and Michigan State transfer Reeves Taylor would put together his best drive of the day as he completed five passes, four of which to his duo of running backs Ivan Johnson and Jordan Morales, eventually leading to the one yard touchdown run by Morales, capping off a nine play, 57 yard drive to put the Pirates up 7-0.
Taylor finished his day 12 of 15 for 119 yards before leaving the game early in the second quarter with an injury.
Trinity Valley immediately answered the Pirates scoring drive with a big play, as Kaden Brown connected with Demetrius Peace for a 50 yard touchdown strike to knot the game up at seven.
A fumble on the first play of the Pirates next drive set the Cardinals up deep in their opponents side of the field, and they quickly capped off a four play drive with a touchdown run from Kaden Brown to quickly turn the tides from a seven point deficit to a seven point lead.
Indy, now trailing, put together a solid 13 play drive, but came up empty handed when a 24 yard field goal was missed wide right at the beginning of the second quarter.
Both defenses battled for the next handful of drives, as the Pirates were able to remain within a touchdown after back to back drives for the Cardinals ended with missed field goals, both from 42 yards.
Trinity Valley eventually was able to take advantage of an interception thrown by new Pirate quarterback Nathan Neal late in the second quarter that Rayshaun King ultimately cashed in on with a 16 yard touchdown run to give the Cardinals a 21-7 lead heading into the half.
The Pirates came out of the second half with a huge play defensively as Kamar Lhomme jumped a screen pass and was able to intercept it, setting the Pirates up at midfield.
After a three and out on offense, it was the Pirates defense once again stepping up as Nasir Hudson was able to fall on a loose ball, the Pirates third forced turnover of the game. Ultimately neither team was able to find the endzone in the third quarter as the score remained 21-7 heading to the fourth.
Early in the fourth quarter, Trinity Valley was able to break the offensive dry spell. As the Cardinals were threatening deep in Independence territory, Taj Wilson scooped up an errant snap and was able to create a big play out of potential disaster, taking it 16 yards to the house to put Trinity Valley up 28-7.
Independence was able to end the game on a high note, as late in the fourth quarter they put together a seven play, 69 yard drive, capped off by a touchdown grab by Phillip DeFelice, from the Pirates third quarterback on the day, Keegan Anderson. Anderson would scramble for the two-point conversion leading to the eventual 28-15 final.
Anderson, who played the whole second half at quarterback, finished the day 15 of 18 for 151 yards and a touchdown. The Pirates were led on the ground by Ivan Johnson who had 51 yards on 13 carries. Ejani Shakir hauled in nine passes for 109 yards through the air. Kenneth Ford Jr and Omari Cornwall each had five tackles to lead the defense.
Independence will now hit the road for their next three games, the first of which, next week, when hey travel to Iowa to take on Ellsworth.