What future Metro Indy opponents should know about Louisville Trinity
By CRAIG DRAGASH
ISL Correspondent
The Louisville Trinity High School football team was ranked number two nationally in the USA Today’s preseason Super 25; this much we know. Trinity, now ranked No. 23, travels to USA Today No. 17 Lawrence Central this Friday, then hosts Cathedral on September 27th. After witnessing Trinity’s 42-35 victory over Carmel on Friday, I’d like to give the fans of future opponents a few things to look for.
1. Trinity is a very balanced, explosive offensive team .
The Rocks had 447 total yards of offense against Carmel; 283 passing, and 164 rushing. They averaged 7.3 yards per play against a very good Carmel defense. Their offensive line gave Reggie Bonnafon, Trinity’s quarterback and Louisville commitment, ample time to throw most of the night, and they blocked very well for their running game as well. They had six plays of 20 yards or more on the night.
2. Reggie Bonnafon and Donald Brooks are big-time playmakers, but they aren’t the only ones.
Bonnafon finished the night with 283 yards passing with two touchdowns, and also ran for 62 yards and two more scores. Brooks ran for 103 yards with two touchdowns of his own, and also caught three passes for 54 yards. While those two contributed to all of Trinity’s six touchdowns on the night, receivers C.J. Ott, Jody Osborne, and Rodjay Burns also made big contributions to the Rocks’ offense. Ott caught seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown, Osborne hauled in three passes for 66 yards, and Burns caught two for 29 yards and a touchdown.
3. The offense was very efficient on third down.
The Rocks converted seven of nine first downs against Carmel on Friday. Head Coach Bob Beatty and his staff always seemed to have the right play called at the right time. They converted a third-and-16 from their 42 that led to an eventual 1-yard quarterback sneak by Bonnafon on their first possession of the third quarter.
4. Trinity is disciplined, but not perfect.
Trinity had two turnovers on Friday; one interception by Bonnafon, and a lost fumble. Both teams played a fairly clean game in terms of penalties; with Trinity committing four for 30 yards, while Carmel had two for 31.
5. Bonnafon brings back memories of 2008 Mr. Football Morgan Newton
Bonnafon possesses many of the same characteristics that made Newton such a great quarterback for Carmel; he is very poised in the pocket, accurate with his passes, and he adds the element of being a great runner as well. He made numerous plays when his team needed them in crucial situations. Hard to imagine there’s a better quarterback in the state of Kentucky.
It should be interesting to see how Lawrence Central and Cathedral fare against this national power. If Carmel’s performance against Trinity is any indication, the remaining two games against these opponents from the Hoosier state should prove to give fans their money’s worth for their attendance.
