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Laurel Highlands Clinches Playoff Berth with 39-34 Thriller Over Trinity (Gallery) @LHMustangFB @NickHaus75

Tagged under: District 7, News

| October 23, 2021

Laurel Highlands traveled to Trinity Friday night and edged out a thrilling 39-34 win. It was a back-and-forth contest the entire way, with the end in question right up until the last play. In the end superstar Mustangs QB Rodney Gallagher was able to pull his team to victory, along with plenty of help from a solid cast of supporting players. 

The Hillers opened the scoring action with a long, consistent drive capped by a short touchdown by RB Andrew Durig. On the very next play, Gallagher answered with a 55 yard run, then finished the job with a 25 yard TD on the ground. These two players represented the bulk of their team’s yards for the rest of the game. 

Trinity and Laurel Highlands exchanged the lead for the rest of the match; there was only one case where a team scored two consecutive TDs without allowing one in between. This caused an incredible total of seven lead changes– a number which would have been higher were it not for failed 2 pt. conversion attempts by Laurel Highlands in the first half. 

Gallagher was responsible for every Mustangs score, earning five TDs on the ground and throwing one passing TD to TE Kaden Friel. He ended the night with an impressive 285 rushing yards. Trinity had a different player score each of their five TDs, highlighted by an early 75 yard passing score from QB Connor Roberts to WR Landan Hendrix and a blocked punt by LB Luke Lacock that was recovered in the endzone. 

Laurel Highlands scored the last TD of the night with 9:00 remaining in the 4th when Gallagher punched the ball into the endzone from just a few yards out. The Hillers then put together what was perhaps the most impressive drive of the night. Durig continued to dominate the Mustangs’ defense, gashing them for big gains on almost every play. He was even able to convert on a tough 4th and 5 run as the Hillers approached the red zone. Trinity spent a full 8 minutes driving the length of the field before losing the ball to Mustangs MLB Billy Barton on a critical 4th and 2 play with only 0:50 left. 

The Mustangs have now secured their first 1996 and their first playoff appearance in 6 years. Meanwhile, Trinity falls to 2-7 amidst an extremely difficult schedule. Laurel Highlands has what should be a comfortable win against Uniontown next week; Trinity faces Ringgold, who is ranked just behind them in the Big Eight.

 

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