CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. - Jarrett Gill's final stats from Friday night won't create a buzz across the state of Georgia - 4-of-13 passing for 87 yards - but his right arm will be crucial for Trion this season.
It already paid a huge dividend in the opener as the sophomore first-year starting quarterback hit two big early passes against a pressing Gordon Lee defense to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-7 road win.
"We were able to throw the ball," said Trion coach Justin Brown when asked to name the game's key. "I can't say enough about Jarrett Gill. Being able to throw it kept them off us some, and that first pass completion was big.
"That was the type of defense we couldn't do anything about last season. (Tonight's success) was because of the investment we put into the passing game in the offseason."
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The Trojans dared Trion to throw it, and Gill made them pay with a 49-yard touchdown pass to senior Gabe Howell midway through the first quarter. Two minutes later, Gill went 30 yards to David McCary down to the 2, where Drake Clowdis scored two plays later for a 12-0 lead.
The first completion, off a run fake, hit Howell in mid stride and sent a roar up from the sideline and the packed visitors' stands.
"Jarrett threw a perfect pass and I happened to be a step ahead of the defensive back," said Howell, who later added a 3-yard touchdown run. "That was a great play for us, and it caught them by surprise because being able to pass the ball really helps our running game."
While Gill, Howell and the offense had the early highlights, the Trion defense stole the show. The Bulldogs, led by linebackers Malik Martin and DeVonya Farmer, limited Gordon Lee to 172 total yards, with 80 coming on the Trojans' scoring drive in the final quarter.
The lead was 12-0 at the half before the Bulldogs used a 40-yard kickoff return from Tanner Railey to set up a 42-yard drive, all on the ground. Howell, who had an 11-yard run earlier in the drive, scored from the 3 on a leaping effort off right tackle for the insurance score.
"The opening drive of the third quarter was big because we ate up half the clock and took it in," Brown said. "It was a typical Trion-Gordon Lee game - very physical and with a great atmosphere for a Friday night. You could tell their people are excited again and ours are as well. I told (Gordon Lee coach Greg Ellis) his guys played hard, especially No. 10, (Caleb) O'Neal, who played his tail off."
Gordon Lee got on the board midway through the fourth quarter when Braden Jarvis took an O'Neal shovel pass and streaked 31 yards for a touchdown. A Drew Cobb interception in the end zone gave the Trojans late life, but a penalty killed any hopes as the Bulldogs walked away with their fourth consecutive win in the series.
"I thank God for these kids and how hard they work," Brown said. "They came very single day in the spring and the summer."
Martin led Trion's 234-yard rushing attack with 90 yards on 18 carries, with Howell grabbing three of Gill's completions for 57 yards.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyong@timesfreepress.com or follow him at Twitter.com/youngsports22.