When scheduled, a match-up of the 2020 Ohio Division I champion St. Xavier Bombers against the Kentucky 6A champions Trinity Shamrocks of Louisville seemed like a game to circle on the calendar.
St. Xavier didn't know Trinity would come in winless. Nor did they figure they'd lose their first game to end their hopes of an undefeated season.
With Armon Tucker's 1-yard plunge with 57 seconds to go, Trinity notched its first win of the season 33-32. St. Xavier had a final possession and drove the ball, but Brogan McCaughey's fourth-down pass at the Trinity 34 fell incomplete.
After a quick knee by quarterback Brady Willis, the Shamrocks had knocked off previously unbeaten St. Xavier and proved themselves worthy of their Kentucky rankings.
"They've been close all year," Trinity coach Jay Cobb said. "We've been competitive with everybody we've played. This is by far the best football team we've played. This is a quality football team and that's a quality win."
Cobb is in his first year coaching the Shamrocks after taking over from Bob Beatty who stepped down after last year's title, Trinity's 27th state championship.
Willis, a Bellarmine baseball commit, was 17-for 22 passing for 313 yards and ran for 104 yards and a touchdown. Tucker had a pair of touchdowns and kicker Kellan McLaughlin booted four field goals, including a monster shot from 53 yards.
