Game Notes: Trinity Collegiate at Wilson Hall

OPENING KICKOFF: Friday's SCISA 3A Region II matchup marks the 3rd meeting between Trinity Collegiate (5-2, 2-0 SCISA 3A Region II) and Wilson Hall (5-1, 2-0 SCISA 3A Region II) in a series that dates back to 2021. The All-Time series is tied at 1-1, with the 2020 matchup changed to a scrimmage due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

WHEN LAST WE MET: In the first ever regular season meeting between the teams in Darlington, the Titans fell to the Barons on homecoming, 34-7. Davidson Lynch (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) led the way for the Titans with 125 total yards of offense. Defensively, the day was dominated by Walker Willcox, Jr. (Florence, SC/Royall Elementary School), who set a school record with 24 tackles, six of which went for loss. He also blocked a field goal. Mac Burch (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) also contributed with 10 tackles, three for loss, and a sack.

LAST TIME OUT: It was a successful homecoming for the Titans as they surged to a 48-0 lead en route to a 48-8 victory over Camden Military Academy. Davidson Lynch completed seven of twelve passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, including a career long 92-yard completion to Garrison Copeland (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School). Lynch also rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown. Copeland finished with 139 yards receiving on just four catches. Andre Jackson, Jr. (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School) only had two rushing attempts, but made them count, finding the end zone on both. He also chipped in with seven tackles on defense. Desmond Williams II (Florence, SC/Wilson High School) contributed to the scoring on both sides of the ball, taking an 11-yard pass from Lynch for a touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter and picking off an errant Spartan pass and returning it for a 34-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Walker Willcox, Jr. led the way for the Titans defensively with 17 tackles, four for loss, and a forced fumble. Logan Jordan (Cincinnati, OH/Carolina Elementary School) also chipped in for the defense with two interceptions, four tackles and two for loss. Johnathon Cottingham (Darlington, SC/Darlington Middle School) was stout on the defensive line with nine tackles, an incredible seven of which went for loss. 

WITH HONORS: Several Titans players rank among the national and state leaders in various statistical categories. Walker Willcox, Jr. ranks tied for 27th nationally in tackles with 103. This is good for second among all South Carolina schools and first in SCISA and the Pee Dee Region. Davidson Lynch ranks 12th in South Carolina in passing yards and fifth in SCISA. Garrison Copeland ranks 6th in South Carolina in receiving yards. 

LEADING THE WAY: The Titans have a senior-heavy squad this year, with eleven total seniors on the roster. They are: Oliver Brodie (Charleston, SC/Briggs Elementary School), Mac Burch, Johnathan Charles (Florence, SC/Wilson High School), Drew Cockrell (Chesterfield, SC/Chesterfield Ruby Middle School), Johnathon Cottingham, Matthew Dameron (Hartsville, SC/Hartsville Middle School), Kyler Johnson (Darlington, SC/Darlington Middle School), Davidson Lynch, Jy'ell Preston (Darlington, SC/Darlington Middle School), Walker Willcox, Jr. and Desmond Williams II.

STRONG FOUNDATION: The Titans are playing their 17th season of football, entering play with a 114-80 overall record. After spending their first three seasons playing eight-man football, during which they recorded a 9-21 (.300) record, the Titans are 105-59 (.640) since moving to eleven-man football for the 2012 season. Trinity is the only SCISA school to have competed across all five classifications of football offered by the league (eight-man, 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A). 

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Two 8th Graders are on the varsity roster for the Titans: Dre'den Bethea (Florence, SC/JL Cain Elementary School) and George Taflinger (Florence, SC/The King's Academy).

SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT: Parker Phipps (Florence, SC/All Saints Episcopal Day School) connected on six extra points to give him 19 total over the past four games. 

DEFENSIVE DYNAMO: Walker Willcox, Jr. leads the Titan defense from the inside linebacker position. Willcox ranks tied for 27th nationally with 103 tackles, 27 of which went for loss. He ranks second nationally in tackles for loss. He has also forced two fumbles. 

TWO-WAY STAR: Desmond Williams II had touchdowns on both sides of the ball last Friday night. It was his third straight game he found the end zone on defense, although his interception return touchdown against Northside Christian was negated by a block in the back penalty. 

DEFENSIVE STATEMENT: The 104 points allowed on the season are the least allowed by a Trinity defense in their first seven games since allowing 66 points through the first seven games of the 2013 season.

TITAN TIDBITS: This is the second game in the history of Trinity Collegiate football to be played on October 10th. The Titans are 0-1 on this date. On October 10th, 2014 the Titans fell to Dillon Christian 34-14…This is the second game between the Titans and Barons in Sumter. On August 27th, 2021, Trinity defeated Wilson Hall 40-27 en route to capturing the region title and an appearance in the SCISA 3A State Championship. 

COACHES' CORNER: Shawn Fagan enters his first season as Head Football Coach at Trinity Collegiate School, bringing 14 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. He has a record of 5-2 at Trinity Collegiate School.  A Florence, SC native, Fagan attended Charleston Southern University, where he earned his degree and began his coaching career. From 2008–2011, Fagan served at Charleston Southern as a student assistant on defense before coaching outside linebackers. During his tenure, the Buccaneers posted the highest win percentage in the Big South Conference and competed against top-ranked opponents, including the No. 1 Florida Gators in 2009. Fagan's coaching journey has taken him to a variety of programs, including Kentucky Christian University (Running Backs Coach, 2015), Northwood Academy (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator, 2016–2018), Cathedral Academy (Head Coach, 2019–2021), Pinewood Preparatory School (Co-Offensive Coordinator, 2022), and St. John's Christian Academy (Running Backs/Special Teams, 2023; Offensive and Defensive Line Coach, 2024). His leadership has helped teams earn multiple postseason appearances, including a playoff berth with Northwood in 2016, a semifinal run with Pinewood Prep in 2022, and a playoff appearance with St. John's in 2023.

THE WORD ON WILSON HALL: This is Wilson Hall's 6th game of the 2025 season. The Barons are 5-1 on the year, including a win over previously unbeaten Pinewood Prep last week. The Barons have victories over Camden Military, Ben Lippen, Northside Christian, and Orangeburg Prep as well. Wilson Hall's game against Florence Christian on October 3rd was suspended due to lightning with 10:53 remaining in the second quarter and the Barons trailing 3-0. They will resume the game on October 17th. Wilson Hall's lone blemish is a 14-13 loss to Laurence Manning. The Baron defense has been dominant this season, allowing a paltry 14.8 points per game.