Holy Trinity's speed is too much for Kellenberg
Holy Trinity quarterback Rocco Rainone passes on the run during a CHSAA football game against Kellenberg at the Mitchell Field Complex on Sunday, October 9, 2022. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Rocco Rainone tossed a simple screen to his left, and Andre Kirton grabbed the pass and just shot out of traffic to his right. No one was going to beat him in this race to the end zone — 45-yard touchdown.
“Oh my God,” Rainone said. “That was unbelievable. I threw the ball. I was like, ‘All right, we’ve got a quick 5-yard gain.’ And he just took it to the house.”
Holy Trinity’s terrific team speed was on full display again Sunday at Mitchel Athletic Complex in a clash of the titans.
The undefeated Titans from the CHSFL’s AA I division faced undefeated Kellenberg from the AAA ranks. Rainone threw for 178 yards and two TDs. Jameer Reeder ran 20 times for 140 yards and two scores. Josiah Brown had a touchdown reception and picked off two passes. And Kirton’s TD gave them the lead for good.
So Holy Trinity won, 28-19, to move to 6-0 and drop the Firebirds to 5-1.
“I don’t think we made a statement,” Titans coach Kahmal Roy said. “I just think it’s a testament to how hard we work. … We knew we had to be different this year.”
The big plays stood out, from Kirton’s touchdown reception to Brown’s 59-yard TD catch to Reeder’s 70-yard scoring run.
“Our team is really, really fast,” said Brown, the state’s top-ranked junior recruit by ESPN.
It didn’t start well for the Titans. They picked up 40 yards in penalties to help Kellenberg’s cause on the game’s opening drive. QB Devin Page raced 15 yards for six.
But Holy Trinity responded on the next drive. Reeder ran it in from the 7.
Then came Kirton’s TD on the second play of the second quarter.
“Our speed has been a godsend since some of those kids have gotten here,” Roy said. “It is a difference-maker every time we step on the field.”
Later in the quarter, Brown raced toward his touchdown. It was 21-7 after the PAT.
“Coach Roy’s offensive scheme is playmaker-friendly, get guys in space and let’s them go — very productive,” former longtime Titans coach Tony Mascia said after taking in the game.
Reeder’s distance run helped make it 28-7 1:01 into the fourth.
“When all of us are on our horses and going 100%, no one can stop us,” Reeder said.
Kellenberg then scored on a 1-yard run by Ethan Cumming, and on a 26-yard pass from Page to Claude-Albert Makelele with 49 seconds left. But the Firebirds were hurt by two trips to the red zone that produced nothing.
“We had issues getting open at some points in the game,” coach Eric Meisse said.
Holy Trinity went 10-0 and claimed the AA II title last season. Now it’s in first in AA I.
“We don’t have championship talks,” Roy said. “… The goal every week that we get out on the field is: Are we 1-0 at the end of the day?”
