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Ryle falls to Trinity in state finals

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – It was heartbreak for Ryle, as their incredible 12-2 season and hopes for a title came up just short in the KHSAA Class 6A State Title game against Louisville Trinity, as the Raiders fell 42-23. 

Looking at the scoreline of the contest paints a different picture than what actually transpired on the field. The Raiders fought hard and tough against one of the state’s all-time best programs, but their efforts were all for nought as the Shamrocks used an impressive second-half performance to win their second straight state title. 

It was all Ryle in the first quarter, as the Raiders’ offense dominated the Shamrocks’ defense through the air, with wide receiver Landon Lorms going for two touchdowns on two catches. He racked up 82 yards, 55 of which were on an incredible, over-the-top of the defender catch. 

On his way into the end zone, Lorms pointed at the Ryle student section and the Raiders had all the momentum, out gaining the Shamrocks 154 to 16 in offensive yards. 

Towards the end of the first quarter, the Trinity defense finally got the stop it needed, holding the Ryle offense to a 4th-and-4. The Raiders would not be denied, however, as Jaden Galicia took a direct snap 27 yards for a first down and into Trinity territory. 

Trinity’s defense, led by Jahbarri Frost, held the Raiders offense to another fourth down situation, and Ryle went for it. Nathan Verax had Gavin Lyons wide open in the endzone, but the receiver was unable to haul the throw in, and the Shamrocks took over on downs. 

Additionally, the Rocks took all the momentum as well. Trinity found success with an up-tempo offense, as running backs Chris Wilson and Jamaurion Berry gashed the Raiders defense on the ground. The two tailbacks carried the Shamrocks offense all the way down the field, but were faced with a critical 4th and 4 from the 5 yard line. Berry muscled his way into the end zone on the play to get the Louisville-based Trinity within one score. 

Unlike the first quarter, Verax and the Raiders struggled to move the ball offensively in the second quarter, quickly handing the ball back to Trinity. Shamrocks quarterback Zane Johnson masterfully drove his offense down the field, throwing to his receivers Nation Roe-McBroom and Mason Scherer. 

Later in the drive, Scherer broke wide open out of the slot and took a 30-yard pass to the house. Just like that, the game was tied and Trinity held all of the momentum heading into halftime. 

After being out-gained heavily in the first quarter, Trinity racked up 160 yards to put themselves back into the game. Berry led the way with 57 yards on the ground and a touchdown, averaging 9.7 yards per carry in the first half. 

Ryle’s Jacob Savage found running the ball to be tough sledding in the first half, only racking up 21 yards on 7 carries, just 3.0 yards a carry.

For Trinity, one of the defensive goals had to be to contain Savage, the world-beater out of the backfield who had been dominant for Ryle all season. The Shamrocks were up to the challenge, holding the junior to just 80 yards all evening. 

It was the second year in a row that Trinity found themselves down two scores early in the State Championship game. The Shamrocks used that experience to their advantage, gaining control of the game early in the second half. 

Johnson found Jason Hagan streaking behind the Ryle safeties, and threw him a perfect pass, and Hagan left the Raiders defense behind for a 40-yard score and the lead. 

Johnson, just a sophomore, was awarded the MVP award for the most outstanding player of the game. The Shamrocks signal caller went 18-24 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. 

On the receiving end of Johnson’s MVP night, Scherer overcame his fumble to put up 69 yards  and once touchdown on 6 receptions. Roe-McBroom had 5 receptions for 46 yards. Hagan had 53 yards and a touchdown on just 4 receptions. 

With their backs against the wall, Ryle attempted to gain control of the game back through the air, but Verax found limited success. The Shamrocks made halftime adjustments that proved to be suffocating, as the Trinity safeties took away any throws over the top. Ryle pivoted, throwing shorter passes, but Trinity’s safety Caleb Ricks sniffed that out as well, jumping a short curl route for a 35-yard pick six. 

Trinity’s defense continued to pour it on the Raiders offense, tacking on another pick-6, this time from Bailey Vance, who grabbed a tipped pass out of the air and took it back 15 yards to the house, effectively blowing the contest wide open. 

Despite the three-score deficit late, Verax and Ryle never gave up. A late drive down the field — highlighted by a 56-yard catch-and-run by Dylan Lee on fourth down — was capped off by Lorms’ 3rd touchdown of the evening.

Verax capped off his impressive season with a 269 yard and 3 touchdown performance; hardly anything to be disappointed about. Lorms had 8 catches for 147 yards and 3 touchdowns.

After the final whistle had been blown, and the trophies were presented to both teams, Ryle was left asking what could’ve been. The dropped touchdown on 4th down early in the game would’ve put the Raiders up 21 points and changed the complexion of the game completely. 

In the end, it was a banner season for the Ryle Raiders. “This was one of the best seasons in Ryle program history,” said Ryle Head Coach Mike Engler. “I think we have the team to come back and win it next year.” 

SCORING BY QUARTERS
Trinity 0-14-7-21-42
Ryle 14-0-3-6-23

SCORING PLAYS
R: Landon Lorms 27-yard pass from Nathan Verax (Gavin Moses kick)
R: Landon Lorms 27-yard pass from Nathan Verax (Gavin Moses kick)
T: Jamaurion Berry 5-yard run (Carson Hilbert kick)
T: Mason Scherer 30-yard pass from Zane Johnson (Carson Hilbert kick)
R: Gavin Moses 39-yard field goal
T: Jason Hagan 40-yard pass from Zane Johnson (Carson Hilbert kick)
T: Caleb Ricks 35-yard interception return (Carson Hilbert kick)
T: Jamaurion Berry 11-yard rush (Carson Hilbert kick)
T: Bailey Vance 15 interception return (Carson Hilbert kick)
R: Landon Lorms 4-yard  pass from Nathan Verax (run no good)

*Photo by Les Nicholson / KHSAA (from @KHSAA on X)

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