McGonigal: 1 | 2 | 3

SAN ANTONIO - Hendrix is headed to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) championship game after clinching the West Division title with a 13-3 win over Trinity (Texas) at Multi-Sport Complex. The Warriors ended the Tigers' nine-game win streak in league play and a two-game skid in the series.

"It is hard to put into words how proud I am of our team to continue to adapt, adjust, improvise and overcome," Hendrix head coach Buck Buchanan said. "Our team did a great job of getting better on the things we had not done well over the past few weeks, and that is a credit to our staff and all of our players."

Hendrix (3-0, 3-0 SAA West) dominated on defense, limiting Trinity (2-1, 2-1 SAA West) to just 175 yards of total offense while recording a school-record five interceptions, including a Hendrix record-tying three by Jacob Bremmon. Two of Bremmon's interceptions came inside Hendrix's five-yard line, with one coming in the endzone, to halt Tigers scoring chances. 

Wyatt Messex was just 6-of-13 for 40 yards with four interceptions, while Tucker Horn went 3-of-7 through the air for 15 yards and a pick.

Alek Taylor and Hunter Lawrence each had an interception for the Warriors. Taylor's pick came on the third play from scrimmage.

Adonnis Butler and Mitchell Johnson recorded nine tackles apiece for the Orange and Black. which allowed just 55 yards through the air and 120 on the ground. Butler also totaled three tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries. Brooks Parham had seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and quarterback pressure. Mason Adams and John Phillips each had a tackle for loss.

"I thought we played one of the best defensive games we have played in the past few years, and we definitely played together the best we have this year," Buchanan said. "Our front seven applied pressure all game, and we combined that with great coverage in the secondary. Most impressive was our goal line stand forcing the field goal late in the game. I know our guys were tired, but they gutted out a 13-play drive, with eight plays inside the 10, four of which were from the 1-yard line."

Hendrix racked up 318 yards of total offense, including 200 through the air by Miles Thompson on 16-of-27 passing with an interception. Reigning SAA Offensive Player of the Week Kip VanHoose rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries. Parker Turley, a reserve defensive back, scored two rushing touchdowns in the redzone out of the Wildcat formation.

Blake Hinton and Chad McGonigal each caught four passes for the Warriors. Hinton had 80 yards, while McGonigal netted 77. McGonigal's long of 50 came on Hendrix's first offensive play. Hinton's long of 45 came deep in the second quarter on 3rd and 23 from the Hendrix 17.

Following a P.J. Hensley 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to cut Trinity's deficit to 6-3, Carter Weakley returned the kickoff 47 yards to the 50, setting up Turley's second rushing touchdown to cap a six-play drive which took 3:22 off the clock.

"Obviously we are disappointed that we had multiple chances in the red zone without points, but our offense did a great job of controlling the ball and getting our defense rest when we desperately needed it," Buchanan commented. "It was the recipe we needed to win the game.

"In the fourth quarter, we were able to really start to control the line of scrimmage, getting our backs holes to run through before we were able to drive to get the touchdown to put the game away. It was a happy ride home."

Mike Edmonson rushed 20 times for 129 yards in the loss.

Cannon Starcke totaled 10 tackles, while Campbell Miller had nine. Starcke and Miller each had two tackles for loss. Miller and Jacob Munoz recorded three quarterback hurries apiece, while Starcke had two. Trey King came up with an interception.

The Warriors face Berry (Ga.), which won the SAA East Division with an 18-17 overtime win at Centre (Ky.), in the league's title game March 13 at 6 p.m. CT at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. Since Hendrix won the 2015 SAA championship, the Vikings have won outright or shared the last four.

"We are honored to represent the SAA West in the championship game Saturday," Buchanan said. "This is something that we set as a goal coming in, and we knew it was a one-shot opportunity."

The SAA split into two divisions for the 2020-21 campaign due to playing a limited schedule after the season was postponed from the fall to the spring because of COVID-19.