SPORTS

USJ, TCA seek 1st win vs. each other

Brandon Shields
bjshields@jacksonsun.com

Trinity Christian Academy and University School of Jackson both need a win.

Only one will get one this week.

The Lions host the Bruins on Friday after both teams opened their season with a loss in Week 1.

Both teams started well, but TCA faltered in the second quarter. USJ faltered in the fourth, giving up a two-score lead with three minutes to go in regulation before falling in overtime.

Both coaches said the positive part of those losses is the opportunity to learn and improve.

“We were in this situation last year,” said TCA head coach Blake Butler, referring to TCA’s 0-4 start in 2015 before making it to the Class 2A semifinals in November. “And I think a lot of the guys remember that and aren’t panicking or anything like that.

“They know we had our opportunities and didn’t take advantage of them and made mistakes that shot ourselves in the foot.”

TCA led after a quarter before giving up three touchdowns in the second.

“After halftime, we played St. George’s even, so if you take out that one bad quarter it wasn’t a horrible game,” Butler said. “Of course we’re not happy about a loss either.”

USJ’s troubles were caused by injuries, fatigue and youth, according to Bruin head coach Rusty Bradley. He named off a list of positions at which his team was playing second- and third-string players in the fourth quarter.

“FACS is an experienced team that we were in a bind at that point,” Bradley said. “Plus there were times where we’ve worked on making good decisions when we’re fatigued, and we had miscues trying to maintain that kind of mindset. All of that combined to hurt us there in the end.”

But even with the loss, it was a good thing.

“Our players are just like me. We don’t like losing,” Bradley said. “But the first thing I told the team [Monday] was if we get better because we learn from our mistakes, then the loss is worth it.

“The mistakes we did make, if we’d come off that field with a win, it would’ve been more difficult to make the guys see how important their mistakes were. So we’re all focused on the need to get better and doing what we need to do to accomplish that goal.”

This will be Bradley’s first time to be a part of the TCA-USJ rivalry. There are a few interesting tidbits to this matchup including the fact that Butler and Bradley are neighbors who live on the same street.

“[Butler] is a great guy, and I got to know him at the Exchange Club luncheon a few weeks ago, and I know from watching their film he and his staff do a great job coaching them,” Bradley said. “But we don’t focus on playing a team because we don’t like them.

“I want our guys going out there and playing because they love their teammates and want to play for them. But they’re fired up to play TCA.”

Butler said his team feels the same way.

“It’s USJ, and our guys are obviously familiar with them and know the history between the programs,” Butler said. “We could’ve played a team that won’t win a game last week and gotten a win and felt good about ourselves, but we played St. George’s instead with the hopes they’ll make us better.

“USJ will do that for us too, so I know our guys are ready to go.”

Brandon Shields, 425-9751