For the third consecutive year, Jacksonville’s Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors are the Class 3A Florida State Champions. On Dec. 5, the Conquerors capped off an undefeated season with a 30-3 victory over the Stallions of Delray Beach’s American Heritage Academy in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The championship is the sixth for Trinity Christian’s football program and for head coach Verlon Dorminey.
The 2015 championship game was also the second straight game in which the Conquerors defeated American Heritage. Trinity won 2014’s match-up 27-7.
After a first quarter of tough defense in which neither team could garner even a first down, the Conquerors broke through with the biggest play of their season at the 9:28 mark of the second quarter. Senior quarterback Billy Cobb hit wide receiver D.J. Matthews for a 90-yard touchdown pass. Matthews was wide open in the middle of the field, and no one could catch the speedy Florida State University commit as he tied the state championship game record for longest touchdown reception.
On the Stallions’ ensuing possession, sophomore Chamarri Conner intercepted a pass and took it 51 yards for the touchdown. The extra point failed on a bobbled snap and attempted run, but the Conquerors still led 13-0.
American Heritage got on the board with a field goal to make it 13-3 late in the third quarter, but it was all Trinity from then on.
The Conquerors got two more touchdowns and a field goal to put the game away. With 20 seconds left in the third, senior tight end Devante Porter caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Cobb. Senior running back Jalin Buie took it in from 25 yards out with 4:09 left in the game. Junior Frankie Onate kicked a 46-yard field goal between the two touchdowns to go with his three successful extra points.
Cobb completed 10 of 25 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Matthews caught three passes for 124 yards and a touchdown. Five different Conquerors had at least 14 yards rushing with Buie leading with 40 yards to accompany his touchdown.
Coach Dorminey has led Trinity to all six of its state titles in his 25th year as head coach. He now has a career record of 245-61. In 2002, 2003, and 2010, Dorminey led the Class 1A Conquerors to the title, and he has now led his team to three straight Class 3A championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Trinity has also won 14 district titles and 11 regional playoffs and finished as the state runner up in 1999 and 2009 under Coach Dorminey. The humble coach, though, gives all the credit to God, his coaching staff, and his players.
Trinity Christian is the first Jacksonville-area high school – and one of nine in all of Florida – to win three consecutive state championships. Coach Dorminey’s six titles are second in the area to only Bolles Bulldogs coach Corky Rogers.
The Conquerors finished the 2015 season 14-0. Their perfect record includes big wins over 5A Tallahassee Godby and 8A Winter Garden West Orange.
Congratulations go to Coach Verlon Dorminey and the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors on their third straight Class 3A Florida state championship.
State Recap/North Florida/February 2015
Verlon Dorminey
Trinity Christian Academy
Jacksonville, Florida
Raymond Bureau
Trinity Christian Wins 3A Florida State Championship for Third Straight Year
