Trinetti delivers at key moments as Chagrin Falls wins state semifinal, 20-14

Matt Florjancic, Special to The Plain Dealer, November 29, 2009 6:32 a.m.

Quarterback Chris Trinetti flips the ball to Spencer Diedrich in the first quarter of the Tigers’ 20-14 win Saturday night over Ottawa-Glandorf. - (Jonathon Bird, Special to The Plain Dealer)

Fremont, Ohio -- Chagrin Falls quarterback Chris Trinetti was a big player who made big plays in the biggest game of the Tigers' season, a 20-14 win over Ottawa-Glandorf on Saturday night at Don Paul Stadium at Harmon Field.

With 8:26 remaining in the Division IV state semifinal, and the game tied at 14, Trinetti led the Tigers on a 10-play, 74-yard drive for the game-winning score.

"Throughout this year, we've been faced with adversity every day," Trinetti said.

"Against Woodridge last week, they recovered a fumble and went down to the 1-yard line. We knew no matter what happens, we've got to stick with it and take it to them."

"We didn't play a perfect game tonight," Chagrin Falls coach Mark Iammarino said. "When it came down to it, we stopped them when we had to; we punched it in when we had to. That's just grit and determination of some really good seniors."

On the final drive, Trinetti had a 13-yard run and moved the ball down to Ottawa-Glandorf's 11-yard line, but was hurt when he found himself at the bottom of the pile. After sitting out one play, Trinetti re-entered the game and finished the drive.

"Someone twisted my ankle," said Trinetti. "I just felt it pop. It went the wrong way. It went numb and it was painful for a little bit, but thankfully, I'm OK. Not even if I sprained it or broke it, I had to play the rest of the game."

Trinetti took a snap on second-and-2 from the Titans' 3 and rolled out to his left. As he exited the pocket, Ottawa-Glandorf's defensive end released off a block and grabbed hold of Trinetti's jersey. However, Trinetti spun out of the tackle and fought his way to the 1-yard line. Bobby Winkelman capped the drive with a touchdown run.

Trinetti's on-field duties were not done, even after the touchdown. He took the snap on the extra-point try, but the attempt was low and blocked by Ottawa-Glandorf.

"That was 100 percent my fault," Trinetti said of the snap. "When I put it down, it skimmed the left side of the tee."

Chagrin Falls started its first possession of the second half facing a 14-7 deficit, but Trinetti and his teammates did not panic.

They marched 65 yards in five plays, aided by a personal foul facemask penalty against Ottawa-Glandorf. After the infraction, Chagrin Falls committed a false-start penalty and were backed up first-and-15 at the Titans' 31-yard line. Trinetti dropped back and lofted a pass into the end zone for senior wide receiver Pat Nadeau.

Nadeau caught the ball while falling backward and managed to hold on while rolling over in the end zone. It was Trinetti's only touchdown pass of the game.

"It was a four-vertical," Trinetti said. "We had to read the front side safety and one guy went with our guy coming up the field. Pat Nadeau was wide open. I couldn't see at all. I was looking for the ref to throw up his hands and it was the best feeling in the world."