BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A failed two-point conversion with under thirty second left in the game was the difference in the game. The teams played a tough, hard-nosed brand of football that ultimately saw BSC fall 28-27. 

With the earliest kick at Krulak Stadium this season both teams started slow and playing a field position game. Trinity had an average starting field position at their own 36.5 yard line while Birmingham-Southern had an average starting field position at their own seven yard line. 

Once the offenses settled in there would be scoring on the next three drives. Trinity got the scoring started halfway through the first quarter. A two-yard touchdown pass resulted in a touchdown for the Tigers. After the touchdown the Panthers would respond with a touchdown of their own. A three-yard rushing touchdown by Robert Shufford tied the game at 7-7. The BSC drive spanned five minutes and six seconds. 

The next Trinity drive saw the Tigers march down the field and score a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead. After that offensive burst from both teams, neither team would find a way to score the rest of the half. The defenses made their adjustments and would play lock down defense. 

This was the first time since the season opener that Birmingham-Southern would trail going into halftime. 

The Panthers would receive the ball to start the second half. On the opening possession BSC scored to again tie the game. After a Trinity defender jumped offsides, Trey Patterson was heads up enough to know it was a free play. He looked deep to Branden Rew down the right-hand side and threw an absolute perfect ball which Rew hauled in for a touchdown. 

After the opening score both defenses got back to business and there would be no more scoring in the third quarter. The teams would head to the final quarter tied 14-14.

The fourth quarter would see just as much scoring as the previous three. Early on the Tigers got in to take a 21-14 lead. After a long, methodical drive by the Panthers, Trey Patterson rushed in from 11 yards out to once again tie the game 21-21. 

Trinity then went on their own long drive, spanning 11 plays and took a late 28-21 lead. With just over five minutes left in the game the Birmingham-Southern offense got the ball back. The Panthers converted on two fourth downs that would one, extend their drive, and two bring them within one point of Trinity. Trey Patterson used his mobility throughout the drive to extend the drive and hopes of a conference championship. 

As the clock ticked down, and inside of a minute to play the Panthers had four chances from inside the five to get into the endzone. After only getting a yard on first, second, and third down. Patterson took matters into his own hands and rushed in for a yard to pull within a point of Trinity with 23 seconds left. 

The question now became would BSC kick the extra point to tie or go for two. After thinking it over, the offense would head back out to try the two-point attempt. Patterson rolled out to the right and found Gentry Neese in the endzone, but the ball fell to the turf and the Panthers would not be succesfully on the two-point try.

Birmingham-Southern suffered their first loss of the 2021 season. 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 8-1 Overall (5-1 SAA), Trinity (Texas), 8-0 Overall (6-0 SAA)

News and notes
> Neither team recorded a turnover in the game. 
> Trey Patterson was the leading rusher for the Panthers.
> Cameron DeArman recorded the only sack of the day for BSC. 

Up next
The Panthers will travel to Jackson, Miss. next Saturday, Nov. 13 to take on Millsaps College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.