Trinity Football is exciting! Everyday is a good day to be a Trojan!
There is a lot to be excited about the Hurst-Euless-Bedford School District.The H-E-B District is one with unique programs to educate the whole child. The district consistently earns A ratings from the TEA. Our district offers Schools of Choice including International Baccalaureate, STEM, Elementary World Languages, Spanish Immersion classes, Suzuki Strings, and Visual & Performing Arts: Theatre. Click here for more information: https://www.hebisd.edu/Page/257
The Trinity Football Program is proud to be part of H-E-B District and the Trinity High School educational experience. The coaching staff passionately encourages academic excellence for the entire team, maintaining an overall grade point average of 3.0 and higher. Many players make the District Academic All-District Team and Academic All-State each year.
The Trojans have played exciting schedules through the years. They have played nationally ranked teams from Louisiana, Utah, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Washington, and De La Salle from Concord, California which was aired on ESPN 2. https://usatodayhss.com/2015/euless-trinity-knocks-off-no-1-de-la-salle-in-texas-showdown
Perhaps the Trojans are best known for the Sipi Tau. Trinity Trojan Football has worked tirelessly to build a legacy of success over many years. That legacy incorporates unique and storied traditions as part of its history, including the very important pre-game and post-game team ritual of performing the Sipi Tau.
Many fans know the story of how Trinity began performing the Haka after several Trojan football players came across video of New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team performing the Haka. The idea for the Trojans to implement the Haka into the pre-and post-game was approved by the staff, the Polynesian Club leaders, and the local Tongan elders. The first time the Trojans performed the Haka was at the 1st game of the 2005 season against De Soto. This Trinity team also went on to win the 2005 5A Division I State Championship! In the beginning, the Trinity version of the Haka was based solely on the Maori war dance in New Zealand. As the Trinity Haka evolved, more traditional Tongan and Samoan elements were added. In 2013, the Trinity Haka was chanted for the first time completely in the Tongan language. The movements and elements mirrored a more traditional Tongan war dance. In 2014, the team and coaches consulted with local Tongan elders. They elected to officially change the name of the Haka to the Sipi Tau. The Sipi Tau that is performed prior to the game is meant to ready the team for the task that is ahead of them and serves as motivation for each player. Following the game, the team performs the Sipi Tau in thanks to the fans, parents, and students for the important role they played in the game and the support the team feels from Trojan Nation. https://usatodayhss.com/2015/watch-trinity-euless-makes-big-splash-with-tongan-dance-in-pool
Over 200 players have received scholarships to play college football over the years. Former Trinity players are on college teams from coast to coast. Eight Trinity Trojans have been or are currently in the NFL, two of them winning Super bowl rings.
Trinity’s win percentage ranks 6th all-time in Texas UIL 11-man football among all classifications.
The 62 district win streak is tied for the 5th most all time in TX UIL 11 man football.
Trinity’s record for consecutive games won is 28 which occurred in the 2009-2010 season.
The most consecutive seasons Trinity has had a winning record (finished above .500) is 24, which spans from 1998 to the present.
Trinity won the 5-A State Championship 3 times (2005, 2007, 2009). The Dallas Morning News listed several of the Trinity play-off games on a list of exciting “Top-10 Finishes” play-off games. (see below)
Trinity’s win percentage ranks 6th all-time in Texas UIL 11-man football among all classifications.
The 62 district win streak is tied for the 5th most all time in TX UIL 11 man football.
Trinity’s record for consecutive games won is 28 which occurred in the 2009-2010 season.
The most consecutive seasons Trinity has had a winning record (finished above .500) is 24, which spans from 1998 to the present.
Dallas Morning News all time play-off game “Top-10 finishes”.
#1 unforgettable thrilling finish game:
2010 5A Division I Regional final
Euless Trinity 41
Coppell 40
So why is this No. 1 as the top-finish game? Both teams were undefeated at 13-0 (Trinity was the defending state champion and ranked No. 1 in the nation) and Dragon Stadium was overflowing with fans, creating a dramatic tension all night, and Trinity took its first lead on the final play as time expired. Running back Tevin Williams scored on a sweep, ending one of the best high school games ever.
#3 unforgettable thrilling-finish play-off game:
2009 5A Division I State Championship
Euless Trinity 41
Austin Westlake 38 (Overtime)
Trinity rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win the first ever Texas 5A title game to go overtime.
Willie Hubbard threw a fade pass to star running back/receiver Brandon Carter for the winning TD in overtime.
CoachBill Bookout
1969-1975 7 seasons–70 games
33-35- 2 .485%win average
John Reddell 1976-1991
16 seasons – 175 games
117 – 54-4 .668%win average
Ed Hickman
1992 – 1999 8 seasons–94 games
63-31 .670% win average
Steve Lineweaver
2000-2014 15 seasons – 205 games
Winning State Championships in 2005, 2007, and 2009
176 – 29.858% win average
Chris Jensen
2015-2021 7 seasons – 85 games
69-16 .811%win average
1969 – 2021 53 seasons – 629 games
458 – 163-6 .735%- win average
More fabulous finishes:
2007 5A Semifinal
Euless Trinity 30
Plano 27 (2 Overtimes)
Trinity’s Pery Negreiros won it with a 23-yard FG
2007 Regional semifinal
Euless Trinity 21
Arlington Bowie 14
Trinity forced fumble on Bowie’s final drive.
5A Area
Euless Trinity 28
Allen 21
Trinity stopped Allen on fourth-and-goal in final minutes.
2006 Area
Southlake Carroll 22
Euless Trinity 21
This highly anticipated match-up lived up to its billing and created a major traffic jam around Texas Stadium, which was not prepared for the almost 50,000 fans who showed up to watch. Carroll came in riding a 43-game winning streak and was the two-time Class 5A Division II state champion. Trinity came in undefeated and the Class 5A Division I defending state champion.
Carroll drove 35 yards for the winning score with 37 seconds left.
IT’S A SOURCE OF PRIDE TO BE A FORMER TRINITY FOOTBALL PLAYER :
“Some people will say that Trinity football is a lot of great big guys and fast guys, and the average kid won’t get a chance to play for Trinity.”
Here’s my story:
“I moved from Arizona to Euless when I was in the seventh grade. I attended Euless Junior High, and I quickly began to realize that Euless is a diehard football town. I made friends that took me to the Trinity football games. I remember seeing the bright lights and big plays that motivated me to love the game of football. I watched the players be passionate about the game. I was inspired to be a Trinity football player one day. Most of all, I became a fan of Trinity Football.
I played football through junior high, and then I started playing football at Trinity, I played 2 years on the Trojan JV at 155 pounds. As a junior, I had an ok season on the JV. I didn’t standout; I just played. After my junior year, I had the desire to be a player on the varsity. I knew I had to work hard to do it. I worked out every day. I lifted weights and did every drill I knew to get faster. I did this all the way through the summer before my senior year and I gained 25 pounds to 180.
When August practices began, I was a 4th string safety. I gave all-out effort and made plays in practice. I began to get noticed by the coaches and my teammates. I was moved to linebacker. I went from a 4th team safety to a starting linebacker position for the Trinity Trojans.
I became a stand-out my senior year, making over 200 tackles, helping my team make it to the 2001 state semi-finals. I was named all-district linebacker and saw myself in the same light that I saw the players I looked up to when I was young.”
“I played at Trinity in ’82 & ’83.
What it means to be a Trojan football player…….. Ever since I was tiny, my Dad would carry me to all the Trinity games, even to Wichita Falls.
At such a young age, I learned that being a Trinity football player was an honor. As I got older, the only thing I wanted in life, at that time, was to be a Trojan player. I never had great size (5’7”) but, I didn’t allow that to stop me…. I’m in my 40’s now and other than the birth of my daughter, those years of playing for Trinity were the most special times.”
“I played football for Trinity in 1977. I now live in Vermont, but being so far away has actually made me appreciate my memories from Trinity even more. I have seen Trinity play live on TV seven times. I have been able to fly down to Texas several times to attend games and visit practice. I am so proud to have been a small part of the Trojan Football program. We never would have guessed that our school would ever play on TV, or win multiple State Championships, or be in TV commercials. It just shows what things are possible when a great group of people works together and supports each other.
Trinity Football is really special because anyone who follows high school football knows who Euless Trinity is. I have read many quotes by other coaches about how ‘Trinity can bring it’ and how their team had better ‘buckle their chinstrap’ when they play the Trojans. The Trinity fans, Trojan Nation, are considered by other fans to be very knowledgeable and very respectful.
The Trinity Football program really has become very special, not only in winning football games, but preparing people to lead successful lives as well.”
“In 1982, I was the first Tongan football player at Trinity High School. After high school, I attended and graduated from Brigham Young University on a football scholarship.
I will always be a Trinity Trojan and my family feels a part of it also.
“Once a Trojan, always a Trojan.”
(1st team All Texas Super Team; inducted into HEB Sports Hall of Fame)
“In the Trinity tradition and being a part of the Trinity Trojan Football Family, everyone matters!”
“I grew up my entire life in Euless and dreamed of playing football at Trinity. I watched through the years all the teams and great players that had come before and could not wait to put on that uniform. As you know, it takes a special kind of person to play the game, but it takes an eve different kind of person to be a Trojan. We are a brotherhood that only a few get to share. It doesn’t matter if you are old, young, brown white, or black…. We are Trojans! That means something to me and will for the rest of my life.”
“Our 1976 team was the first big winners (10-1) and first Trinity football team to make the play-offs. I guess you could say we started it all off.
I was a high school All-American and All-State. I started 4 years for the University of Texas and was All- Southwest Conference and 3rd Team All-American. This led to 11 years in the NFL.
However, this will surprise you…. I was cut from football when I tried out in 7th grade. What if I had quit trying?”
“I travel the United States, and wherever high school football is talked about, the Euless Trinity Trojans are known. Never would the players from our time have dreamed of the national prominence of today’s Trojans. The pride and loyalty of the Trinity Trojans, no matter what year they graduate, is fierce.”
“I played at Trinity in 1983. It was my senior season after transferring from Irving High School. I quickly began to understand the pride and tradition that goes with that uniform. I went on to play at SMU. I give a lot of credit to the building of character and tradition that I experienced while wearing the uniform of the Trinity Trojans.”
“In 1982 and 1983, I was lucky enough to play with some great teams when I was a Trojan. Although I continued playing in college and I played against some great college teams, I never had as much fun in college as I did at Trinity. There are thousands of football players in Texas, but only a few of them get to play with great teams. It’s been 25 years since I wore the trinity uniform, but I’ll never forget how it felt to be part of a great team.”
“I am still proud of the distinct honor of being a member of Trinity’s first District Championship team in 1976. We are all part of the legacy of the winning tradition that Trinity is known for today. Always know that no matter what role you play with the Trojan Football team you are an important part of a legacy that will live on for many years after you graduate. Always remember you are part of the elite few known as a Trinity Trojan.”
“I still consider myself a member of the Trojan Family. As most of you know, Trinity High School was established in 1968. I am proud to say that my Class of 1974 had the first winning record (7-2-1) of a Trinity Football Team. Fortunately, some things remain the same. There is fantastic support the community gives the Trojans, and great pride that all Trojans feel when they see the great teams that Trinity High School has produced.
Each team brings its own unique spirit to Trinity High School Football. I’m reminded of the first time I saw the Haka performed, and thought how things had changed. However, once the game started and I saw the intensity and passion of the players, I realized that some things never change. The memories of playing Trinity Trojan Football will be some of the best of your life.”
“I played football at Trinity in 1980, during my senior year. I grew up in 7 different countries before moving to Trinity in the middle of my junior year. I received great encouragement from my coaches at Trinity, both on and off the field. That encouragement took me a long way. After high school, I went to SMU on a track scholarship. Later, I participated in the Decathlon at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. I later graduated from the Harvard Business School in 1991.