ELLENDALE, N.D. - Trinity International kicked off the 2015 football season in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon, taking a three-touchdown lead in the first quarter over the Trinity Bible (N.D.) Lions and never looking back en route to a 45-0 victory on the road.

Box Score

Senior running back Chris Elliott finished just shy of the century mark in limited action, collecting 93 rushing yards on 14 carries before sitting in the fourth quarter thanks to the Trojans big lead. The Miami, Fla. native collected two touchdowns on the day, giving him 30 career rushing touchdowns and moving into a tie for second on TIU's all-time rushing touchdown list (Mark Clinton, '98-'01).

After a holding penalty stalled the opening drive, the Trojans scored on their next three possessions, quickly building a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. The Trojans capitalized when the Lions fumbled Trinity's first punt of the day, taking over on Trinity Bible's 32-yard line. Elliott punched in the first two scores, with the second drive being set up by a 75-yard completion from sophomore quarterback J.J. Burmeister, in his second career start, to wideout Dillon Turk. Freshman Isaac Branch then scored on an 18-yard run at the end of the first quarter, capping off an eight-play drive.

Defensively, linebacker Riley Schussler led the way with 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss. As a team, the Trojans forced the Lions to go three and out on four occasions, while TBC also had four separate drives pick up negative yardage before giving the ball back to the Trojans.

The Trinity offense slowed a bit in the second quarter, suffering a three and out of their own on their first drive of the period. After the Lions went for it on fourth down inside the red zone, TIU took over and crossed midfield before going for a fourth-down conversion of their own and falling one yard short. Another short possession for TBC and a muffed punt that traveled five yards set the Trojans up for a possible score before the end of the half, but a fumble gave the ball back to the Lions before the halftime break.

Burmeister made it a 28-0 lead in the first possession of the third, connecting with Turk again for a 33-yard touchdown pass. Turk finished the day as Trinity's leading receiver, making four catches for a total of 129 yards and one score.

Once the defense recovered another fumble in Lion territory with 6:36 left in the third, TIU struck again, as Branch finished a 10-play drive with a seven-yard run and his second touchdown of the day.

Along with connecting on all six extra-point attempts, junior kicker Jeremiah Carter matched his career high early in the fourth quarter, hitting a 48-yard field goal to put Trinity ahead 38-0. Carter's 48-yarder is the second of his career, and is tied for the second-longest field goal in TIU history (Mark Wilcox, 49 yds.).

The Trojans finished the scoring on their next-to-last drive of the day, as the offense looked to run out the clock with a little over eight minutes remaining. Danny Mattero finished the drive with his four-yard TD run.

With the win, TIU head coach Kirk Wherritt moves into third place on TIU's all-time coaching wins list, with 18. TIU starts the season 1-0 for the fifth consecutive year, and snaps a two-game slide that ended the 2014 campaign.

The Trojans will have a bye week before traveling to Milwaukee, Wisc. on Saturday, Sept. 12, when they take on Wisconsin Lutheran. Kickoff in the lone night game on the Trojans' schedule is set for 7:00 p.m.