Trinity Christian head football coach Verlon Dorminey is home and resting, after being hospitalized last week.
Dorminey who has been the Conquerors head coach for three decades, missed their win over Munroe Day this past Friday. Trinity Christian assistant coach Gerard Ross said Coach Dorminey had a cold all last week.
He blacked out Thursday night. He was taken to the hospital where tests were conducted all weekend; Dorminey was discharged Sunday and is at home resting. It's not clear what caused Dorminey's medical episode.
In his absence, the defending state champion Conquerors routed Munroe 39-22 to advance to the State Semifinals. They will travel to Orlando Christian Prep this Friday night with a trip to the Class 2A State Championship on the line. The team is optimistic Dorminey will be able to be in attendance for Friday's game.
What is for certain: Dorminey, the 31-year head coach for the Conquerors, inspired his team's quarterfinal win.
"It was an emotional night for us. But we had to understand that he would've wanted us to go hard. So we did: we did it for him," five-star running back Treyaun Webb said. "He means everything. He basically is Trinity. Everything he built 30 years ago is flourishing now. He had a vision when he first got here and it's exceeded expectations."
"They played with a whole different energy. With him being missed and the kids playing for him, we played with more energy than we played with all year," Ross agreed. "He definitely made a big difference by 'playing for him.'"
They hope to carry that energy throughout these playoffs -- with Dorminey back on the sidelines.