Football: BGA rolls into state playoffs; CPA downs FRA

Battle Ground Academy kept its momentum rolling into the Division II-AA playoffs with a win over Lipscomb Academy Friday. 

The Division II No. 10 Wildcats (9-1, 3-1) beat the Mustangs (1-9, 0-4) 19-9 for their fifth win in a row since losing 44-14 to Christ Presbyterian Academy on Sept. 15. They’ve only allowed 21 points in the five wins. 

BGA got up 19-0 in the first half but its offense stalled after halftime. Luckily, its defense was good enough to allow the Wildcats to escape with a win.

The Mustangs knocked home a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter, but couldn’t muster another score until there were just 36 seconds left in the contest. 

Quarterback Drew Martin connected on 14-of-18 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for BGA. Kel Hawkins caught three passes for 41 yards and TD, and Jaylen Frierson and Julian Walton added rushing scores. 

Garnett Hollis had 7.5 tackles and an interception for BGA. 

The Wildcats, the second seed in the Middle Region, will host Harding Academy, the fifth seed in the West Region, in the Division II-AA state tournament first round next week. 

Christ Presbyterian Academy 42, Franklin Road Academy 19

It was a banner first year in Division II for Christ Presbyterian Academy, as the Lions finished the regular season undefeated in the Division II-AA Middle Region with a win over Franklin Road Academy Friday. 

The Division II No. 8 Lions (8-2, 4-0) got the better of their old rival Panthers (4-6, 2-2) 42-19 to finish as the top seed in the Middle Region, pushing FRA to the third seed. 

Everything was tied at seven following the first quarter, but over the next two frames CPA took over. 

The Lions outscored FRA 35-7 in the second and third quarters to blow the game open behind their rushing attack.

Kane Patterson led the way with three rushing scores over the run, including a 72-yarder in the second quarter. He finished with 14 carries for 151 yards and four TDs. Sam West also added a TD rushing for the Lions, and he had 48 yards. 

Watson Tansil finished with 81 yards rushing for FRA on nine carries with a TD, and quarterback Eric Stoxstill-Diggs had 110 yards, a TD and an interception, completing 10-of-21 passes. 

CPA will host its first Division II playoff game next week against East Region fifth seed CAK, while FRA will host West Region three seed St. George’s in its first playoff game since 2015. 

McCallie 45, Father Ryan 7 

Father Ryan’s regular season concluded with a loss at McCallie Friday. 

The Fightin’ Irish (4-6, 1-5) were defeated 45-7 by the Blue Tornado (7-3, 4-2).

The loss means Father Ryan is the six seed in the Division II-AAA East/Middle Region. The Irish will travel to Pope John Paul (5-5), the East/Middle Region’s five seed, for the first round of the state playoffs.