Grace Baptist Academy (2-2) gave up 43 first half points to 2018 Division II Class A state finalist, Friendship Christian School (3-1), in 46-7 loss on Friday night.
Friendship Christian’s quarterback Justin Seagraves scored the opening touchdown for the visitors off of his 17-yard rush. The Commanders second drive ended in similar fashion as running back Dorian Champion found the other side of the goal line after he ripped off a 20-yard run.
The second quarter is where Friendship Christian did most of its damage. Seven seconds into the quarter, Champion returned a punt to the house for 45 yards and then scored on a 2-point conversation to make it 22-0.
Seagraves found the back of the end zone again as he outran Golden Eagles on a 19-yard run for a touchdown. Champion converted the 2-point conversion again. Seagraves finished with 7 carries for 195 yards for two touchdowns and did not complete either of his two passing attempts. Champion tallied 48 yards on 4 carries and a touchdown to go with his pair of 2-point conversations.
With 4:08 left in the second, running back Jaheim Robinson wiggled in to score a 3-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 37-0. The Commanders quickly got the ball back and scored off of Drew Porter’s 1-yard run to close out the half.
The moment that fans had been waiting for came with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter. It was a trick play of sorts that saw backup quarterback Mason Long throw a 35-yard touchdown to starting quarterback Cooper Knecht.
Grace Baptist Academy’s Head Coach Bob Ateca was proud of the character that his team showed after going down early.
“Our kids had to stand up and fight after they got hit in the mouth and that’s hard to do,” said Coach Ateka. “We’ve got to keep working on adjustments of what we do when the offensive line changes in front of you. They got some free hats on us so we’ve got to fix that.”
Grace Baptist will host region opponent Middle Tennessee Christian School (0-3) next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Friendship Christian will host Davidson Academy - 2018 Division II A state champions - in a state final rematch at 7 p.m.
Scoring Summary
FRIENDSHIP 14 29 3 0 -- 46
GRACE 0 0 0 7 -- 7
First Quarter
F -- Justin Seagraves 17 run (Neil kane kick),
F -- Dorian Champion 20 run (Kane kick
Second Quarter
F – Champion 45 punt return (2 point PAT)
F – Seagraves 19 run (Champion run)
F – Jaheim Robinson 3 run (Kane kick)
F – Drew Porter 1 run (kick fails)
Third Quarter
F – Kane 30 FG
Fourth Quarter
G -- Cooper Knecht 35 pass from Mason Long (Sean Holliman kick)
Yardstick
FCA G
First Downs 16 7
Rushes-Yards 31-319 25-77
Passing Yds 0 65
Comp-Att-Int 0-2-0 7-140
Plays-Total Yds 33-319 39-142
Fumbles lost 0-0 0-0
Punts-Avg 1-31.0 8-34.5
Penalties-Yds 5-25 7-50
INDIVIDUALS
RUSHING – Friendship: Justin Seagraves 7-195, Dorian champion 4-48, Drew Porter 5-34, Jaheim Robinson 4-19, Chase Eakes 4-11, Reagan Nelson 1-10, Delanie majors 5-2, Masom Maddox 1-0; ;Grace: Mason Long 8-81, Cooper Knecht 9-7, Tyler Scott 1- minus 1, Joe Colbaugh 5- minus 10..
PASSING – Friendship:justin seagraves 0-1-0, Reagan nelson 0-1-0; Grace: Mason Long 3-3-0, Cooper Knecht 4-11-0.
RECEIVING – Friendship: Dorian Champion 0-0-0; Grace: Cooper Knecht 3-47, Caleb Adams 1-7, Joe Colbaugh 2-6, Tyler Parrott 1-5, Will Lehman 0-0.