Charlotte Christian downs Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.) for NCISAA D1 championship
Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Christian Knights defeated the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles 27-21 in Charlotte on Friday night to win their fourth consecutive NCISAA Division-I football state championship.
"I know what we're going to give... that's kind of the heartbeat of who we are," said Charlotte Christian School head football coach Jason Estep after the big win. "We were much smaller than they (Rabun Gap were. We had to grind, make some plays, get a little gritty, and get some lose balls. We did and we just made some plays."
Charlotte Christian capitalized on an early turnover by the Eagles as senior slotback Henry Rutledge shuffled his way into the end zone from five yards out to make it 7-0. RGNS fumbled the opening kickoff and that set the home team up with excellent field position in the game's early stages.
Rabun Gap answered late in the first quarter when junior quarterback Aidan Semo ran the ball in from three yards away.
In the second, Charlotte Christian senior quarterback Matthew Tuomala made the most of a broken play and ran it 15 yards into the end zone for the Knights' second touchdown of the game, making it 14-7 in favor of the home team.
The Knights were able to snap the back-and-forth nature of the game's beginning when Rutledge took it to the house from 92 yards away to give his team a two-score lead heading into the halftime break.
Charlotte Christian's defense had a good start to the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless in the third quarter.
But with their backs against the wall in the fourth, Rabun Gap got things going.
Semo hit fellow junior wide receiver Tucker Holloway for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 8:48 to play that made it 21-14.
The Eagles' defense then held, and a long punt return set the offense up at the Charlotte Christian 18-yard-line with a tie just a touchdown and an extra point away.
That touchdown and conversion came when junior athlete Coleman Bryson ran it in from two yards out to tie the game at 21 each with 4:14 remaining.
Rutledge delivered the game-winning score for the Knights on a 36-yard run that came off of a delayed handoff. Bryson blocked the extra point to keep the Eagles' hopes for a regulation win alive.
Chip Kasay's second interception of the night on the ensuing Rabun Gap drive sealed the deal for the Knights. Semo was looking down the field for junior wide receiver Marlin Klein, a Michigan commit, but the pass was picked by Kasay (senior free safety) on a deflection from CCS senior outside linebacker Will Farrell.
On Friday evening, Kasay totaled three of the Knights' four forced turnovers. He intercepted Semo twice and recovered a fumble that spoiled a potential touchdown drive by Rabun Gap in the third quarter -- which came inside Christian's own five-yard line, so that was a timely takeaway for sure.
Charlotte Christian School (6-1) caps off its 2020 season by winning five ballgames in a row. That stretch includes a forfeit win over Charlotte Country Day School, who was supposed to be the Knights' opponent last week before a positive COVID-19 test caused that contest to not be played.
Highlights: Charlotte Christian capitalizes on Sun Valley turnovers in 35-13 route Charlotte Christian takes over top spot in statewide football rankings
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (7-2) pieced together an impressive campaign under the guidance of first-year head coach Joe Sturdivant. The Eagles only blemish prior to their state title loss was falling against Christ School, the Division-II champions, at home on a Saturday afternoon by three points (38-35).
Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Christian Knights defeated the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles 27-21 in Charlotte on Friday night to win their fourth consecutive NCISAA Division-I football state championship.
"I know what we're going to give... that's kind of the heartbeat of who we are," said Charlotte Christian School head football coach Jason Estep after the big win. "We were much smaller than they (Rabun Gap were. We had to grind, make some plays, get a little gritty, and get some lose balls. We did and we just made some plays."
Charlotte Christian capitalized on an early turnover by the Eagles as senior slotback Henry Rutledge shuffled his way into the end zone from five yards out to make it 7-0. RGNS fumbled the opening kickoff and that set the home team up with excellent field position in the game's early stages.
Rabun Gap answered late in the first quarter when junior quarterback Aidan Semo ran the ball in from three yards away.
In the second, Charlotte Christian senior quarterback Matthew Tuomala made the most of a broken play and ran it 15 yards into the end zone for the Knights' second touchdown of the game, making it 14-7 in favor of the home team.
The Knights were able to snap the back-and-forth nature of the game's beginning when Rutledge took it to the house from 92 yards away to give his team a two-score lead heading into the halftime break.
Charlotte Christian's defense had a good start to the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless in the third quarter.
But with their backs against the wall in the fourth, Rabun Gap got things going.
Semo hit fellow junior wide receiver Tucker Holloway for a 12-yard touchdown pass with 8:48 to play that made it 21-14.
The Eagles' defense then held, and a long punt return set the offense up at the Charlotte Christian 18-yard-line with a tie just a touchdown and an extra point away.
That touchdown and conversion came when junior athlete Coleman Bryson ran it in from two yards out to tie the game at 21 each with 4:14 remaining.
Rutledge delivered the game-winning score for the Knights on a 36-yard run that came off of a delayed handoff. Bryson blocked the extra point to keep the Eagles' hopes for a regulation win alive.
Chip Kasay's second interception of the night on the ensuing Rabun Gap drive sealed the deal for the Knights. Semo was looking down the field for junior wide receiver Marlin Klein, a Michigan commit, but the pass was picked by Kasay (senior free safety) on a deflection from CCS senior outside linebacker Will Farrell.
On Friday evening, Kasay totaled three of the Knights' four forced turnovers. He intercepted Semo twice and recovered a fumble that spoiled a potential touchdown drive by Rabun Gap in the third quarter -- which came inside Christian's own five-yard line, so that was a timely takeaway for sure.
Charlotte Christian School (6-1) caps off its 2020 season by winning five ballgames in a row. That stretch includes a forfeit win over Charlotte Country Day School, who was supposed to be the Knights' opponent last week before a positive COVID-19 test caused that contest to not be played.
Highlights: Charlotte Christian capitalizes on Sun Valley turnovers in 35-13 route Charlotte Christian takes over top spot in statewide football rankings
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (7-2) pieced together an impressive campaign under the guidance of first-year head coach Joe Sturdivant. The Eagles only blemish prior to their state title loss was falling against Christ School, the Division-II champions, at home on a Saturday afternoon by three points (38-35).
