Bethel Christian blows out Wayne Christian, becomes eligible for postseason
Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Bethel Christian has been playing like a team used to success instead of just a fledgling program and Thursday helped the Trojans reach another level.
Javon Edwards turned in another stellar performance as Bethel Christian defeated Wayne Christian 58-24 for the team’s fourth straight victory. The Trojans (4-3) moved above .500 for the first time since reinstating the program after a 38-year hiatus, with Edwards’ 359 yards on 29 carries and six touchdowns leading the charge.
“This has just been awesome,” Trojans coach Brick Crowder said. “What our guys have been through preparing into the offseason — to win four straight, it shows the guys have been buying into the system and what the coaches have been teaching. To see them having this kind of success is incredible.”
Bethel Christian jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after a 2-yard run by Edwards and a 52-yard quarterback keeper by Austin Eubanks. Wayne Christian (1-5) got on the board with 2:25 remaining in the first on a 4-yard pass from D.J. Waters to Kanin Preskitt, but the Trojans countered on the ensuing drive, with Edwards’ 30-yard sprint to the end zone on the first play of the second made the score 22-6.
After forcing a turnover on downs, Bethel Christian was looking for more, but a fumble by Edwards gave the Eagles life and they scored on Waters’ 45-yard touchdown to pull within 10 with 2:04 to play. The Trojans would recover, moving the ball downfield and ending the drive with Eubanks throwing an 11-yard touchdown to Cody Dunk with 22 seconds to play before the break for the 28-12 advantage.
Bethel Christian went with a squib kick to start the third quarter and it bounced off a Wayne Christian player, allowing the Trojans to recover. Bethel Christian cashed in on the opportunity with Edwards scoring from 15 yards out to put the Trojans up 36-12. The Trojans would carry the momentum on defense, forcing a turnover on downs, leading to a 29-yard touchdown run by Edwards, who added a 63-yarder on the ensuing play after a three-and-out to push the score to 50-12 by the end of the third.
Wayne Christian would close the gap to 50-24 after a 29-yard connection by Waters to Preskitt and a Junior Tabe 45-yard fumble recovery, but Edwards’ sixth touchdown with 3:55 to play closed out the scoring.
Edwards said it’s been a great season so far, but there’s much more to strive for.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, but we’re not done yet,” Edwards said. “Hopefully, we can continue to build off this.”
BETHEL CHRISTIAN 58, WAYNE CHRISTIAN 24
WC 6 6 0 12 — 24
BC 14 14 22 8 — 58
First Quarter
BC — Javon Edwards 2 run (run failed), 8:05
BC — Austin Eubanks 52 run (Edwards run), 5:35
WC — Kanin Preskitt 4 pass from D.J. Waters (run failed), 2:25
Second Quarter
BC — Edwards 30 run (Cody Dunk from Austin Eubanks), 11:52
WC — Waters 45 run (run failed), 2:04
BC — Dunk 11 pass from Eubanks (pass failed), :22
Third Quarter
BC — Edwards 15 run (Jonathan Truett pass from Eubanks), 7:30
BC — Edwards 29 run (Eubanks run), 3:17
BC — Edwards 63 run (run failed), 1:08
Fourth Quarter
WC — Preskitt 29 pass from Waters (run failed), 7:43
WC — Junior Tabe 45 fumble recovery (pass failed), 6:35
BC — Edwards 34 run (Eubanks run), 3:55
WC BC
First downs 10 27
Rushing 33-141 53-527
Comp-att-int 7-21-0 1-1-0
Passing 90 11
Total yards 231 538
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2
Penalties 5-25 3-35
Punts 1-30 0-0
Rushing: Wayne Christian — D.J. Waters 14-97, Austin Kornegay 9-45, Kanin Preskitt 6-12, Gavin Wiley 2-minus 3, Team 2-minus 10. Bethel Christian — Javon Edwards 29-359, Austin Eubanks 10-109, Jonathan Truett 7-36, Sincere McDonald 4-12, Reese Jones 3-11.
Passing: Wayne Christian — Waters 7-21-0, 90. Bethel Christian — Eubanks 1-1-0, 11
Receiving: Wayne Christian — Will White 2-48, Kanin Preskitt 4-40, Kornegay 1-2. Bethel Christian — Cody Dunk 1-11.
Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Bethel Christian has been playing like a team used to success instead of just a fledgling program and Thursday helped the Trojans reach another level.
Javon Edwards turned in another stellar performance as Bethel Christian defeated Wayne Christian 58-24 for the team’s fourth straight victory. The Trojans (4-3) moved above .500 for the first time since reinstating the program after a 38-year hiatus, with Edwards’ 359 yards on 29 carries and six touchdowns leading the charge.
“This has just been awesome,” Trojans coach Brick Crowder said. “What our guys have been through preparing into the offseason — to win four straight, it shows the guys have been buying into the system and what the coaches have been teaching. To see them having this kind of success is incredible.”
Bethel Christian jumped out to an early 14-0 lead after a 2-yard run by Edwards and a 52-yard quarterback keeper by Austin Eubanks. Wayne Christian (1-5) got on the board with 2:25 remaining in the first on a 4-yard pass from D.J. Waters to Kanin Preskitt, but the Trojans countered on the ensuing drive, with Edwards’ 30-yard sprint to the end zone on the first play of the second made the score 22-6.
After forcing a turnover on downs, Bethel Christian was looking for more, but a fumble by Edwards gave the Eagles life and they scored on Waters’ 45-yard touchdown to pull within 10 with 2:04 to play. The Trojans would recover, moving the ball downfield and ending the drive with Eubanks throwing an 11-yard touchdown to Cody Dunk with 22 seconds to play before the break for the 28-12 advantage.
Bethel Christian went with a squib kick to start the third quarter and it bounced off a Wayne Christian player, allowing the Trojans to recover. Bethel Christian cashed in on the opportunity with Edwards scoring from 15 yards out to put the Trojans up 36-12. The Trojans would carry the momentum on defense, forcing a turnover on downs, leading to a 29-yard touchdown run by Edwards, who added a 63-yarder on the ensuing play after a three-and-out to push the score to 50-12 by the end of the third.
Wayne Christian would close the gap to 50-24 after a 29-yard connection by Waters to Preskitt and a Junior Tabe 45-yard fumble recovery, but Edwards’ sixth touchdown with 3:55 to play closed out the scoring.
Edwards said it’s been a great season so far, but there’s much more to strive for.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, but we’re not done yet,” Edwards said. “Hopefully, we can continue to build off this.”
BETHEL CHRISTIAN 58, WAYNE CHRISTIAN 24
WC 6 6 0 12 — 24
BC 14 14 22 8 — 58
First Quarter
BC — Javon Edwards 2 run (run failed), 8:05
BC — Austin Eubanks 52 run (Edwards run), 5:35
WC — Kanin Preskitt 4 pass from D.J. Waters (run failed), 2:25
Second Quarter
BC — Edwards 30 run (Cody Dunk from Austin Eubanks), 11:52
WC — Waters 45 run (run failed), 2:04
BC — Dunk 11 pass from Eubanks (pass failed), :22
Third Quarter
BC — Edwards 15 run (Jonathan Truett pass from Eubanks), 7:30
BC — Edwards 29 run (Eubanks run), 3:17
BC — Edwards 63 run (run failed), 1:08
Fourth Quarter
WC — Preskitt 29 pass from Waters (run failed), 7:43
WC — Junior Tabe 45 fumble recovery (pass failed), 6:35
BC — Edwards 34 run (Eubanks run), 3:55
WC BC
First downs 10 27
Rushing 33-141 53-527
Comp-att-int 7-21-0 1-1-0
Passing 90 11
Total yards 231 538
Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-2
Penalties 5-25 3-35
Punts 1-30 0-0
Rushing: Wayne Christian — D.J. Waters 14-97, Austin Kornegay 9-45, Kanin Preskitt 6-12, Gavin Wiley 2-minus 3, Team 2-minus 10. Bethel Christian — Javon Edwards 29-359, Austin Eubanks 10-109, Jonathan Truett 7-36, Sincere McDonald 4-12, Reese Jones 3-11.
Passing: Wayne Christian — Waters 7-21-0, 90. Bethel Christian — Eubanks 1-1-0, 11
Receiving: Wayne Christian — Will White 2-48, Kanin Preskitt 4-40, Kornegay 1-2. Bethel Christian — Cody Dunk 1-11.
