Bethel Christian defeats Arendell Parrott for first varsity win since bringing football back
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Bethel Christian started its first football season since 1978 with three losses against some of the best teams the NCISAA has to offer.
Playing their fourth straight tough opponent and crosstown rival Arendell Parrott, the Trojans rode running back Javon Edwards to a historic victory.
Edwards ran for 324 yards on 37 carries and Bethel Christian got a late stop, defeating the Patriots 54-46 for the team’s first win since 1978. The Trojans (1-3) didn’t complete a pass all game, but rushed for 390 yards to give Bethel Christian coach Brick Crowder his first win as head coach against his alma mater.
“It’s a God thing,” Crowder said. “We spent all summer selling chicken plates (for uniforms.) We’ve got rocks on our practice field and these kids have been so resilient. I couldn’t be more proud of them, starting out with a 2A conference schedule, playing four of the best teams in 8-man football. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Parrott — they gave us their best shot and pushed us to the limit.
“Honestly, we ran the same offense I ran for (former Arendell Parrott coach) Bill Rowe right here. It was basically Javon right and Javon left — that was the gameplan coming in and we thought we could run the ball. I challenged the offensive line this week and to God be the glory, they came through for us.”
Bethel Christian (1-3) started strong with its opening drive, going on an eight play, 58-yard drive, highlighted by a 25-yard run on fourth-and-5 by Austin Eubanks and ending with Edwards’ 3-yard touchdown run. After forcing a fumble on Arendell Parrott’s ensuing drive a 10-yard touchdown by Jonathan Truett put the Trojans up 16-0 midway through the first.
The Patriots (2-1) struck back through the air as Connor Bright found Zach Sylvia and Holden Killinger for touchdown connections to tie the score before the first quarter ended. The Trojans responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, chewing seven minutes off the clock and finishing with a 7-yard run by Eubanks for a 22-16 advantage.
Arendell Parrott countered on its ensuing drive with a little luck in the process. On the Bethel Christian 30, Bright threw a pass to Killinger. Although Cody Dunk deflected the ball, it fell into Killinger’s hands for the score to tie the score. Edwards countered on the kickoff, going 89 yards for the score and giving the Trojans a 28-22 lead it would take into the break.
After the Patriots failed to convert on its first drive of the second half, the Trojans capitalized two plays later with a 43-yard touchdown run by Edwards. Bright would score on the ensuing drive, but Eubanks scored on a 1-yard run, then two plays later, Reece Jones intercepted Bright and went 23 yards the other way for a touchdown and a 48-30 lead for the Trojans late in the third.
Bright recovered to throw his fourth touchdown pass, connecting with Killinger on fourth-and-12 for 34 yards to cut the deficit to 10. Eubanks scored on the ensuing drive, but four plays later, Trey McLawhorn ran it in from 5 yards out to pull within 54-46 with 8:17 to go.
Arendell Parrott forced a three and out, but turned the ball over on downs with 4:10 remaining. Bethel Christian looked to seal the game, but on fourth-and-goal Edwards was stopped on the 1-yard line, giving the Patriots one final chance with 1:09 to play.
Bright’s passes to Daniels and McLawhorn brought the Patriots to their own 29, but a 16-yard loss on a sack, spike and an incomplete pass brought up fourth-and-26 at the 13. Bright found Daniels, but he was stopped at the 30, setting off a wild celebration on the Bethel Christian side.
“I feel glad we were able to accomplish this,” Edwards said. “We came into this game as the underdogs and we love that role. Everyone counted us out and we were able to prove them wrong to come out with the win.”
Arendell Parrott coach Matt Beaman said the Patriots will make adjustments in preparation for a titanic matchup on the road against Southampton Academy Sept. 16.
“It’s a tough loss with a crosstown rival,” Beaman said. “We’ll have to go back to the drawing board to evaluate our personnel, schemes and get better up front. They dominated the line of scrimmage and it’s hard to win a ball game when you can’t stop the run.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter and Snapchat at @JuniousSmithIII.
Bethel Christian 54, Arendell Parrott 46
Bethel Christian 16 12 20 6—54
Arendell Parrott 16 6 8 16—46
First Quarter
BCA — Javon Edwards 3 run (Austin Eubanks run), 8:19
BCA — Jonathan Truett 10 run (Cody Dunk pass from Eubanks), 5:26
APA — Zach Sylvia 21 pass from Connor Bright (Cole Daniels pass from Bright), 3:43
APA — Trey McLawhorn 14 pass from Bright (Holden Killinger pass from Bright), :08
Second Quarter
BCA — Eubanks 7 run (pass failed), 5:10
APA — Killinger 30 pass from Bright (run failed), 3:42
BCA — Edwards 89 kickoff return (run failed), 3:26
Third Quarter
BCA — Edwards 43 run (Dunk pass from Eubanks), 8:57
APA — Bright 6 run (Sylvia pass from Bright), 7:56
BCA — Eubanks 1 run (run failed), 2:54
BCA — Reese Jones 23 interception return (pass failed), 2:04
Fourth Quarter
APA — Killinger 34 pass from Bright (Killinger pass from Bright), 11:43
BCA — Eubanks 2 run (run failed), 8:56
APA — McLawhorn 5 run (Bright run), 8:17
BCA APA
First Downs 14 20
Rushes-yards 57-390 37-92
Passing 0-3-0 14-29-1
Passing yards 0 248
Total yards 390 340
Punts-avg. 2-27.5 0-0.0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-2
Penalties 11-85 12-80
Individual Statistics
RUSHING — Bethel Christian: Javon Edwards 37-324, Austin Eubanks 12-39, Jonathan Truett 8-27. Arendell Parrott: Trey McLawhorn 16-52, Cole Daniels 11-25, Zach Sylvia 1-22, Connor Bright 9-minus 7.
PASSING — Bethel Christian: Eubanks 0-3-0, 0. Arendell Parrott: Bright 14-29-1, 248.
RECEIVING — Bethel Christian: N/A. Arendell Parrott: Holden Killinger 6-139, Daniels 4-65, McLawhorn 2-26, Sylvia 2-18.
By Junious Smith III / Sports Editor KINSTON FREE PRESS
Bethel Christian started its first football season since 1978 with three losses against some of the best teams the NCISAA has to offer.
Playing their fourth straight tough opponent and crosstown rival Arendell Parrott, the Trojans rode running back Javon Edwards to a historic victory.
Edwards ran for 324 yards on 37 carries and Bethel Christian got a late stop, defeating the Patriots 54-46 for the team’s first win since 1978. The Trojans (1-3) didn’t complete a pass all game, but rushed for 390 yards to give Bethel Christian coach Brick Crowder his first win as head coach against his alma mater.
“It’s a God thing,” Crowder said. “We spent all summer selling chicken plates (for uniforms.) We’ve got rocks on our practice field and these kids have been so resilient. I couldn’t be more proud of them, starting out with a 2A conference schedule, playing four of the best teams in 8-man football. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Parrott — they gave us their best shot and pushed us to the limit.
“Honestly, we ran the same offense I ran for (former Arendell Parrott coach) Bill Rowe right here. It was basically Javon right and Javon left — that was the gameplan coming in and we thought we could run the ball. I challenged the offensive line this week and to God be the glory, they came through for us.”
Bethel Christian (1-3) started strong with its opening drive, going on an eight play, 58-yard drive, highlighted by a 25-yard run on fourth-and-5 by Austin Eubanks and ending with Edwards’ 3-yard touchdown run. After forcing a fumble on Arendell Parrott’s ensuing drive a 10-yard touchdown by Jonathan Truett put the Trojans up 16-0 midway through the first.
The Patriots (2-1) struck back through the air as Connor Bright found Zach Sylvia and Holden Killinger for touchdown connections to tie the score before the first quarter ended. The Trojans responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, chewing seven minutes off the clock and finishing with a 7-yard run by Eubanks for a 22-16 advantage.
Arendell Parrott countered on its ensuing drive with a little luck in the process. On the Bethel Christian 30, Bright threw a pass to Killinger. Although Cody Dunk deflected the ball, it fell into Killinger’s hands for the score to tie the score. Edwards countered on the kickoff, going 89 yards for the score and giving the Trojans a 28-22 lead it would take into the break.
After the Patriots failed to convert on its first drive of the second half, the Trojans capitalized two plays later with a 43-yard touchdown run by Edwards. Bright would score on the ensuing drive, but Eubanks scored on a 1-yard run, then two plays later, Reece Jones intercepted Bright and went 23 yards the other way for a touchdown and a 48-30 lead for the Trojans late in the third.
Bright recovered to throw his fourth touchdown pass, connecting with Killinger on fourth-and-12 for 34 yards to cut the deficit to 10. Eubanks scored on the ensuing drive, but four plays later, Trey McLawhorn ran it in from 5 yards out to pull within 54-46 with 8:17 to go.
Arendell Parrott forced a three and out, but turned the ball over on downs with 4:10 remaining. Bethel Christian looked to seal the game, but on fourth-and-goal Edwards was stopped on the 1-yard line, giving the Patriots one final chance with 1:09 to play.
Bright’s passes to Daniels and McLawhorn brought the Patriots to their own 29, but a 16-yard loss on a sack, spike and an incomplete pass brought up fourth-and-26 at the 13. Bright found Daniels, but he was stopped at the 30, setting off a wild celebration on the Bethel Christian side.
“I feel glad we were able to accomplish this,” Edwards said. “We came into this game as the underdogs and we love that role. Everyone counted us out and we were able to prove them wrong to come out with the win.”
Arendell Parrott coach Matt Beaman said the Patriots will make adjustments in preparation for a titanic matchup on the road against Southampton Academy Sept. 16.
“It’s a tough loss with a crosstown rival,” Beaman said. “We’ll have to go back to the drawing board to evaluate our personnel, schemes and get better up front. They dominated the line of scrimmage and it’s hard to win a ball game when you can’t stop the run.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter and Snapchat at @JuniousSmithIII.
Bethel Christian 54, Arendell Parrott 46
Bethel Christian 16 12 20 6—54
Arendell Parrott 16 6 8 16—46
First Quarter
BCA — Javon Edwards 3 run (Austin Eubanks run), 8:19
BCA — Jonathan Truett 10 run (Cody Dunk pass from Eubanks), 5:26
APA — Zach Sylvia 21 pass from Connor Bright (Cole Daniels pass from Bright), 3:43
APA — Trey McLawhorn 14 pass from Bright (Holden Killinger pass from Bright), :08
Second Quarter
BCA — Eubanks 7 run (pass failed), 5:10
APA — Killinger 30 pass from Bright (run failed), 3:42
BCA — Edwards 89 kickoff return (run failed), 3:26
Third Quarter
BCA — Edwards 43 run (Dunk pass from Eubanks), 8:57
APA — Bright 6 run (Sylvia pass from Bright), 7:56
BCA — Eubanks 1 run (run failed), 2:54
BCA — Reese Jones 23 interception return (pass failed), 2:04
Fourth Quarter
APA — Killinger 34 pass from Bright (Killinger pass from Bright), 11:43
BCA — Eubanks 2 run (run failed), 8:56
APA — McLawhorn 5 run (Bright run), 8:17
BCA APA
First Downs 14 20
Rushes-yards 57-390 37-92
Passing 0-3-0 14-29-1
Passing yards 0 248
Total yards 390 340
Punts-avg. 2-27.5 0-0.0
Fumbles-lost 1-0 4-2
Penalties 11-85 12-80
Individual Statistics
RUSHING — Bethel Christian: Javon Edwards 37-324, Austin Eubanks 12-39, Jonathan Truett 8-27. Arendell Parrott: Trey McLawhorn 16-52, Cole Daniels 11-25, Zach Sylvia 1-22, Connor Bright 9-minus 7.
PASSING — Bethel Christian: Eubanks 0-3-0, 0. Arendell Parrott: Bright 14-29-1, 248.
RECEIVING — Bethel Christian: N/A. Arendell Parrott: Holden Killinger 6-139, Daniels 4-65, McLawhorn 2-26, Sylvia 2-18.
