HPCA gives thanks for title BY
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian, in spite of the challenges it faced, kept making plays to win its second straight state championship.
The top-seeded Cougars, after winning the Division III title last year, once again rolled through their opponents and captured the NCISAA Division II football state championship Friday with a 16-6 win over second-seeded Christ School at the High Point Athletic Complex.
“It feels great,” said senior quarterback De’Shaun Taylor, who ran for 118 yards plus threw for 98 yards and a touchdown. “I just have to thank God. It’s just awesome. I’m at a loss for words right now – two in a row, it’s great. …
“We made our mistakes — everybody makes mistakes. But our team fought 100 percent every time. That’s the main reason why we came out victorious. We just stayed together. There’s a lot of love, a lot of brotherhood on this team.”
The Cougars, who finished the season 10-1, quickly jumped ahead 9-0 in the first quarter. Taylor tossed to Tyeren Melton to cap a 66-yard, six-play opening drive, and then, after HPCA recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Austin Hendley booted a field goal just over seven minutes into the game.
HPCA held a 9-6 lead through halftime and into thefour thquarter. That’s when the Cougars ran a deceptive counter play that sprung Lance Boykin for a52-yard run down the right side for a touchdown and gave them a 16-6 lead with 10:57 left in the game.
“It’s supposed to look like an option (to the left), and then we counter back around,” said coach Scott Bell, in his third year overseeing aprogram that is only nine years old (seven years at the varsity level). “We knew that they’re a fast team, they move around well, and they get to the ball well. “So, we kind of set it up. And once the opportunity was there, the counter worked very well. Once he came around the end, there wasn’t anybody in sight. It was very big. And to know how well our defense was playing, if we couldtake some time off, get a couple first downs, we could holdon and win.”
After the teams traded fourth-down stops, the Greenies (10-2), who were in the title game for the second straight year and third time in fi ve years, had one last chance. But Boykin,who also plays defensive back, snagged a tipped pass out to the right with 3:39 left in the game to help seal the victory.
“We’ve worked sohard,” Boykin said.“So, just to see it pay off, it’s just a blessing from the Lord. So, I ’m just verynhumbled and excited. Man, I can’t believe it. … It’s a great feeling. I couldn’t do it without my teammates and coaches. And I want to thank the Lord for blessings He gave us as a team.”
The Cougars outscored their opponents 344-67 – including 90-6 in the playoffs – and completed their second season in a row not allowing an opponent to score more than 14 points –a streak spanning 23 games. All that during a season in which they faced tougher competition and struggled with injuries.
Their only loss came on a Hail Mary on the final play of the game against Randleman, a public
2A team. “Last year, we had an easier road with no injuries,” Taylor said. “And just to think about how much nadversity we had to fight ever y single game after game, it was just amazing.”
Six players made the all-state team for HPCA: Boykin, Melton, Hendley, Copeland Petitfils, Justin Dillard andDrew Davis.
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian, in spite of the challenges it faced, kept making plays to win its second straight state championship.
The top-seeded Cougars, after winning the Division III title last year, once again rolled through their opponents and captured the NCISAA Division II football state championship Friday with a 16-6 win over second-seeded Christ School at the High Point Athletic Complex.
“It feels great,” said senior quarterback De’Shaun Taylor, who ran for 118 yards plus threw for 98 yards and a touchdown. “I just have to thank God. It’s just awesome. I’m at a loss for words right now – two in a row, it’s great. …
“We made our mistakes — everybody makes mistakes. But our team fought 100 percent every time. That’s the main reason why we came out victorious. We just stayed together. There’s a lot of love, a lot of brotherhood on this team.”
The Cougars, who finished the season 10-1, quickly jumped ahead 9-0 in the first quarter. Taylor tossed to Tyeren Melton to cap a 66-yard, six-play opening drive, and then, after HPCA recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Austin Hendley booted a field goal just over seven minutes into the game.
HPCA held a 9-6 lead through halftime and into thefour thquarter. That’s when the Cougars ran a deceptive counter play that sprung Lance Boykin for a52-yard run down the right side for a touchdown and gave them a 16-6 lead with 10:57 left in the game.
“It’s supposed to look like an option (to the left), and then we counter back around,” said coach Scott Bell, in his third year overseeing aprogram that is only nine years old (seven years at the varsity level). “We knew that they’re a fast team, they move around well, and they get to the ball well. “So, we kind of set it up. And once the opportunity was there, the counter worked very well. Once he came around the end, there wasn’t anybody in sight. It was very big. And to know how well our defense was playing, if we couldtake some time off, get a couple first downs, we could holdon and win.”
After the teams traded fourth-down stops, the Greenies (10-2), who were in the title game for the second straight year and third time in fi ve years, had one last chance. But Boykin,who also plays defensive back, snagged a tipped pass out to the right with 3:39 left in the game to help seal the victory.
“We’ve worked sohard,” Boykin said.“So, just to see it pay off, it’s just a blessing from the Lord. So, I ’m just verynhumbled and excited. Man, I can’t believe it. … It’s a great feeling. I couldn’t do it without my teammates and coaches. And I want to thank the Lord for blessings He gave us as a team.”
The Cougars outscored their opponents 344-67 – including 90-6 in the playoffs – and completed their second season in a row not allowing an opponent to score more than 14 points –a streak spanning 23 games. All that during a season in which they faced tougher competition and struggled with injuries.
Their only loss came on a Hail Mary on the final play of the game against Randleman, a public
2A team. “Last year, we had an easier road with no injuries,” Taylor said. “And just to think about how much nadversity we had to fight ever y single game after game, it was just amazing.”
Six players made the all-state team for HPCA: Boykin, Melton, Hendley, Copeland Petitfils, Justin Dillard andDrew Davis.
