HPCA football cruises past Covenant Day
Oct 16
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian roared back to life following its hiatus.
The Cougars scored on all six of their possessions of the first half – including a flurry of three scores in less than three minutes – to crush Covenant Day 56-7 in NCISAA football Friday night at the High Point Athletic Complex.
The game was their first since their season-opener Sept. 24 after the school halted in-person learning and athletics for two weeks due to an uptick in coronavirus cases. Parents of all home football players and cheerleaders were also in the stands for the first time this season.
“I thought we played pretty well all-around,” HPCA coach Scott Bell said. “We played hard. We had some stupid mistakes, some stupid penalties. But I thought overall we played well in all three facets of the game.”
Jordan Wilson carried nine times for 89 yards and three touchdowns – all in the first half – to lead the Cougars (2-0), who outgained the Lions (0-2) by a 353-60 margin in total yards for the game. Luke Homol also completed 9 of 16 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns.
All four receivers who caught a pass – Myles Crisp, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Sanders and Jackson Clark – scored a touchdown, as Sanders led the way with 110 yards receiving on two catches while Crisp had four catches for 69 yards. Phil Couillard also added a short-yardage rushing touchdown.
“I think this week in practice we really went after it,” Wilson said. “We were itching to get back on the field. And once we got it, we took full advantage of it.”
HPCA set the tone right from the start. It took its opening drive 51 yards in eight plays and, after stopping Covenant Day downfield, went 78 yards in seven plays to quickly lead 14-0 after one quarter. The Cougars capitalized on a flurry of offense in the second to lead 42-7 into halftime.
“It felt good to just run the ball whenever you want to,” Wilson said. “It just gives us that edge against teams – they have to prepare for it.”
In the second quarter, HPCA connected on a 45-yard pass to set up a short-yardage touchdown. Then, after forcing a fumble and running a couple plays, it scored again 49 seconds later on a 13-yard toss. Another fumble recovery and a 31-yard run set up a short-yard touchdown pass on third down.
The Cougars scored again on a 65-yard pass inside the final two minutes of the half. After the Lions fumbled again on their opening drive of the third, HPCA scored another short touchdown to start the running clock and added another score on its next drive.
The Cougars ran out the clock on their final drive to end the game.
HPCA will play at home again Friday against Rabun Gap. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“Honestly, going into this game I was concerned we might be a little flat with guys looking at MaxPreps scoreboards and things like that,” Bell said. “But actually we had a really good week of practice. So, I give a lot of credit to the senior leadership of this team that keeps us focused. …
“It definitely gives us confidence. Being able to get back out on the field is going to help. We’re going to have to step up (next week) because the team we’re playing has a lot more guys than we do. They’re big, they’re physical. So, we’re going to have to step up our play to beat them.”
Oct 16
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian roared back to life following its hiatus.
The Cougars scored on all six of their possessions of the first half – including a flurry of three scores in less than three minutes – to crush Covenant Day 56-7 in NCISAA football Friday night at the High Point Athletic Complex.
The game was their first since their season-opener Sept. 24 after the school halted in-person learning and athletics for two weeks due to an uptick in coronavirus cases. Parents of all home football players and cheerleaders were also in the stands for the first time this season.
“I thought we played pretty well all-around,” HPCA coach Scott Bell said. “We played hard. We had some stupid mistakes, some stupid penalties. But I thought overall we played well in all three facets of the game.”
Jordan Wilson carried nine times for 89 yards and three touchdowns – all in the first half – to lead the Cougars (2-0), who outgained the Lions (0-2) by a 353-60 margin in total yards for the game. Luke Homol also completed 9 of 16 passes for 195 yards and four touchdowns.
All four receivers who caught a pass – Myles Crisp, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Sanders and Jackson Clark – scored a touchdown, as Sanders led the way with 110 yards receiving on two catches while Crisp had four catches for 69 yards. Phil Couillard also added a short-yardage rushing touchdown.
“I think this week in practice we really went after it,” Wilson said. “We were itching to get back on the field. And once we got it, we took full advantage of it.”
HPCA set the tone right from the start. It took its opening drive 51 yards in eight plays and, after stopping Covenant Day downfield, went 78 yards in seven plays to quickly lead 14-0 after one quarter. The Cougars capitalized on a flurry of offense in the second to lead 42-7 into halftime.
“It felt good to just run the ball whenever you want to,” Wilson said. “It just gives us that edge against teams – they have to prepare for it.”
In the second quarter, HPCA connected on a 45-yard pass to set up a short-yardage touchdown. Then, after forcing a fumble and running a couple plays, it scored again 49 seconds later on a 13-yard toss. Another fumble recovery and a 31-yard run set up a short-yard touchdown pass on third down.
The Cougars scored again on a 65-yard pass inside the final two minutes of the half. After the Lions fumbled again on their opening drive of the third, HPCA scored another short touchdown to start the running clock and added another score on its next drive.
The Cougars ran out the clock on their final drive to end the game.
HPCA will play at home again Friday against Rabun Gap. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“Honestly, going into this game I was concerned we might be a little flat with guys looking at MaxPreps scoreboards and things like that,” Bell said. “But actually we had a really good week of practice. So, I give a lot of credit to the senior leadership of this team that keeps us focused. …
“It definitely gives us confidence. Being able to get back out on the field is going to help. We’re going to have to step up (next week) because the team we’re playing has a lot more guys than we do. They’re big, they’re physical. So, we’re going to have to step up our play to beat them.”
