Football returns to WNC: Christ School falls in dramatic opener
David Thompson Asheville Citizen Times
ARDEN — The return of football meant heartbreak for Christ School on Friday night.
Rabun Gap-Nachoochee quarterback Aidan Semo connected with Marlin Klein on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 7.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter to complete a 24-21 comeback and hand the Greenies a season-opening loss in front of empty bleachers at home.
Friday marked the return of high school football for several private school teams around the state, including Asheville School, who opened the season with a 28-0 win over Lakeway Christian. No fans were allowed to attend while coaches and officials wore masks throughout the game.
The Eagles scored 14 points in the final quarter to spoil a big night from Christ School junior quarterback AJ Simpkins, who threw for three touchdowns and completed 19-of-26 passes for 278 yards in his first start.
Simpkins, a transfer from Hopewell High School, led Christ School to a 14-7 halftime lead behind touchdown passes to senior Cade Mintz and a 49-yard score to freshman Zack Meyers, who made an acrobatic catch for a late second quarter score.
Rabun Gap (GA.) cut the lead on a 31-yard field with 3:14 left in the third quarter before Christ School struck back with a 30-yard score from Simpkins to senior Richards-Baker Painter with 8:06 left in the game.
Painter, a recent commit to Dartmouth College, finished with a game-high seven catches for 139 yards/
Junior Bryce Sain, who transferred from Swain County High School in January, finished with a game-high 85 yards on 17 carries in his debut with the Greenies. Mintz added 63 yards on six carries.
Former Tuscola High School standout Coleman Bryson gave Rabun Gap an early 7-0 lead with a 45-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, and it was Tucker Holloway, who transferred to the Eagles’ program from Andrews High School in August, who intercepted Simpkins’ final pass to secure the win.
Christ School, which is off next week, dropped its season-opener for the first time since 2014 when they also lost to Rabun Gap.
David Thompson Asheville Citizen Times
ARDEN — The return of football meant heartbreak for Christ School on Friday night.
Rabun Gap-Nachoochee quarterback Aidan Semo connected with Marlin Klein on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 7.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter to complete a 24-21 comeback and hand the Greenies a season-opening loss in front of empty bleachers at home.
Friday marked the return of high school football for several private school teams around the state, including Asheville School, who opened the season with a 28-0 win over Lakeway Christian. No fans were allowed to attend while coaches and officials wore masks throughout the game.
The Eagles scored 14 points in the final quarter to spoil a big night from Christ School junior quarterback AJ Simpkins, who threw for three touchdowns and completed 19-of-26 passes for 278 yards in his first start.
Simpkins, a transfer from Hopewell High School, led Christ School to a 14-7 halftime lead behind touchdown passes to senior Cade Mintz and a 49-yard score to freshman Zack Meyers, who made an acrobatic catch for a late second quarter score.
Rabun Gap (GA.) cut the lead on a 31-yard field with 3:14 left in the third quarter before Christ School struck back with a 30-yard score from Simpkins to senior Richards-Baker Painter with 8:06 left in the game.
Painter, a recent commit to Dartmouth College, finished with a game-high seven catches for 139 yards/
Junior Bryce Sain, who transferred from Swain County High School in January, finished with a game-high 85 yards on 17 carries in his debut with the Greenies. Mintz added 63 yards on six carries.
Former Tuscola High School standout Coleman Bryson gave Rabun Gap an early 7-0 lead with a 45-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, and it was Tucker Holloway, who transferred to the Eagles’ program from Andrews High School in August, who intercepted Simpkins’ final pass to secure the win.
Christ School, which is off next week, dropped its season-opener for the first time since 2014 when they also lost to Rabun Gap.
