Rabun Gap-Nacoochee finishes strong in 50-20 win over No. 7 High Point Christian
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (GA) left no doubt in its 50-20 victory against No. 7 High Point Christian Academy.
The Eagles suffered their only loss just six days earlier against No. 5 Christ School, 38-35. Rabun Gap shook off that narrow defeat and imposed its will against HPCA on a shorter week by notching 50 points for the first time in 2020 — nearly reached that mark against Cabarrus Warriors on Oct. 10 (49-0).
“I think the biggest thing was just calming down,” said Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School head football coach Joe Sturdivant. “Calm down and play football; go back to fundamentals. We had a lot of big penalties and it came to just playing with fundamentals. When we play a really good team, with really good athletes… you’ve got to play with the technique that you’re taught … We knew they (HPCA) were going to come out hot, knew they were going to get up on us. We kind of had that expectation and talked about it all week. Came out at halftime and made the right adjustments, and our coaching staff did a great job.”
As the minutes and quarters rolled along, the injury bug started to cause issues for High Point Christian Academy. Various players went down with cramps or actual injuries, including senior quarterback Luke Homol, and that unexpectedly put the Cougars’ head coach Scott Bell in a bad spot with low numbers with varsity reps standing on the home sideline.
HPCA started Friday’s bout strong with passing touchdowns on back-to-back possessions as Homol and sophomore slotback Isaiah Sanders connected on scoring plays of four and 44 yards. The Cougars only led 12-0 with 1:15 to play in the first quarter after Rabun Gap blocked both extra point attempts by senior kicker Johnathan Medlin.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee unleashed for 20 points in the second stanza. The visitors received stellar quarterback play from junior Aidan Semo throughout the game. He found junior athlete Coleman Bryson down the field for a lengthy 43-yard touchdown. The Eagles pulled HPCA’s lead to 12-7 after senior Dominik Sojat booted through an extra point.
Plays in the passing attack continued for Rabun Gap after Homol had his pass picked off by two-way player Tucker Holloway with 3:41 left before halftime. Semo would notch another passing touchdown after finding 6-foot-6 wideout and Michigan commit Marlin Klein (junior) for a 21-yard scoring strike. Sojat was perfect on an extra point and the Eagles were ahead, 14-12.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee was able to pour on more points before the break. HPCA and it’s offense stalled, which led to a punt and the visiting team getting the football back. Semo connected with Holloway, who was also present at wide receiver on Friday, for an 11-yard hookup. The PAT from Sojat was blocked by the Cougars and Rabun Gap carried its 20-12 road advantage into intermission.
After halftime, the Eagles kept piling points on the scoreboard. Sojat was successful on his field goal try from inside 30 yards. That kick put Rabun Gap up 23-12 with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter from High Point Athletic Complex.
Bryson, who transferred from Tuscola High School (NC) in Waynesville, registered a touchdown on the ground that added to quite the performance. He sprinted around the left side for 30 yards and six points. Sojat added an extra point to make the new score 30-12 Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
High Point Christian Academy showed signs of life in the third quarter. Homol was able to find Sanders for the third time on Friday in the end zone, but this pass play went for 16 yards. The Cougars added a two-point conversion after junior receiver Jalen Smith caught the delivery from Homol. 30-20 Eagles in control and there was only 1:23 left to play in the third frame.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School added 20 more points in the fourth quarter to seal its fourth victory: Semo found Klein once again (six-yard TD), Holloway dashed to pay dirt (11-yard score), and sophomore wingback Yunus Altincinar dove across the goal line from just inside HPCA’s 10 in the final minutes. Sojat only had an extra point try blocked on the last touchdown, so was 5-for-7 on the ballgame.
High Point Christian did commit three turnovers in Friday’s lopsided loss. Homol tossed two interceptions (one previously mentioned) and lost the ball on a scramble in the second half, while having his left hand heavily bandaged up with navy blue tape.
Next, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (4-1) returns to Georgia by hosting Metrolina Christian Academy. The Eagles dominated their previous meeting, 40-8, back on Oct. 2.
By Zack Adams, HighSchoolOT reporter
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (GA) left no doubt in its 50-20 victory against No. 7 High Point Christian Academy.
The Eagles suffered their only loss just six days earlier against No. 5 Christ School, 38-35. Rabun Gap shook off that narrow defeat and imposed its will against HPCA on a shorter week by notching 50 points for the first time in 2020 — nearly reached that mark against Cabarrus Warriors on Oct. 10 (49-0).
“I think the biggest thing was just calming down,” said Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School head football coach Joe Sturdivant. “Calm down and play football; go back to fundamentals. We had a lot of big penalties and it came to just playing with fundamentals. When we play a really good team, with really good athletes… you’ve got to play with the technique that you’re taught … We knew they (HPCA) were going to come out hot, knew they were going to get up on us. We kind of had that expectation and talked about it all week. Came out at halftime and made the right adjustments, and our coaching staff did a great job.”
As the minutes and quarters rolled along, the injury bug started to cause issues for High Point Christian Academy. Various players went down with cramps or actual injuries, including senior quarterback Luke Homol, and that unexpectedly put the Cougars’ head coach Scott Bell in a bad spot with low numbers with varsity reps standing on the home sideline.
HPCA started Friday’s bout strong with passing touchdowns on back-to-back possessions as Homol and sophomore slotback Isaiah Sanders connected on scoring plays of four and 44 yards. The Cougars only led 12-0 with 1:15 to play in the first quarter after Rabun Gap blocked both extra point attempts by senior kicker Johnathan Medlin.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee unleashed for 20 points in the second stanza. The visitors received stellar quarterback play from junior Aidan Semo throughout the game. He found junior athlete Coleman Bryson down the field for a lengthy 43-yard touchdown. The Eagles pulled HPCA’s lead to 12-7 after senior Dominik Sojat booted through an extra point.
Plays in the passing attack continued for Rabun Gap after Homol had his pass picked off by two-way player Tucker Holloway with 3:41 left before halftime. Semo would notch another passing touchdown after finding 6-foot-6 wideout and Michigan commit Marlin Klein (junior) for a 21-yard scoring strike. Sojat was perfect on an extra point and the Eagles were ahead, 14-12.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee was able to pour on more points before the break. HPCA and it’s offense stalled, which led to a punt and the visiting team getting the football back. Semo connected with Holloway, who was also present at wide receiver on Friday, for an 11-yard hookup. The PAT from Sojat was blocked by the Cougars and Rabun Gap carried its 20-12 road advantage into intermission.
After halftime, the Eagles kept piling points on the scoreboard. Sojat was successful on his field goal try from inside 30 yards. That kick put Rabun Gap up 23-12 with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter from High Point Athletic Complex.
Bryson, who transferred from Tuscola High School (NC) in Waynesville, registered a touchdown on the ground that added to quite the performance. He sprinted around the left side for 30 yards and six points. Sojat added an extra point to make the new score 30-12 Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
High Point Christian Academy showed signs of life in the third quarter. Homol was able to find Sanders for the third time on Friday in the end zone, but this pass play went for 16 yards. The Cougars added a two-point conversion after junior receiver Jalen Smith caught the delivery from Homol. 30-20 Eagles in control and there was only 1:23 left to play in the third frame.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School added 20 more points in the fourth quarter to seal its fourth victory: Semo found Klein once again (six-yard TD), Holloway dashed to pay dirt (11-yard score), and sophomore wingback Yunus Altincinar dove across the goal line from just inside HPCA’s 10 in the final minutes. Sojat only had an extra point try blocked on the last touchdown, so was 5-for-7 on the ballgame.
High Point Christian did commit three turnovers in Friday’s lopsided loss. Homol tossed two interceptions (one previously mentioned) and lost the ball on a scramble in the second half, while having his left hand heavily bandaged up with navy blue tape.
Next, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (4-1) returns to Georgia by hosting Metrolina Christian Academy. The Eagles dominated their previous meeting, 40-8, back on Oct. 2.
