Statesville Christian holds on for 10-2 win over GSA
A touchdown run from Josiah Edwards, field goal from Dylan Sutton, and hard-hitting defense led by linebackers Gregory Simonson and Adam Godwin lifted Statesville Christian to a 10-2 victory over Gladiator Sports Academy.
“I feel like the defense played great all night long,” said Statesville Christian head coach Tod Fox. “They made some big plays and some big stops, and I was very proud of their effort.”
After consecutive first-down runs placed the Gladiators at the Statesville Christian 25-yard line in the opening quarter, pursuit from Jack Henderson forced an intentional grounding penalty ending the Gladiator threat.
Backed against its goal line, the Lions ran a sweep left, but a swarm of Gladiators met Edwards in the endzone to force a safety and score the game’s first points.
Following a defensive stop and an eight-yard Gladiator punt, Statesville Christian took over on the Gladiator 14-yard line. After the Lions failed to reach the end zone, Sutton converted a 27-yard field goal to claim a 3-2 advantage.
On the Lions’ next possession, Holden Henderson completed a first down pass to Jacob Smith. He followed by lofting a 29-yard pass down the left sideline to Sutton, and Edwards finished the drive taking an option pitch from Henderson two yards into the endzone giving the lions a 10-3 halftime lead.
“I just went around the corner, relied on the great blocking, cut back, and just thought I gotta go for it,” Edwards said.
Gladiator quarterback Jordan Cantrell shifted momentum to begin the second half, breaking several tackles for a first down and slinging a pass on the sideline for another. A first down run from Anthony Johnson put the Gladiators inside the Statesville Christian 10-yard line, but Smith smothered the ball carrier for a 12-yard loss. Leon Childers tackled Johnson on fourth down, and the Gladiators’ eight-minute, 67-yard drive ended scoreless.
Trailing a single score in the final quarter, Gladiator Johnson broke several tackles on consecutive first down runs. But the Lion defense again produced a stop, with Godwin beating his blocker and hitting the quarterback for a 10-yard sack.
“We did not give up,” Fox said. “We kept fighting all night long, and it ended up a win. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was a win.”
With 3:24 remaining, Sutton caught a 32-yard pass from Henderson on third down to maintain the drive and continue running the clock.
“There was pressure and it crashed, so I tried to get to the outside,” Henderson said. “I saw him, he was a little open, and he’s one of my best receivers, so I knew if I threw it he would grab it. So, I aired it out and let him make the play.”
Gladiator Logan Sapp blocked a late punt from Sutton, but Godwin’s interception of a bobbled Gladiator pass sealed the win.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Edwards said, “We have a love for the game and I believe deep down through struggle we always find a way to come together.”
Scoring Summary
Statesville Christian 0;10;0;0
Gladiator Sports Academy 2;0;0;0
First Quarter
GSA—Anthony Johnson tackle for safety, 2:58
Second Quarter
SC—Dylan Sutton - 27-yard Field Goal, 7:13
SC—Josiah Edwards 2-yard run (SC20 PAT), 1:07
A touchdown run from Josiah Edwards, field goal from Dylan Sutton, and hard-hitting defense led by linebackers Gregory Simonson and Adam Godwin lifted Statesville Christian to a 10-2 victory over Gladiator Sports Academy.
“I feel like the defense played great all night long,” said Statesville Christian head coach Tod Fox. “They made some big plays and some big stops, and I was very proud of their effort.”
After consecutive first-down runs placed the Gladiators at the Statesville Christian 25-yard line in the opening quarter, pursuit from Jack Henderson forced an intentional grounding penalty ending the Gladiator threat.
Backed against its goal line, the Lions ran a sweep left, but a swarm of Gladiators met Edwards in the endzone to force a safety and score the game’s first points.
Following a defensive stop and an eight-yard Gladiator punt, Statesville Christian took over on the Gladiator 14-yard line. After the Lions failed to reach the end zone, Sutton converted a 27-yard field goal to claim a 3-2 advantage.
On the Lions’ next possession, Holden Henderson completed a first down pass to Jacob Smith. He followed by lofting a 29-yard pass down the left sideline to Sutton, and Edwards finished the drive taking an option pitch from Henderson two yards into the endzone giving the lions a 10-3 halftime lead.
“I just went around the corner, relied on the great blocking, cut back, and just thought I gotta go for it,” Edwards said.
Gladiator quarterback Jordan Cantrell shifted momentum to begin the second half, breaking several tackles for a first down and slinging a pass on the sideline for another. A first down run from Anthony Johnson put the Gladiators inside the Statesville Christian 10-yard line, but Smith smothered the ball carrier for a 12-yard loss. Leon Childers tackled Johnson on fourth down, and the Gladiators’ eight-minute, 67-yard drive ended scoreless.
Trailing a single score in the final quarter, Gladiator Johnson broke several tackles on consecutive first down runs. But the Lion defense again produced a stop, with Godwin beating his blocker and hitting the quarterback for a 10-yard sack.
“We did not give up,” Fox said. “We kept fighting all night long, and it ended up a win. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but it was a win.”
With 3:24 remaining, Sutton caught a 32-yard pass from Henderson on third down to maintain the drive and continue running the clock.
“There was pressure and it crashed, so I tried to get to the outside,” Henderson said. “I saw him, he was a little open, and he’s one of my best receivers, so I knew if I threw it he would grab it. So, I aired it out and let him make the play.”
Gladiator Logan Sapp blocked a late punt from Sutton, but Godwin’s interception of a bobbled Gladiator pass sealed the win.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, Edwards said, “We have a love for the game and I believe deep down through struggle we always find a way to come together.”
Scoring Summary
Statesville Christian 0;10;0;0
Gladiator Sports Academy 2;0;0;0
First Quarter
GSA—Anthony Johnson tackle for safety, 2:58
Second Quarter
SC—Dylan Sutton - 27-yard Field Goal, 7:13
SC—Josiah Edwards 2-yard run (SC20 PAT), 1:07
