Harrells Christian advances past Cabarrus, moves to state title game
By J. Mike Blake, HighSchoolOT Contributor
HARRELLS, N.C. — Harrells Christian Academy will have a shot at its first football state title since 2008.
The undefeated Crusaders won Friday's opening round contest, which doubled as the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association DII semifinal, by a 63-35 score against the visiting Cabarrus Warriors.
The Warriors (5-3), a co-op team with players from crosstown rivals Concord Academy and Cannon School, went toe-to-toe with Harrells Christian (8-0), which was ranked No. 3 in the most recent HighSchoolOT Top 15 poll, for roughly the first 15 minutes of action before junior fullback Devin Gardner completely took over for the home team.
Gardner recorded three first-half touchdowns, including one defensive score from the linebacker spot (scoop-and-score that went for 22 yards after Trent Jackson's strip sack). The 5-foot-11, 240-pound athlete scored on runs of 75, 60, and 1 yards and the Crusaders led 42-21 at halftime.
On the game, Gardner had six total touchdowns (five rushing, including runs from 8 and 30 yards out). Teammate Xavier Arrington added two touchdown runs (of 1 and 4 yards) and Isaiah Underwood added another from 2 yards out.
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Gardner's fumble return for touchdown came with 51 seconds before halftime and at a time where it seemed Cabarrus could get the game back to a one-score game. The Warriors trailed 28-21 with 7:32 left before halftime and were trailing 35-21 at the time of the fumble.
Cabarrus, which starts a plethora of freshmen and sophomores, got four touchdown passes from freshman Tyler Green (13 yards to freshman Will Jones, 70 yards to freshman Max Riley, 5- and 35-yards to sophomore David Wheeler). Jones added a 1-yard touchdown run.
Next week, Harrells Christian will head to the mountains to face top-seeded Christ School for the DII title. The Greenies shutout Trinity Christian of Fayetteville on Friday night, 38-0.
Cabarrus (5-3) only won two games a season ago, but developed a knack of learning how to win this year. Three of the team’s five wins were by one possession or fewer — North Raleigh Christian (21-14), Metrolina Christian (24-21), and High Point Christian (28-27).
By J. Mike Blake, HighSchoolOT Contributor
HARRELLS, N.C. — Harrells Christian Academy will have a shot at its first football state title since 2008.
The undefeated Crusaders won Friday's opening round contest, which doubled as the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association DII semifinal, by a 63-35 score against the visiting Cabarrus Warriors.
The Warriors (5-3), a co-op team with players from crosstown rivals Concord Academy and Cannon School, went toe-to-toe with Harrells Christian (8-0), which was ranked No. 3 in the most recent HighSchoolOT Top 15 poll, for roughly the first 15 minutes of action before junior fullback Devin Gardner completely took over for the home team.
Gardner recorded three first-half touchdowns, including one defensive score from the linebacker spot (scoop-and-score that went for 22 yards after Trent Jackson's strip sack). The 5-foot-11, 240-pound athlete scored on runs of 75, 60, and 1 yards and the Crusaders led 42-21 at halftime.
On the game, Gardner had six total touchdowns (five rushing, including runs from 8 and 30 yards out). Teammate Xavier Arrington added two touchdown runs (of 1 and 4 yards) and Isaiah Underwood added another from 2 yards out.
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Gardner's fumble return for touchdown came with 51 seconds before halftime and at a time where it seemed Cabarrus could get the game back to a one-score game. The Warriors trailed 28-21 with 7:32 left before halftime and were trailing 35-21 at the time of the fumble.
Cabarrus, which starts a plethora of freshmen and sophomores, got four touchdown passes from freshman Tyler Green (13 yards to freshman Will Jones, 70 yards to freshman Max Riley, 5- and 35-yards to sophomore David Wheeler). Jones added a 1-yard touchdown run.
Next week, Harrells Christian will head to the mountains to face top-seeded Christ School for the DII title. The Greenies shutout Trinity Christian of Fayetteville on Friday night, 38-0.
Cabarrus (5-3) only won two games a season ago, but developed a knack of learning how to win this year. Three of the team’s five wins were by one possession or fewer — North Raleigh Christian (21-14), Metrolina Christian (24-21), and High Point Christian (28-27).
