Trinity overwhelms SouthLake for DIII independent title
By Sammy Batten
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Posted at 7:41 AM
Even with their best player out for most of the evening, the Trinity Christian School Crusaders couldn’t be stopped in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III football finals Friday evening.
The Crusaders ended a 10-year drought since their last state championship in convincing fashion by hammering out 300 yards and seven touchdowns rushing in a 64-16 triumph at Wyatt Athletic Field.
Seniors Glenn and Christopher McKay Jr. ran for two scores each to help complete Trinity Christian’s run to the state crown that eluded it the previous three seasons. The Crusaders, who finish 8-2 this year, lost to eventual state champions during playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017, the latter in the semifinal round. They fell again last year in the first round by a one-point margin against the Asheville School in the Division I playoffs.
“We’ve been working for this so long,″ Trinity’s senior linebacker Demetrius Polk said. “Coming back and winning this has been on our minds since last year. We had to win it. There was no question.″
SouthLake Christian, 8-4, was playing for the Division III title for a second straight year. The Eagles reached the finals last season only fall to another Fayetteville team, Village Christian Academy.
Using an 82-yard kickoff return by Josh Miller for a touchdown and an onside kick recovery that led to a 32-yard field goal Zach Murphy, SouthLake actually led the Crusaders 10-7 with 2:23 left in the first quarter.
It was only about a minute later that Trinity Christian lost senior running back Cha’Von McEachern. McEachern, who entered Friday with more than 1,300 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, reinjured an ankle sprain with about 1:30 left in the first quarter and never returned to the game.
“I really wish he hadn’t gotten banged up tonight,″ Trinity Christian coach Chuck Webster said of McEachern. “But he carried us the past two years to get to this point. He wasn’t able to finish tonight, but we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Cha’Von.″
The Crusaders, however, hardly missed a beat in McEachern’s absence, thanks to the trio of Young, McKay and sophomore quarterback Cedavion Wimbley. Wimbley ran for a score and thew a 29-yard pass to Xavier Matthews with 1:14 left in the first quarter to put Trinity Christian ahead to stay at 14-10.
Young and McKay took turns blasting through the SouthLake defense from there. Young, a 1,000-yard rusher at Jack Britt two years ago, sat out last season after transferring to Trinity after having knee surgery. He completed his career in style by piling up 124 yards on seven carries against the Eagles, a performance that was highlighted by a 72-yard scoring scamper in the second quarter.
“It was a shock to me when I saw Cha’Von go down,″ Young said. “But the coaches have been preparing us for this all year. It’s next man up. I knew it was time for me to step up.″
McKay complemented Young seven-carry, 83-yard effort that included scoring runs of 25 and 3 yards.
But it was two special teams touchdowns that really put the game away for Trinity Christian.
Senior Amarion Mack took a punt back 85 yards for a score with 28.9 seconds left in the first half to increase the Crusaders’ lead to 34-10 at halftime. Then, on the opening kickoff of the second half, Jacquan Gibson grabbed an onside kick attempt by SouthLake and took it back 45 yards for score and 42-10 Trinity lead.
The result was Trinity’s first state title as an 11-man football program. The Crusaders won three state titles between 2007-09 playing eight-man football.
“I’m happy for the school and these kids who have worked so hard since March,″ Webster said. “I am very grateful for the win and it feels really good to win a championship. It’s been a long time coming. This was just a team effort.″
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at sbatten@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3534.
By Sammy Batten
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Posted at 7:41 AM
Even with their best player out for most of the evening, the Trinity Christian School Crusaders couldn’t be stopped in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division III football finals Friday evening.
The Crusaders ended a 10-year drought since their last state championship in convincing fashion by hammering out 300 yards and seven touchdowns rushing in a 64-16 triumph at Wyatt Athletic Field.
Seniors Glenn and Christopher McKay Jr. ran for two scores each to help complete Trinity Christian’s run to the state crown that eluded it the previous three seasons. The Crusaders, who finish 8-2 this year, lost to eventual state champions during playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017, the latter in the semifinal round. They fell again last year in the first round by a one-point margin against the Asheville School in the Division I playoffs.
“We’ve been working for this so long,″ Trinity’s senior linebacker Demetrius Polk said. “Coming back and winning this has been on our minds since last year. We had to win it. There was no question.″
SouthLake Christian, 8-4, was playing for the Division III title for a second straight year. The Eagles reached the finals last season only fall to another Fayetteville team, Village Christian Academy.
Using an 82-yard kickoff return by Josh Miller for a touchdown and an onside kick recovery that led to a 32-yard field goal Zach Murphy, SouthLake actually led the Crusaders 10-7 with 2:23 left in the first quarter.
It was only about a minute later that Trinity Christian lost senior running back Cha’Von McEachern. McEachern, who entered Friday with more than 1,300 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, reinjured an ankle sprain with about 1:30 left in the first quarter and never returned to the game.
“I really wish he hadn’t gotten banged up tonight,″ Trinity Christian coach Chuck Webster said of McEachern. “But he carried us the past two years to get to this point. He wasn’t able to finish tonight, but we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Cha’Von.″
The Crusaders, however, hardly missed a beat in McEachern’s absence, thanks to the trio of Young, McKay and sophomore quarterback Cedavion Wimbley. Wimbley ran for a score and thew a 29-yard pass to Xavier Matthews with 1:14 left in the first quarter to put Trinity Christian ahead to stay at 14-10.
Young and McKay took turns blasting through the SouthLake defense from there. Young, a 1,000-yard rusher at Jack Britt two years ago, sat out last season after transferring to Trinity after having knee surgery. He completed his career in style by piling up 124 yards on seven carries against the Eagles, a performance that was highlighted by a 72-yard scoring scamper in the second quarter.
“It was a shock to me when I saw Cha’Von go down,″ Young said. “But the coaches have been preparing us for this all year. It’s next man up. I knew it was time for me to step up.″
McKay complemented Young seven-carry, 83-yard effort that included scoring runs of 25 and 3 yards.
But it was two special teams touchdowns that really put the game away for Trinity Christian.
Senior Amarion Mack took a punt back 85 yards for a score with 28.9 seconds left in the first half to increase the Crusaders’ lead to 34-10 at halftime. Then, on the opening kickoff of the second half, Jacquan Gibson grabbed an onside kick attempt by SouthLake and took it back 45 yards for score and 42-10 Trinity lead.
The result was Trinity’s first state title as an 11-man football program. The Crusaders won three state titles between 2007-09 playing eight-man football.
“I’m happy for the school and these kids who have worked so hard since March,″ Webster said. “I am very grateful for the win and it feels really good to win a championship. It’s been a long time coming. This was just a team effort.″
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at sbatten@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3534.
