Christchurch won their season opener by defeating Blue Ridge 53-28. The game was called with about eight minutes to go in the 3rd quarter after an agreement by both head coaches.
The teams combined for 74 points in the 1st half on a hot muggy afternoon that drained the strength of both players, coaches, and spectators. The 24 minutes took over two hours to play with several Baron players leaving the game with injuries. Blue Ridge did not start football practice until August 22nd.
"Blue Ridge had a short preseason," Christchurch head coach Ed Homer said. "They moved this game to Labor Day weekend in order to help us out. They gave it their all but Christchurch was just the better team today. We wish them well the rest of the way."
The Seahorses scored the first three times they had the football and took a 23-14 lead with 10:42 to go in the 2nd quarter. Blue Ridge pulled to within three with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Eaton to Malik Johnson. Clayton Thompson returned a deflected pass to the Christchurch 24-yard line and Blue Ridge regained the lead moments later when Eaton scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 6:35 to go in the 2nd quarter. That would be the Barons final score.
The Blue Ridge lead was short lived as Christchurch scored three touchdowns in the final two minutes before halftime. Jahlen Hewlett completed two passes totaling 68-yards including a 21-yard touchdown strike to Nyheim Tucker. Hewlett's 29-yard connection to Trey Critides at the 3-yard line led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerri Forson. On the final play of the half, cornerback DaQuon Frisby picked off a Baron's pass and returned it 65-yards for a touchdown.
Fernando Lewis ran 61-yards for a touchdown to give Christchurch a 53-28 lead on the second play in the third quarter. Soon after, the game was ended due to a concern for injuries and fatigue.
This post was edited on 8/31 11:17 AM by wgarlick
The teams combined for 74 points in the 1st half on a hot muggy afternoon that drained the strength of both players, coaches, and spectators. The 24 minutes took over two hours to play with several Baron players leaving the game with injuries. Blue Ridge did not start football practice until August 22nd.
"Blue Ridge had a short preseason," Christchurch head coach Ed Homer said. "They moved this game to Labor Day weekend in order to help us out. They gave it their all but Christchurch was just the better team today. We wish them well the rest of the way."
The Seahorses scored the first three times they had the football and took a 23-14 lead with 10:42 to go in the 2nd quarter. Blue Ridge pulled to within three with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Eaton to Malik Johnson. Clayton Thompson returned a deflected pass to the Christchurch 24-yard line and Blue Ridge regained the lead moments later when Eaton scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 6:35 to go in the 2nd quarter. That would be the Barons final score.
The Blue Ridge lead was short lived as Christchurch scored three touchdowns in the final two minutes before halftime. Jahlen Hewlett completed two passes totaling 68-yards including a 21-yard touchdown strike to Nyheim Tucker. Hewlett's 29-yard connection to Trey Critides at the 3-yard line led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Jerri Forson. On the final play of the half, cornerback DaQuon Frisby picked off a Baron's pass and returned it 65-yards for a touchdown.
Fernando Lewis ran 61-yards for a touchdown to give Christchurch a 53-28 lead on the second play in the third quarter. Soon after, the game was ended due to a concern for injuries and fatigue.
This post was edited on 8/31 11:17 AM by wgarlick
