Drew Johnson and Christ School are home for Friday’s NCISAA Division II semifinal football game against Ravenscroft.
ARDEN – Friday is as personal as it gets for Christ School.
One of few missing jewels in the athletic program’s crown is a state football championship. The Greenies were close in 2015.
They lost 50-26 in last year’s NCISAA Division II finals to Ravenscroft, the same Raleigh area program that has to climb the mountain for Friday evening’s rematch at Fayssoux Field.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
And how about this for personal attention – Christ School-Ravenscroft is the only Western North Carolina football game in town as every local public school concluded their regular seasons last Friday.
The second-seeded Greenies are 9-1 ahead of what could be their final home game of the season. No. 3 Ravenscroft is carrying around a 7-5 record. The winner will play either No. 1 High Point Christian (8-1) or No. 4 Cannon School (6-5) next week for a state championship.
“We played (Ravenscroft) last year in the state championship game and they handled us with their size,” Christ School coach Mark Moroz said.
“The boys didn’t like that feeling of being pushed around and they’ve made a real commitment in the weight room since then. Every one of them has been lifting more than we ever have.”
Greenies senior Drew Johnson (2,294 yards and 29 touchdowns with four interceptions) has passed for 5,011 yards in his two-year career.
Much of his yardage this fall is owed to Keyvaun Cobb (52 receptions for 562 yards and eight touchdowns), Jared Letman-Gash (34 receptions for 482 yards and 13 touchdowns), Gabe Blevins (30 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns), Kokayi Cobb (21 receptions for 502 yards and one touchdown), Tyler Redmond (19 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns) and Kevin Snyder (17 receptions for 146 yards).
Rushing leaders for Christ School are Kokayi Cobb (437 yards, seven touchdowns), Johnson (267 yards), Sage Holley (187 yards, eight touchdowns) and Hunter Tarves (144 yards, one touchdown).
Defensively, the players making the most noise so far are Seth Griswold (92 tackles), Carson Jones (79), Holley (64), Ross Oakley (52) and Banks Campbell (33). Holley and Campbell each have a half-dozen sacks, while Keyvaun Cobb and Tyler Redmond share the team lead in interceptions (three).
The Greenies are 7-0 at home this season, but haven’t played since their 47-16 win over visiting Asheville School on Oct. 29. Huntersville SouthLake Christian Academy forfeited last week’s first-round playoff game due to the fact that the school had less than 20 healthy players.
Ravenscroft gets much of its offensive production from Donald Fuller (1,534 yards, 21 touchdowns) and Dylan Harris (1,147 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions). Jashaun Register (74), Sam Landis (73) and Devon Perry (70) are the Ravens’ top three tacklers. Ravenscroft is riding a four-game winning streak after last week’s 49-27 home win over Metrolina Christian Academy.
“It would be pretty special to stay undefeated at home (on Friday),” Moroz said.
“We’re much more comfortable here, and I think we play better. We just want an opportunity to play for a state championship.”
RAVENSCROFT AT CHRIST SCHOOL
Kickoff: 6 p.m.
Pick: Christ School by 7.
COMING FRIDAY: The Citizen-Times will provide a live blog from Friday’s NCISAA Division II semifinal football game between Christ School and Ravenscroft at CITIZEN-TIMES.com/hshuddle. Updates should begin shortly before kickoff.
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