On a night where the weather was bad with pouring rain, the Christians of University Christian made the night worse with a 33-0 shutout of the Charlton County Indians in the Georgia/Florida Border Classic played in Brunswick, Georgia. The Tribe turned the ball over four times and never got any offense going as they suffered their first defeat of the season.
The game started off bad for the Indians after taking the opening kickoff out to the 30 yard line. A fumble on second down lost 12 yards and then on fourth down, the punt snap was dropped and the Christians took over from the 11 yard line. Three running plays covered the distance and University Christian scored on a three yard run. The PAT was good and the Tribe trailed 7-0.
On the next possession for the Indians, Nathan Hamlette broke free around the left end and raced 57 yards for an apparent touchdown. But Charlton was called for holding and would end up having to punt.
The Indian defense held their ground and forced a punt back but disaster would strike the Indians once again. After an eight yard loss on a sack the Tribe was intercepted and the Christians returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.. The PAT kick made it 14-0.
Charlton was called for two holding penalties on their next drive and punted the ball back once again. The Christians took over from their own 33 and marched down to the six yard line. But a sack by Dairion Jones pushed them back and two penalties by University Christian forced them to try a 41 yard field goal. Xavier Swift came off the edge and blocked the kick keeping the Tribe’s deficit at 14-0.
Charlton moved the ball out to midfield, but on fourth down a bad snap over the head of the quarterback resulted in a 13 yard loss and a turnover on downs.
The Christians would then use their ball control offense to methodically move down the field where they would score on a two yard run right before the half. A bad snap on the PAT kept the Christian’s lead at 20-0 entering the halftime break.
Coming out on defense to start the second half the Indian defense got a stop and forced a punt. Taking over from their own 25 a bad snap on first down was scooped up at the 11 and returned to the end by University Christian. The two point conversion failed and the Tribe now trailed 26-0.
Getting the ball back the Indians moved from their own 32 down to the University Christian 37. But once again the Tribe would turn the ball over on an interception.
The Charlton defense held and forced a punt, but another interception gave the ball right back to the Christians.
Starting from their own 45 University Christian drove down to the 13 yard line before a holding penalty drove them back further. A sack by Jaylen Lilley forced a third down and 25 yard line, but the Christian receiver caught a pass down the left side for another touchdown. The PAT was good and the deficit was 33-0.
Neither team threatened the remainder of the way as the Tribe suffered their first loss of the year 33-0.
Lilley led the offense with 30 yards on the ground and the Indians could only manage five passing yards.
Charlton will get another big test this Friday when they host Pierce County at Champ Bailey Field.
