Abundant sunshine. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Abundant sunshine. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..
A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – If ever a team needed a win, it was Prince Avenue Christian here Friday night.
The No. 1-ranked Wolverines (6-0) remained unbeaten with a 42-35 comeback victory over Baylor (6-1).
The outcome of the game will have no bearing on what the Wolverines do in the playoffs, but emotionally they needed the win.
The players were stunned by the news midweek that former teammate Elijah Dewitt had been shot to death.
In any other week, the team might have worried that stars Bailey Stockton and Aaron Philo missed practice with illness. Or that the tour-bus company canceled Thursday night, resulting in a long ride on school buses. In relation to Dewitt’s death, those were mere inconveniences.
But there was one more jolt yet to come at the end of Friday’s game.
On the penultimate play, Stockton broke up a potential game-tying touchdown as the Red Raiders tried to rally. When the play ended, Stockton lay motionless in the end zone.
Stockton said later that he initially could feel nothing, which scared him. But that was momentary. Not so for the spectators, who could only imagine the worst.
Haygood Stadium fell silent on both sides, and players on both teams took a knee. It would be more than 20 minutes before Stockton was placed into an ambulance, subduing the exciting finish.
The good news about Stockton is that he was examined at a nearby hospital and released after scans revealed no serious damage. He was scheduled for follow-up exams early this week but said Sunday night he was ready to return to play. Prince does not play this Friday.
On the final play of the Baylor game, Prince Avenue’s Ethan Christian intercepted a pass to preserve the victory. The players celebrated with high fives for the fans who made the long trip, but their smiles were mixed with tears as they mingled with family and friends after the game. Here and there hands raised with two fingers. Not the V for victory, but two for Dewitt’s number at Jefferson High School.
“It was hard,” said Christian. “I knew I had my buddy with me. I could do anything with his help, with God’s help.”
Christian had earlier fumbled and been beaten on a 44-yard scoring pass.
“We talk about this,” said Coach Greg Vandagriff. “It is a long game. You have to keep your head up. You can’t let one play affect the next play. That is the thing about this game. You have to quickly have a short memory and get on with the next play.”
Christian and Stockton played key roles in Prince Avenue’s win, which is earning the Wolverines national attention. A computer algorithm used by CalPreps ranks the Wolverines No. 9 in the state, among all teams. The same calculation rates Prince Avenue Christian No. 62 in the nation. Prince has been No. 1 in Georgia A-I all year.
Christian finished the night with nine catches for 161 yards and one score. His 41-yard score with just 1:11 to play pulled Prince ahead. Stockton caught eight balls for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Plus an 85-yard kickoff return set up a short touchdown drive, and he blocked a field goal.
Aaron Philo completed 26 of 31 passes for 385 yards and three TDs, and ran in two more touchdowns.
Baylor was quarterbacked by Whit Muschamp of Watkinsville, who scored once and threw for two TDs.
“I know these guys,” said Muschamp, who played at Athens Academy last year. “They are a lot of good guys, so I wanted to give it my best shot.
Prince Avenue caught Baylor one week after its comeback 31-27 win over in-town rival McCallie, which ended a six-year losing streak. Haygood Stadium had been rocking that night.
Each team fumbled once. Baylor’s Caleb Hampton, who scored three touchdowns, fumbled on the opening drive of the game when Wolverine linebacker Mason Durning ripped the ball loose. Christian fumbled on Prince’s first drive of the second half.
The team’s matched each other score for score: Stockton, 7-yard pass from Philo for Prince; Hampton, 12-yard run. Stockton, 47-yard bomb from Philo; Muschamp, 7-yard rush. Philo 4-yard rush; Hampton 2-yard rush. 21-all at halftime.
After Christian’s fumble, the Red Raiders scored: Hampton on a 20-yard pass from Muschamp. Mac Bradley answered with a 5-yard run for Prince. Then Baylor’s Amari Jefferson snatched a potential interception away from Christian to complete a 44-yard scoring play from Muschamp with 2:46 to play in the third quarter.
The Wolverines answered with a 14-play, 75-yard drive. Philo converted three third-down plays before running it in from 2 yards to tie the game 35-35 with 8:42 left.
Baylor kept the ball for nearly six minutes, driving to the Prince 19. Cooper Keown’s 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Stockton.
Tie game, 2:30 to go. Prince went 80 yards in four plays.
After Christian’s touchdown, Baylor tried to answer. Muschamp fumbled the ball on a fourth-down scramble, but it bounced fortuitously to him for a 14-yard gain to the Prince 35 with 15 seconds left.
Stockton broke up the pass that injured him, and Christian intercepted the pass that saved the win.
“Our kids did a great job persevering,” said Greg Vandagriff after the game. “We showed a lot of character and a lot of grit.”
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.