Nov 2

Nov 2 Late first half struggles doom Bethel Christian in state title loss to Halifax Academy

ROANOKE RAPIDS - Despite all the adversity they’ve been through this season, Bethel Christian found themselves one win away from a state championship. Unfortunately, the result they wanted against Roanoke Rapids Halifax Academy didn’t come to fruition.

The number two seeded Trojans faltered late in the first half of a 38-8 loss to the top seeded Vikings in the NCISAA Division II 8-man state championship on Friday night. This is the third time the Trojans have fallen to the Vikings this season after losing to them twice in the regular season. Brick Crowder and his team ran into a Vikings that has been to four straight state title games, but he was proud of how his team battled to be in this position.

“I’m so proud of this senior class,” Crowder said. “They’ve made a big impact on our school and the community. It was tough with the situation at Wayne Christian during the season and they could’ve quit, but they didn’t. We’ve always said that ‘tough times don’t last, but tough people do’. Obviously, it hurts to lose, but we fought hard to reach this point.”

Two special teams blunders led to an avalanche for the Vikings. After it was scoreless for the first 22 minutes of the game, a muffed punt by Bethel Christian (5-4) led to a short field and the first points of the night for the Vikings (10-1). a 24-yard touchdown run and two point conversion by Eli Harris to make it 8-0 late in the first half.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Vikings recovered an onside kick leading to a touchdown right at the end of the first half. All of the sudden, what was a scoreless first half turned into a 16-0 halftime deficit for the Trojans.

Bethel Christian moved the ball, but an opening drive with four penalties called against the Trojans seemed to derail their momentum. However, they started the second half with the ball and the chance to make it a one score game.

Despite having that chance, it was all for not. Sophomore quarterback Easton Truett threw what was ruled a backwards pass and it was returned 60 yards for a touchdown by Vikings defensive lineman Hunter Futrell. That made it 24-0 Vikings and it was the nail in the coffin for Miles Brite and his team.

“We beat a great football team tonight,” Brite said. “They’re a team that works hard and is well coached, so we really had to execute well. Our last few appearances in this game haven’t gone so well, so we’re definitely happy to get this one.”

Harris, the Vikings senior running back that came into this game with over 2,000 yards rushing, added to his total in the second half. He had a 45-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter and a 33-yard run in the fourth. He’d finish with 27 carries, 189 yards, and three touchdowns on the night.

Although it was a tough night and a tough season for the Trojans, they didn’t get shutout. Senior fullback Rodney Warren scored a 10-yard touchdown right at the end of the game and senior running back Tyler Eubanks added a two point conversion.

Warren, Eubanks, Conner Williams, Jeremiah Washington, Quan Hamilton, and Lucas Ezzell had a great run with the Trojans. These six seniors will be tough to replace next season.

While this is the end for an excellent senior class, coach Crowders program has a bright future. The JV team, led by coach Dale Miller and Mike Fields, won the state championship a few weeks ago and most of those players will move up to the varsity level.

Halifax Academy 38, Bethel Christian 8

BCA 0 0 0 8 — 8

HA 0 16 16 6— 38

Second Quarter

HA — Eli Harris 24 run (Harris run), 1:44

HA — Bryce Cooke-Hunter Futrell 6 pass (Harris run), :00

Third Quarter

HA — Futrell 59 fumble return (Harris run), 10:39

HA — Harris 45 run (Harris run), 9:22

Fourth Quarter

HA — Harris 33 run (Run failed), 6:38

BCA — Rodney Warren 10 run (Tyler Eubanks run), :00

BCA HA

First Downs 14 9

Rushes-yards 38-139 33-186

Passing 3-14-0 2-5-0

Passing yards 45 10

Total yards 185 196

Punts-avg. 3-36.3 3-34.7

Penalties 9-75 2-5

Fumbles-lost 5-2 2-0

Individual statistics

RUSHING— Bethel Christian: Rodney Warren 12-71, Josh Sutton 8-47, Jaylen Sims 6-18, Logan Bullock 1-8, Connor Williams 3-8, Tyler Eubanks 5--5, Easton Truett 2--8, TEAM 1--8. Halifax Academy: Eli Harris 27-189, J.C. Branham 2-4, Ayden Woodall 1--1, Bryce Cooke 3--6.

PASSING—Bethel Christian: Easton Truett 3-10-0 46, Conner Williams 0-4-0 0. Halifax Academy: Bryce Cook 2-5-0 10.

RECEIVING—Bethel Christian: Quan Hamilton 2-32, Jeremiah Washington 1-14. Halifax Academy: Hunter Futrell 1-6, Ayden Woodall 1-4.