By Thomas Grant Jr.
The winningest season in Northside Christian Academy history ended last Friday in Summerton.
The Crusaders dropped a hard-fought 35-21 game to Pinewood Prep in the SCISA Class 3A semifinals.
Northside Christian Academy (10-2) rallied from an early deficit with two touchdown runs by Sam Burks to lead 14-7 in the second quarter. After Pinewood Prep’s Terrance Stallworth’s second touchdown tied the game at halftime, Will Watson scored from 12 yards in the third quarter to regain the lead at 21-14.
With 8:28 left in the game, Northside Christian’s David Gadson returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown. Stallworth scored two touchdowns in a two-minute, five-second span to seal the victory for Pinewood Prep.
“An historic 10-2 record, countless proud moments, and memories that will last a lifetime,” Northside Christian Athletics tweeted. “Thank you, seniors, for your leadership—Crusader Nation is stronger than ever!”
Pinewood Prep will face Wilson Hall in the SCISA championship Friday.
Playoff roundup
The 2024 season also ended for Lexington School District Two schools Brookland-Cayce and Airport on the road in the Class 4A playoffs.
The Bearcats fell 56-20 to South Florence as Zion Gilbert and Tre Leonard both scored three touchdowns.
Quarterback Dre Dopson threw three touchdown passes for Brookland-Cayce (4-7).
Over in North Augusta, Airport fell 56-0. In beating the Eagles (2-9) for the second time this season, the Yellow Jackets got three touchdown runs from Michael Doe and two touchdown passes from Corey Tillman.
“Our season obviously didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” head coach Shane Fidler said. “But it was great to see so many young guys get valuable varsity playing experience because of all the injuries and changes we faced this year. The biggest area of improvement is I have to be a better coach. The record and results this year suggest I wasn’t good enough for our kids and community so I have to be better.”
Fidler praised the efforts of young players like quarterback Jay Eaddy in stepping up as a leader. He also praised Ben Humphries on the offensive line and Daniel Butts in the defensive front for their leadership moving the program forward.
There’s still one more game for Airport head coach Shane Fidler and linebacker Montrelle Keys. Both will coach and play for the South team at the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl on Dec. 21 at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
“I will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the South in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl,” Fidler said. “The experience itself is going to be great and the game is an honor that all coaches in our state look forward to. I look forward to coaching some guys I’ve coached against this year and when I was at my previous school, but also look forward to going against the best from the North squad.”
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