BY BRIAN HAMILTON<\/p>\n
LEBANON – The King’s Academy was able to take down Friendship Christian 28-21 on Friday night, a team the Lions were 0-8 against all-time coming into the contest.<\/p>\n
“This is huge for us,” The King’s Academy head coach Jonathan Sellers said of the win. “Friendship Christian has been a great program for a long time and still is. They’re well coached and have great football players.”<\/p>\n
The King’s Academy drew first blood in the contest, as sophomore quarterback Elijah Williams-Smith scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, capping a 9-play, 50-yard drive. The Lions led 7-0 after the first quarter of play.<\/p>\n
Former TKA quarterback Garrett Weekly then hit Chase Eakes for a 24-yard touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter, tying the game at 7-7.<\/p>\n
Williams-Smith would score his second touchdown later in the second quarter on a broken play, finding Marshaun Bowers, who went 51 yards for the score with 4:40 left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
The King’s Academy took a 14-7 lead into the halftime break after limiting the Commanders to only 74 total yards in the first half.<\/p>\n
The game was delayed for 30 minutes early in the third quarter due to a lightning strike.<\/p>\n
TKA fumbled late in the third quarter, turning the ball over to Friendship. Weekly then found a wide open Eakes for the duos second touchdown connection of the night, tying the game at 14-14 with just 1:39 left in the third.<\/p>\n
A 6-yard touchdown by Nakelin McAfee gave TKA a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter. The Commanders botched the snap on the next play from scrimmage and the ball was recovered by the Lions’ Tanner Norris.<\/p>\n
The King’s Academy would take a 28-14 lead following the turnover, but a busted coverage from the Lions’ defense allowed an 80-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing drive, making the score 28-21 with 3:51 left in the game.<\/p>\n
McAfee would break a long run on third down, allowing the Lions to run out the clock and seal TKA’s first ever victory over the commanders.<\/p>\n
Elijah Smith-Williams finished with 148 yards on 13-of-15 passing with one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown to Marshaun Bowers.<\/p>\n
“It was easily the best performance of his young career,” Sellers said. “He played poised and like a kid who has played for several years.”<\/p>\n
Bowers caught seven passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, while McAfee ran for 151 yards on 23 carries and a score.<\/p>\n
The King’s Academy (3-2, 1-0 Division 2 Class 1A) will step out of region play this week to host Swain County from North Carolina. Friendship Christian (2-3, 0-1) will host Maplewood (1-3) on Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BY BRIAN HAMILTON LEBANON – The King’s Academy was able to take down Friendship Christian 28-21 on Friday night, a team the Lions were 0-8 against all-time coming into the contest. “This is huge for us,” The King’s Academy head coach Jonathan Sellers said of the win. “Friendship Christian has been a great program for a long time and still is. They’re well coached and have great football players.” The King’s Academy drew first blood in the contest, as sophomore quarterback Elijah Williams-Smith scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, capping a 9-play, 50-yard drive. The Lions led 7-0 after the … <\/p>\n