Stadium Light Issue Delays Completion of FCS-Mount Pisgah Contest; Second Half to Be Played Monday, Oct. 25 with FCS Leading 24-21

The Paladins quest for its third straight Region title has been delayed.

Friday's Region match-up between the Fellowship Christian School and rival Mount Pisgah Christian School was called at halftime with the Paladins leading 24-21 due to an issue with the stadium lights in Johns Creek. The game will be resumed at the start of the second half at Mount Pisgah on Monday, Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m. with FCS holding a three-point lead.

With a win, FCS can notch its third straight Region title and the fifth in school history. Paladin varsity football teams have won Region championships in 2020, 2019, 2016 and 2007. This contest is FCS' fourth Region game of the year. The Paladins are 3-0 in Region games and 7-1 overall. Since a road loss at Trinity Christian School in the season's second game, FCS has won six straight contests.

This season, Mount Pisgah is 1-0 in Region games but has three Region contests left – FCS, at King's Ridge on Oct. 29 and against Saint Francis at home on Nov. 5.

A win over the Patriots will assure the Paladins of an unbeaten Region record and the title. Lakeview is 0-3 in Region games this season, while King's Ridge is 1-3 and Saint Francis is 1-1. The Knights defeated KR, 30-7, at home on Oct 22.

At Mount Pisgah, sophomore Nathan Chapman's 29-yard field goal put the Paladins up 24-21 as the horn sounded to end the first half. It capped a 54-yard drive that began as senior Josh Cole scooped up a Patriots fumble with 1:14 to play. The Paladins were driving right to left when some of the lights went out at the stadium and then officials reversed the field, so FCS headed left to right for the drive's final few plays.

The Paladins scored on three out of five possessions in the first half and led 14-7 after the first quarter.

Junior Nick Persiano's 39-yard TD run on FCS' first possession got the team on the board at 8:57. Chapman booted the first of three extra-point kicks to give FCS a 7-0 lead.

The Patriots answered with a 1-yard TD plunge with 5:02 left to end a 67-yard drive and tied the game on the extra-point kick.

The Paladins went back ahead 14-7 with a long TD pass play. Quarterback Caleb McMickle connected with fellow junior Kyle Elphick on a pass over the middle that went for 53 yards and a score with 1:51 left in the opening quarter.

Mount Pisgah tied the game on the game's next drive.

Freshman Evan Haynes returned the ensuing kickoff 30 yards and the Paladins marched down the field to take a 21-14 lead on a three-play, 65-yard drive. Senior Garrett Wagner got outside and sprinted to the end zone for a 10-yard TD run with 8:01 left in the second quarter. Wagner's 43-yard run on a sweep set up 1^st-and-goal from the 10.

But the lead didn't last long as Mount Pisgah tied it on an 18-yard touchdown pass play with 5:40 left in the half.

(Photos by Milo Falcon)

Paladins Visit Mount Pisgah with Region Title on the Line

It's the biggest matchup of the year for the Paladins.

The varsity football team from Fellowship Christian School faces long-time rival Mount Pisgah Christian School in Johns Creek on Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. with the Region title up for grabs. With a win, FCS can notch its third straight Region title and the fifth in school history. Paladin varsity football teams have won Region championships in 2020, 2019, 2016 and 2007.

The Mount Pisgah Christian School contest is FCS' fourth Region game of the year. The Paladins are 3-0 in Region games and 7-1 overall. Since a road loss at Trinity Christian School in the season's second game, FCS has won six straight contests. The Paladins are coming off a 31-7 Homecoming victory over King's Ridge Christian School.

But to head coach Tim McFarlin this game is really like any other regular-season contest.

"It is just another game for us," McFarlin said. "We won't get caught up in all that [talk about a Region title]. Our team continues to grow and get better each week. They are a solid team. But we have to continue to do the things we have done to get into this position. As every week, we focus on us."

On Oct. 15, the Patriots beat Lakeview Academy, 35-6, in their Homecoming Game to improve to 4-3 overall. This season, Mount Pisgah is 1-0 in Region games but has three Region contests left – FCS, at King's Ridge on Oct. 29 and against Saint Francis at home on Nov. 5.

A win over the Patriots will assure the Paladins of an unbeaten Region record and the title. Entering Friday's games, Lakeview is 0-3 in Region games, King's Ridge is 1-2 and Saint Francis is 0-1.

Fellowship is now 9-7 all-time in varsity football against the Patriots, including a 63-10 Senior Night win last fall. Overall, FCS is 53-52 all-time in Region football contests, and 111-85 overall in varsity football.

This season, the Paladins have shown good balance on offense with 1,256 passing yards and 1,180 rushing yards.

Junior Caleb McMickle has completed 68-of-108 pass attempts for 1,216 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's been intercepted twice and has been sacked just five times. His top target has been sophomore Josh Milhollin, who has 28 catches and 536 yards to go with three TD grabs.

Senior Josh Cole has made nine catches for 185 yards, while junior Kyle Elphick has hauled in eight passes for 173 yards. They share the team lead with four touchdown catches each.

Nick Persiano, a junior, leads the way 76 carries, 13 TD runs and 465 yards. Sophomore Noah Falcon has earned 228 yards on 53 attempts.

Cole tops the squad on defense with 67 tackles, 30 solo stops, 37 assists and seven tackles for a loss. Elphick is next with 37 tackles (13 solo, 24 assists).

Six different Paladin defenders have recorded one interception this year.

(Photos by Milo Falcon)