Final 4 Loss: Paladins Fall Hebron in State Semifinals
The Fellowship Christian School varsity football team’s second-half rally fell a little bit short.
Despite battling back to tie the game in the fourth quarter, the Paladins fell 24-17 to Hebron Christian Academy in the Final 4 at Bob Lord Field on Dec. 6
The Paladins fought back from 14-0 and 17-6 first-half deficits, tying the game at 17-all on senior Al Thompson’s 10-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from junior Jonathan Granby to senior Evan Haynes with 9:16 to play. The TD run capped a six-play, 35-yard drive as Thompson broke a late tackle as he lunged for the right side of the end zone. Granby connected with Haynes on the opposite corner on a quick pass.
Unfortunately for Fellowship, Hebron answered with the eventual game-winning touchdown on a 77-yard run 25 seconds later.
Following that Lions’ score, FCS (10-3 overall) took a short kickoff and drove down to the Lion 35-yard-line with 3:58 left but was stopped on a fake field goal attempt on a 4th-and-16 play.
Hebron (11-2) ran out the clock to advance to its first-ever trip to the state title game and denied the Paladins their second trip to the championship contest.
The Lions scored on the opening possession to take a 7-0 lead at 10:19.
Following a Paladin punt, Hebron scored its second TD with 3:01 left in the first quarter.
Fellowship got on the board as sophomore Synir Fields, filling in for the injured C.J. Givers, scored on a 23-yard run as he powered through the left tackle block and sprinted to the end zone. Junior Drew Collins’ kick hit the goal post to his right, leaving the score 14-6 at 10:07 of the second quarter. The TD run ended a four-play drive that went for 38 yards.
Hebron added a 33-yard field with three seconds left in the half to take a 17-6 halftime lead.
Collins pulled the Paladins to within eight points with a 21-yard field goal on a 4th-and-goal play from the 4-yard line to end the opening possession of the second half. That seven-play drive started at the Hebron 35-yard-line following Haynes 50-yard kick-off return.
Senior Tristan Costoulas’ interception ended the Lions’ first possession of the second half on a 3rd-and-7 play at the FCS 20-yard-line.
The teams traded punts before FCS tied the game.
(Photos by Leigh-Ann Thompson)
Final 4 Preview: Paladins Face Hebron in State Semifinals Looking to Avenge Regular-Season Loss
The Fellowship Christian School varsity football team are a win away from reaching the state football championship game for the second time in school history.
The No. 2 Paladins defeated No. 10 Wesleyan School, 28-14, in the Elite 8 of the GHSA Private State Football Championships at Bob Lord Field for its eighth consecutive victory. It was the Paladins’ seventh straight trip to the Elite 8 of the state football playoffs.
FCS faces No. 6 Hebron Christian Academy in the Final 4 at Bob Lord Field on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Fellowship, which fell to Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in the 2016 finals, has reached FCS has advanced to the Final 4 five times in school history – 2023 GHSA Private State Football Championships, 2022 Class AA playoffs, 2021 Class A Private playoffs, 2019 Class A Private playoffs and 2016 Class A Private playoffs (state runner-up).
Hebron defeated Aquinas, 63-13, at home on Nov. 29 in Elite 8 action to qualify for their first-ever trip to state semifinals in football.
The contest will be a rematch of the regular-season game between the Lions and Paladins on Aug. 23 at Bob Lord Field that Hebron won 38-18.
“We have to play much better this time,” FCS head coach John Thompson said. “We made mistakes in the first game. We turned the ball over a lot, but they’ll say they took it away. They blocked us very well. You can always look back and decide what you could have done better in a game, but we know we did not play our best. We know what we need to do this time. Our players’ mindsets are where they should be.”
Both teams have honed their games since the first meeting.
“It’s not August out there now,” Thompson said. “It’s fun to see how much better both teams are. Obviously, this game will be a gauge to see how much better we are.”
The athletic department has brought in stands that will seat an additional 1,000 more fans at Bob Lord Field for the semifinal.
“We need to fill the stands for a 12th-man advantage,” Thompson said. “We need our fans to cheer us on.”
The Paladins own a 10-2 record, including a 5-2 home mark. FCS has scored 391 points this season and has allowed 207.
Fellowship, 21-8 all-time in the playoffs, are 2-0 in the 2024 postseason.
The Lions enter the game on a three-game win streak, including two playoff victories. Hebron is 5-0 on the road this season and has scored 482 points and has surrendered 146 points.
FCS has lost three straight Final 4 contests (2022, 2021 and 2019).
The Paladins have outgained their opponents 3,740 to 3,455 this season, including a 2,466-1,902 advantage on the ground.
- Junior C.J. Givers leads team with 151 carries, 1,403 yards and 19 TDs.
- Junior Jonathan Granby has completed 100-of-173 pass attempts for 1,192 yards and 12 scores.
- Senior Evan Haynes has grabbed 33 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns.
- Sophomore Synir Fields tops the FCS defense with 82 total tackles (22 solo, 60 assists).
(Photos by Leigh-Ann Thompson)