Intermittent downpours of rain throughout the day failed to dampen anticipation for Victory Christian School”s Friday night opening home football game against Bessemer”s Flint Hill Christian School. Enjoying an 11-game winning streak, including two 2008 playoff wins, the Eagles” big-play offense dominated en route to a 57-16 Christian Football Association (eight-man) division victory in the season opener for both teams.
Victory Christian scored first with 5 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Landon Ellis hauled in a Parker Eaves pass and raced 41 yards down the sidelines. A two-point Eaves pass failed and the Eagles” led 6-0.
Daylan Hairston (5 carries, 193, three touchdowns) led a potent Eagles” ground attack that amassed 403 rushing yards and averaged 23.7 yards per rush. He had touchdown runs of 64, 65, and 43 yards.
“We did not have success early but finally found some things that worked,” Victory Christian coach Chris Hamm said.
“Daylan has really stepped up since the first half of last year. Now he”s a senior and knows that this is his last go- around. He is a good leader. I was proud of the way Daylan and Parker Eaves played on offense. Daylan played well on defense also.”
On fourth and seven from the Flint Hill 37-yard line, Ellis exploded up the middle and outran the secondary to advance the score to 12-0. The two-point conversion failed.
The only bright spot for Flint Hill was running back Trey Black. He rushed for 127 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown. Black also ran back a kickoff 90 yards for Flint Hill”s second score.
Flint Hill quarterback Trey Robinson went 0-for-14 passing.
Victory Christian”s CJ Bell and Ellis each thwarted potential Flint Hill scoring opportunity by breaking up two deep Robinson passes.
The defensive line put pressure on Robinson all night long. Hairston led Victory Christian with 13 tackles. Ben Williams had nine and Paul Blair, Hunter Johnson, and Dustin Edwards each had eight.
Victory Christian led 12-0 after the first quarter, 32-0 at halftime, and 38-8 at the end of the third quarter.
“We have a young defense,” Hamm said. “We graduated 10 seniors last year so our younger players have to step-up.”
Flint Hill scored its first touchdown with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter when Black took a third-down handoff, ran to his left off tackle and scampered 67-yards down the visitor”s sideline. Robinson ran up the middle for the two-point conversion.
Victory Christian”s final score occurred with three minutes remaining when Hairston took an Eaves handoff on first down and burst through the line outrunning Flint Hill defensive backs for a 43-yard touchdown. Eaves made his first extra-point of the game to seal the victory.
“We had a short practice this week,” Hairston said. “When I touch the ball I want to do something big with it. ”Heart and Strength: We won”t give up we”ll make the other team give up.” That”s what we believe.”
Victory Christian travels next Thursday to Central Christian in Selma, Alabama.
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