FCS Holds Off Nash. Christian To Become D2-Class A Champs

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>The Commanders picked up their 3rd ever state title in tonight's 34-27 close, hard fought win over the Eagles with help from a variety of key contributors and more!</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- After both teams didn't score on their first offensive possessions, things immediately went into a new direction when on the 1st play from scrimmage on the Commanders second drive, senior quarterback <strong>Garrett Weekly </strong>threw it deep down the sidelines to a wide open <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149160' first='Brock' last='Montgomery'] </strong>and the junior did the rest, pushing himself into the endzone.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the ensuing kickoff, Nash. Christian would jump right back with a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Eagles two-way athlete <strong>James Warmbrod IV</strong>. The extra point was no good but some quick action from both teams picked the excitement back up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The very next drive, the Commanders would answer after a tipped pass interception off freshman quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis']</strong>. On 4th and 6, Weekly found Montgomery again on an open crossing route that the junior standout walked into the end zone.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game was starting to look like it was going to be a back and forth affair between both schools and that's pretty much what started to happen.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nash. Christian was able to force a punt on the Commanders next drive but then proceeded to block that punt which put the Eagles inside the FCS 20 yard line. A few plays later, Curtis found Warmbrod IV on the tunnel screen and the senior prospect raced towards the end zone to bring the score back to within one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PMacCoon/status/1598416788706017280?s=20u0026t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PMacCoon/status/1598416788706017280?s=20&amp;t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well, on the very next drive, Friendship Christian would answer yet again. After a long kickoff return and long run by Weekly, the senior quarterback would yet again find Montgomery on a whip route in the end zone to push the score out to 20-13.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That would be the score headed into the locker room and going into halftime, you could easily see a battle on its way as neither team was giving an inch in the first half. Both teams went blow for blow, so you wondered if either team would still have that fight going into the second half after matching each other in the first period.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well that was answered immediately out of the locker room as the Nash. Christian offense marched right down the field to tie the game up at 20-20. It was an impressive opening drive from the Eagles that was finished off by freshman athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284142' first='Bryson' last='Holt']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/joe_spears7/status/1598432104391516168?s=20u0026t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/joe_spears7/status/1598432104391516168?s=20&amp;t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles came out ready to compete but so did Friendship Christian. Right after the Eagles scored to tie the game, the Commanders answered with a nice drive that finished with a short yardage run from junior running back <strong>Tyson Wolcott</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Momentum continued to stay with Friendship Christian as defensive back <strong>Tyler Smiley </strong>picked off Curtis on 3rd down and returned it all the way to the end zone, pushing the Commanders lead out to 34-20.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things started to get quiet through the rest of the 3rd quarter as both lines of scrimmage started to take over for both teams, especially the pass rush from <strong>Jaden Potts </strong>of Nash. Christian and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102273' first='Devin' last='Lively'] </strong>from Friendship Christian. It began to change about halfway through the 4th when the Eagles tried some new things on offense and found success.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nash. Christian began to look for their playmakers on the outside and it made a difference as Curtis found receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277664' first='Donovan' last='Smith'] </strong>down the sideline for several plays where eventually the drive ended up in the end zone. The Eagles pulled to within seven and made this an interesting game down the stretch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After forcing the Commanders to punt, Nash. Christian took over with less than 1:40 to go but with no timeouts, however a chance was still alive for the Eagles. They drove it all the way down to the FCS 4 yard line but that's where the hope ended after a fumble by the Eagles running back gave the ball and the win over to the Commanders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was an outstanding game that came down to the wire but only one could raise the “Gold Ball” at the end at the was the Commanders of Friendship Christian. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CSmithScout/status/1598450265803444234?s=20u0026t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CSmithScout/status/1598450265803444234?s=20&amp;t=7-epkLqZq9TPKiCM2MZUeA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Game/MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(QB) <strong>Garrett Weekly </strong>- Friendship Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The captain and leader of the Commanders offense, Weekly was superb in this championship contest where he produced four touchdowns through the air as well as several big runs on critical downs. Weekly did everything he needed to lead his team to victory and certainly earned MVP honors by game's end.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Top Performers&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘24 (Ath) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149160' first='Brock' last='Montgomery'] </strong>- FCS: This junior two-way talent was outstanding in this game where he caught several big time catches as well as three touchdown receptions. Montgomery played big on the biggest stage and that's great for his recruiting stock.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (Ath) <strong>James Warmbrod IV</strong> - NCS: Warmbrod was the breakaway threat the Eagles needed in this game as he produced two touchdowns on the night with one coming through the air and one on a 95 yard kickoff return for a TD.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘24 (RB) <strong>Tyson Wolcott </strong>- FCS: While Weekly was the main producer on the ground for FCS, Wolcott was equally important where he churn several big gains and tough yards when his offense needed it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- (OL/DT) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102273' first='Devin' last='Lively'] </strong>- FCS: On both sides of the ball, Lively was very strong where he opened up several holes on offense but really shined on defense where he was causing havoc in the backfield for most of the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- ‘26 (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'] </strong>- NCS: This guy could be one of the top freshman prospects in the state and he showed those capabilities today along with leading his team from behind to almost win. Expect this guy's stock to explode over the coming months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":531040,"width":341,"height":341,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/11/devlively.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-531040" width="341" height="341"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->