WHAT WE SAW: Christ Church 43, Johnsonville 20
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COLUMBIA || Christ Church might have had the perfect mix in the Class A state championship game with Johnsonville Friday night at Benedict’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church |…
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Continue ReadingCOLUMBIA || Christ Church might have had the perfect mix in the Class A state championship game with Johnsonville Friday night at Benedict’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2024 State SC rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns, Woods Windham Woods Windham 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Christ Church | 2023 State SC threw for 260 yards and three scores and the defense used an impressive goal line stand early in the third quarter to push the Cavaliers to a 43-20 victory over the Flashes. It’s the school’s first state title since winning four in a row from 2011-2014.
“Every day we go in the locker room we see all the state championships, region championships.,” Christ Church coach Quin Hatfield said. “It is something we have been aiming for in the last few years. We have been working, working and knocking on that door and we busted through it tonight.”
Neither team scored in the first quarter, and it was Johnsonville that struck first with a 49-yard scoring run by DaQuan Burroughs with 11:11 remaining in the half.
But it was the quick strike offense of Christ Church (14-1) that took control. In a span of 4:08, the Cavaliers went from being down seven to leading by 14 points.
Windham got things started when he threw a 72-yard strike to Jackson Repp Jackson Repp 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Christ Church | 2025 State SC two plays after Burroughs TD.
After a three-and-out by the Cavaliers defense, Reeder capped a three-play, 35-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Another three-and-out by the defense resulted in a three-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 41-yard Windham to Luke Baumhofer TD pass with 6:11 remaining in the half.
After the Johnsonville TD drive, the Christ Church defense limited the Flashes to a net of zero yards on the next three possessions.
“We’re a very diverse team that gets the run and gets the pass but all in all, we’re just the better team,” Reeder said. “Better prepared, better coached and it showed out here. We had a deficit and came strong. Then in the second half, we kept it going.”
Johnsonville had a chance to make it a one-score game early in the third quarter. They had a first-and-goal from the Cavaliers 2-yard line but four runs by Burroughs went nowhere and Jake Good Jake Good 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Church | 2024 State SC and Colin Williams had a tackle for loss on fourth down.
“Defense just bowed its neck and made a play,” Hatfield said. “That’s what they do. They’re tough.”
It only took Christ Church three plays to respond. Windham completed two passes to the 38-yard line, then Reeder did the rest on a 62-yard sprint to make it 29-7 with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Burroughs gave the Flashes one last hope with the second of his three touchdowns on the night with a 3-yard run with 11:14 remaining to make it 29-13.
Reeder then set the stage for the dagger. He intercepted a pass and then on the next offensive play, he burst around the left end for a 47-yard scoring run with 9:23 remaining.
On the six scoring drives for Christ Church, none went over five plays or took more than 2:27 off the clock. Repp finished with 161 yards receiving on six receptions. Baumhofer and BJ Atkins BJ Atkins 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Christ Church | 2023 State SC each caught a TD pass.
Good led the Cavaliers defense with 13 tackles and Ryan Coley added eight. Reeder added three tackles to go along with his interception and big rushing night.
Burroughs had 168 yards and three touchdowns for Johnsonville (13-1). Neal Martin Neal Martin 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Johnsonville | 2024 State SC added 89 yards on seven carries. Aven Generette led the Flashes with nine tackles and Timari Hannah added eight stops.