NCISAA Division I Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCISAA Division I Championship Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Charlotte Christian (7-5) @ Providence Day (12-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Details: </strong>Nov. 21, 7:00 p.m. @ Providence Day</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Passers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Elliott Newcomb</strong> (Charlotte Christian): 173-277, 2,381 yards, 27 TDs, 5 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896157' first='Zaid' last='Lott']</strong> (Providence Day): 167-251, 2,291 yards, 32 TDs, 3 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Rushers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106930' first='Jamal' last='Rule']</strong> (Charlotte Christian): 154 carries, 1,273 yards, 16 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284083' first='Aidan' last='Gallos']</strong> (Providence Day): 118 carries, 829 yards, 12 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Receivers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800901' first='Gordon' last='Sellars']</strong> (Providence Day): 57 receptions, 894 yards, 15 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Tate Estep</strong> (Charlotte Christian): 51 receptions, 820 yards, 7 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Tacklers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='736967' first='Cohen' last='Kilgannon']</strong> (Charlotte Christian): 79 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223038' first='Justin' last='Abanquah']</strong> (Providence Day): 47 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Game Preview</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you don't follow the private school circuit, you may be tempted to believe either that their stats aren't overly impressive or, when told that it's because the starters usually sit out the second half, that the schedule must be easy. Neither is true.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers have blown out any and all comers, save a close win back in August over one of the top teams in Pennsylvania, cruising in 11-straight games. The Chargers have had talented teams in past seasons, but this is easily coach Chad Grier's best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It all starts with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896157' first='Zaid' last='Lott']</strong>, a nominee for our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/who-is-the-2025-prznc-player-of-the-year/">Prep Redzone Player of the Year</a> award. The Syracuse commit has taken his game to another level as a senior, tossing 32 touchdowns and just three interceptions. When he's playing, the Chargers score on almost every possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers are loaded at just about every position, especially the skill positions, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800901' first='Gordon' last='Sellars']</strong> the leading receiver, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1260987' first='Brendan' last='Ravin']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150380' first='Steele' last='Fletcher']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332065' first='Ethan' last='Dempsey']</strong> as options 2A, 2B, and 2C. And this is why the offense hums so well. Each player can play in multiple roles, but thrives best with a specialized skill set: Dempsey's the best yards after catch threat, Ravin's the most polished route runner, and Fletcher's the gadget guy who can operate out of the slot and return punts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive line is probably the best in the state from top to bottom, even if it doesn't have the splashy Power Four names. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595731' first='DC' last='Carr']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1670269' first='Nick' last='Cherry']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056052' first='Cooper' last='Hodson']</strong> have been among the most impressive trios in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, they've got playmakers at all three levels. It's a mix of future Power Four stars and underrated playmakers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1029786' first='Griff' last='Galloway']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321326' first='Jace' last='Goodwin']</strong> have combined for 26 sacks, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223038' first='Justin' last='Abanquah']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896158' first='Quintin' last='McCray']</strong> patrol the middle. The secondary is interesting in that they'll change alignments based on matchups far more than the average team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608315' first='Moses' last='Poku-Kankam']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610603' first='Tre' last='Geathers']</strong> are two of the more positionally fluid defenders in the state, both with over 30 solo tackles and a blocked kick.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlotte Christian offers one of the toughest challenges of the year for the Chargers, as the Knights are performing at a high level in recent weeks. After loading the non-conference with public school powerhouses, the Knights settled into conference play, losing only to the Chargers (46-20) and Rabun Gap (41-28). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the last three seasons, Charlotte Christian has been known to improve drastically in the playoffs, improving its scoring margin in its last four playoff rematches, with an average improvement of nearly 18 points per game. That includes two one-possession playoff losses in the last two seasons to Providence Day, after multi-score regular season losses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights can win in a variety of ways, too. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106930' first='Jamal' last='Rule']</strong> is the offensive star, and he went absolutely berserk last week against Rabun Gap, going over 300 yards from scrimmage (189 on the ground, 126 as a receiver) with three touchdowns. He found <em>some</em> running room in the first matchup against the Chargers, a game Charlotte Christian played without leading receiver <strong>Tate Estep</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I'm looking for some of Charlotte Christian's secondary options to step up. Guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671910' first='Henry' last='Hulbert']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671881' first='Vincent' last='Rosen']</strong> can win one-on-one, and if they can find some space, it will open up the running game. That, and they'll need to protect <strong>Elliott Newcomb</strong>. Right tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574386' first='Daniel' last='Phillips']</strong> is one of the top tackles in the state. He'll need a big game against these impressive edge rushers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, it starts at the linebacker position with brothers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='736967' first='Cohen' last='Kilgannon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='803792' first='Ryder' last='Kilgannon']</strong>, who each have sideline-to-sideline speed and excellent downhill burst. It's pass-rush by committee, with <strong>MJ Barrow</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='403556' first='Jacob' last='Simmons']</strong> leading the charge. If the Knights are going to win on Friday, they'll need to start up front. In the first meeting, they were one of the few teams on Providence Day's schedule to hold the running game somewhat in check, but they couldn't cash in on a few havoc plays defensively, allowing too many third-down conversions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlotte Christian needs some splash plays defensively, and they could get some from a talented secondary. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321142' first='Jack' last='Gullickson']</strong> has three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked punt this season, including a takeaway in Round 1 of the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Day has been lethal this season offensively; they just don't make many mistakes, and have so many weapons. Charlotte Christian is one of the few teams with a defense that can create negative plays in bunches, so that's where the game will be won or lost. If the Chargers continue the trend of elite red zone offense and don't put the ball in harm's way, they'll win handily. But if Charlotte Christian can come out with a game plan that puts the Chargers on the defensive and creates some big plays defensively, we could be in for an incredible game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Providence Day complete the first undefeated season in school history, or will its rivals from down the street spoil their plans?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'll have to wait for an official prediction, as Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I will have our predictions for all three championship games free on Prep Redzone later this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Follow Prep Redzone for more high-quality coverage throughout the playoffs and offseason. Want to get in front of our scouts this offseason? Our next PRZ Carolinas Stock-Up Showcase is Dec. 7. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2124/register/stock-up-showcase-carolinas">Register here</a>. Promo Code HelmsWinterPRZ will get you $10 off registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->