Nashville Christian Defeats USJ to Win D2-Class A Title Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nashville Christian School was unstoppable from start to finish on Thursday afternoon, blasting University School of Jackson 59-7 to win the D2-Class A Championship Game. This is the third title win for the Eagles as Nashville Christian has won the championship game in back-to-back years. The Eagles came to Chattanooga to play, breaking the TSSAA record for most points scored in a half during a state championship game. Here's my list of top performers as well as my full game recap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Performers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402548"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6931fac5cdd17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the first place spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'], a quarterback at Nashville Christian School. Curtis once again proved why he's one of the nation's top signal callers, making an assortment of explosive plays, including several impressive touchdown passes. Curtis also showed off his ability to adapt to pressure and run the ball, punching in a rushing touchdown early on in the contest. The Vanderbilt commit showed out in the final high school game of his career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238919"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6931fac5cdeb5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another playmaker to establish himself was [player_tooltip player_id='1238919' first='T.J.' last='Ward'], a running back at Nashville Christian School. Ward was a huge problem in the first half, punching into the endzone for three touchdowns on the afternoon. Ward's size and ability to withstand contact made a huge difference as he was able to break through the defense and even carry multiple defenders with him en route to the endzone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1634150"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69320ad7abb57"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Making a big difference down the stretch was [player_tooltip player_id='1634150' first='Colt' last='McClary'], an edge/tight end at Nashville Christian School. McClary helped the Eagles put up their second score of the afternoon, getting wide open in the endzone for the clutch touchdown pass. McClary's speed off the snap and ability to shake defenders made a big difference in the state title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611612"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6931fc410ed95"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another productive offensive weapon was [player_tooltip player_id='1611612' first='Zane' last='Crampton'], a wide receiver at Nashville Christian School. Crampton hauled in not one, but two touchdown passes from Curtis during the first half. Crampton's electric speed off the snap and ability to shake defenders was a huge key to his success during the state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Recap</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles took an early lead over the Bruins as a recovered fumble gave Nashville Christian perfect field position for [player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'] to punch into the house for the touchdown. Nashville Christian led University School of Jackson 7-0 with 10:02 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles would soon add to their lead as Curtis found a wide open [player_tooltip player_id='1634150' first='Colt' last='McClary'] for the touchdown pass. Eagles went up 14-0 on the Bruins with 5:06 remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles' offense continued to overwhelm USJ's defense as [player_tooltip player_id='1238919' first='T.J.' last='Ward'] marched into the house from a few yards out to extend Nashville Christian's lead to 21-0 with a little over a minute remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles' offense went back to work at the top of the second quarter as Curtis connected with [player_tooltip player_id='1611612' first='Zane' last='Crampton'] for the touchdown. NCS held a 28-0 lead over USJ with 11:34 remaining in the second quarter of action. The Eagles would add to their commanding lead with 8:30 left in the first half as Ward ran in his second touchdown of the day to give Nashville Christian a 35-0 advantage over University School of Jackson. The Eagles were back on the scoreboard before long as Curtis found Crampton once again to extend the lead to 42-0. With 2:44 left on the clock before the end of the first half, Ward would carry multiple defenders down the field with the rock in his hands, earning his third touchdown of the day. At the half, NCS led USJ 49-0. USJ went on to score a touchdown late in the fourth quarter as Deuce Davenport hauled in the touchdown pass to prevent a shutout of the Bruins. Nashville Christian went on to win 59-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->