LR Christian tops Camden Fairview
LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN 36, CAMDEN FAIRVIEW 14
Little Rock Christian took command in the fourth quarter to wrap up a 36-14 victory over Camden Fairview on Friday night in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs at Warriors Stadium.
The Warriors (11-0) had won seven of their previous 10 games by 35 or more points but trailed the Cardinals (65) late in the first half before finally getting on track.
Little Rock Christian Coach Eric Cohu said he expected a strong showing from Fairview, the No. 4 seed from the 5A-South.
“We knew, talent-wise, they were as good as anybody else,” Cohu said. “We knew they had lost four close games. They could have easily been [undefeated] coming into this game.”
Camden Fairview’s previous four losses were by a combined 11 points.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Camden Fairview Coach Jeremiah Monden said. “They battled all year.”
Little Rock Christian led 16-14 to start the third quarter, but a fumble recovery at the Fairview 13 by junior defensive back Colin Cooper led to senior running back Kendel Givens’ touchdown run on the next play for a 23-14 Warriors’ advantage.
“That was probably the play of the game, getting that turnover and pushing it in, going up by nine points,” Cohu said.
After Little Rock Christian forced a three-and-out on the next series, the Warriors increased their lead to 29-14 when senior quarterback Akeem Gilmore hit Cooper for a 40-yard scoring pass with 8:53 left in the third quarter.
After an exchange of punts, Little Rock Christian faced third-and-1 at its 38 late in the third quarter, but a play-action 12-yard pass from Gilmore to senior tight end Jackson Woodard sustained a drive that resulted in 20-yard TD run by Givens with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.
“That was a huge play, getting that first down,” Cohu said. “We probably would’ve punted and they could have made it a one-score game.”
Givens led all rushers with 115 yards on 15 carries.
Little Rock Christian scored on its first two possessions on a 24-yard field goal by junior Isaiah Hankins and an 8-yard touchdown run by senior Chris Hightower with 5:28 left in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead.
On its following possession, Fairview faced 4th-andgoal from its 30 but scored when sophomore quarterback Logan Robertson’s pass to the end zone was tipped into the hands of junior receiver Jaden Bates to pull the Cardinals to within 10-7.
A 21-yard field goal by Hankins put Christian’s lead at 13-7 late in the first quarter.
Fairview took over on downs at its 49 midway through the second quarter. Seven plays later, it took a 14-13 lead on senior fullback Patrick Rucks’ 16-yard touchdown run.
A 38-yard interception return by Hankins in the final minute of the second quarter put Christian at its 14. After an offside penalty against Fairview, Hankins’ 26-yard field goal gave Christian a 1614 halftime lead.