State Champs
Knights take 8-man title with 42-30 victory over Unity
The Arkansas Christian Academy Knights, located in Bryant, football team recently won the Heartland Christian 2A state championship for 8-man football.
The Knights defeated Unity Christian Academy (Leland, Mississippi) 42-30 on Nov. 14 for the championship.
After a slow start to the season sporting an 0-4 record, the Knights would reel off seven straight wins, including a 54-8 rout over Southwest Christian Academy (Little Rock) in the semifinals of the state tournament. The Knights finished 7-4 overall, 5-1 in conference play.
The Knights roster includes sophomore Derek Goddard, junior Max Truby, sophomore Joey Stivers, senior Malachi Mcclugage, senior Gage Webb, senior Christian Turney, sophomore Bailey Lattin, sophomore Seth Webb, junior Derek Stivers, junior Noah Whitley, senior Dawson Arnold, senior
Dylan Rutledge, senior Austin Bailey and junior Tyler Arp.
Webb led the Knights in both passing and rushing for the season, throwing for 1,024 yards (53 of 73), 19 touchdowns vs. one interception, and ran for 502 yards and 15 TDS.
On the ground, Goddard followed with 426 yards and five TDS, Lattin 282 yards and five TDS and Truby 179 and a TD.
Turney led the Knights in receiving yards (549) and receiving touchdowns (12) on 24 catches, with Stivers leading the way with 27 receptions, adding 467 yards and four TDS. Truby had 14 catches for 339 yards and eight TDS.
On the defensive side, Rutledge had 75 tackles, 17 for lost yardage, to lead the way, with Webb adding 12 TFLS and five interceptions to lead the team.
Arkansas Christian Academy is coached by Bradley Lattin (head coach and athletic director),
Ben Thomas and Lance Goddard.