CHARGERS RUN PAST NOTRE DAME, 34-21

The Chattanooga Christian Chargers ran their way to a 34-21 region victory Friday night at Notre Dame.

“It was a heck of an effort from our guys,” CCS coach Mark Mariakis said. “We challenged our team this week, and I’m just proud of everybody.”

CCS (4-3, 3-1 DII-AA East) set the tone in the first quarter when Traveon Scott scampered 35 yards for the first score of the game, but on the ensuing possession Notre Dame and star running back Jeffery Watkins Jr. seized the momentum back with an impressive drive of their own.

The Fighting Irish (2-6, 1-4) began their march on the 43-yard line and reeled off nine consecutive rushes to bring them to the 2-yard line. On their 10th rush of the drive, Watkins barreled into the end zone.

Up by one in the second quarter, the Chargers blocked a Notre Dame punt to give them solid field position. They capitalized on the miscue when Sam

Hall passed to Scott for a 38-yard touchdown grab. Later in the quarter CCS once again found the end zone, this time on a Hall

2-yard quarterback keeper.

Trailing by 15 late in the first half, the Fighting Irish ran their way down to the 3-yard line. On fourth down, though, the CCS defense stopped Watkins short to take over on downs and end the half up 21-6.

Facing a large deficit, Watkins ignited the crowd with a 102-yard kickoff return to start the second half. The Irish converted the 2-point conversion to pull within seven.

“Jeffery Watkins Jr. is a warrior,” Notre Dame coach Charles Fant said. “We will go to battle with him. He never quits.”

After the teams traded punts, Notre Dame fought to the CCS 32-yard line before fumbling a snap and giving the ball back to the Chargers.

The decisive score came on the next drive on a 4-yard run by the Chargers’ Jamichael Baxter. Baxter iced the game later in the quarter when he broke free for a 73-yard touchdown run to make it 34-21 with 5:52 left.

Working to host a playoff game for the first time, CCS next week will try for its first-ever win against Knoxville Webb. Notre Dame visits Boyd Buchanan.

STAFF PHOTOS BY TIM BARBER Chattanooga Christian’s Traveon Scott scampers for the first touchdown of the game, outrunning Notre Dame’s Khalil Spence (1) and Connor Pischke (23) Friday night at Notre Dame.

Chattanooga Christian’s Damarcus Hinton, right, gets a face full of hand from Notre Dame running back Jeffery Watkins Jr. in first-half action at Notre Dame. A flag was thrown on Hinton for unsportsmanlike conduct.