Christ Church came back from an eight point fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Johnsonville Flashes 27-18 in the Class 1A Division I state championship at Benedict College in Columbia.
The first quarter was dictated by a rash of turnovers. The Flashes produced a pair of first quarter interceptions by Adonis Doctor and Tately Anderson, but fumbles by Brison Allison and Tushai Edwards gave Christ Church the ball right back. Midway through the first quarter, the Flashes struck first as Allison scored on a 26 yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. The Cavaliers took a 7-6 lead on Demetrius Anthony's 1 yard run that was set up by a 24 yard pass play. The Cavaliers took a 10-6 lead into the locker room at halftime after Mac McCall connected on a 37 yard field goal.
In the 3rd quarter, Arkealious Williams came up with a key sack on fourth down to end a Christ Church drive in Johnsonville territory. The Flashes would go on to hold the ball for the rest of the third quarter leading to Allison's second touchdown of the game, this time a 17 yard scoring play early in the 4th quarter to put Johnsonville in front 12-10. Following a stop by the Flashes defense, Edwards busted open a 73 yard TD run to make it an 18-10 Johnsonville lead. Christ Church answered back with Anthony's second 1 yard TD run of the game and followed that with a 2 point conversion run to tie the game at 18 with 5:15 remaining.
Johnsonville punter Hunter Springs couldn't handle a high snap in punt formation and took a safety to put the Cavaliers in front 20-18. On the ensuing free kick, Quan White returned it 51 yards for the touchdown and the critical extra point made it a nine point margin. Allison had one more big gainer to drive it into Christ Church territory late in the 4th, but the Flashes couldn't get into the end zone.
Johnsonville finishes its season with a 13-1 record. Christ Church won its second consecutive state championship. The Cavaliers defeated Lake View in 2011 in the Class 1A Division II championship game.
