North/South All-Star Hunter Townes had two TD passes and two TD runs as Christ Church broke open an 8-8 game at the half to top Lake View 35-14 to win in the 1A Division II state championship in Columbia. It was the Cavaliers first state championship since 1977.
After a scoreless first quarter, Lake View put together a 16 play, 68 yard drive in the second quarter. Kenneth Turner bulldozed up the middle from six yards out to get the Wild Gators on the board. QB Chris Ford rolled left and scored on a two point conversion to give Lake View an 8-0 lead. Christ Church drew even thanks to a big play in special teams. Hunter Townes was able to punt a ball that landed inside the one yard line. After Lake View went three and out, Christ Church got prime field position at the 33 yard line. The Cavaliers got the equalizer just three plays alter as Townes scored on an 8 yard TD run and added a two point conversion to tie the game at 8 heading into halftime.
Lake View got the ball to start the third quarter and drove it into Christ Chruch territory with nothing but run plays. On 4th and 1 from the Christ Church 44, Shaquille Foxworth was stuffed to end the drive. It looked like the Cavaliers took the lead on a 58 yard TD pass, but the play was wiped out due to an ineligible receiver. Hunter Townes turned right back around and found Bennett Nalley from 36 yards out to make it a 14-8 game.
Townes and Nalley had another big pass play setting up the quarterback's one yard TD run. A 2 point conversion made it a 22-8 game. On the first play of the 4th quarter, the Lake View defense stuffed Townes on 4th and goal from the one yard line, but on the very next play the Wild Gators fumble it in the end zone, allowing Jack Schofield to fall on it to make it 28-8. Down 35-8, Lake View's Darius Leonard blocked a field goal allowing Brody Smith to scoop it up and run 70 yards for the final points of the season for the Wild Gators.
Christ Church finishes the season with a 13-1 record. The Wild Gators finish the year with an 8-6 mark.
