KENNESAW — It wasn’t Mount Paran Christian’s size, higher seed or fan-friendly crowd that Athens Academy will blame for a 17-10 loss here Friday night.
When the Spartans (9-3) think back to why they were knocked out of the second round of the Class A Private state football tournament, they’ll only blame themselves.
The Spartans had a turnover inside Mount Paran’s 30, a pair of missed field goals, and its final drive was killed at the Eagles’ 24-yard line, as missed opportunities cost them in the end.
“I have to live 365 days with that,” Spartans’ head coach Josh Alexander said. “Every kid here pulled their weight and pulled the rope in the same direction. It’s no one’s fault, just how the game falls. But I felt like we should have won that game.”
The missed chances overshadow a dominant performance by Athens Academy, especially in the first half.
The 11th-seeded Spartans allowed just 33 yards to Mount Paran (10-1), the sixth seed, in the first 24 minutes, and didn’t allow a first down until 7:14 remained in the third quarter—a pass interference penalty at that.
In that same amount of time, the Spartans had put up more than 250 yards of offense and 11 first downs, but managed just 10 points—a 38-yard field goal by Drew Byus and a 1-yard run by Payton Bowles, both in the first half.
“Everyone played as hard as they could and came out firing on all cylinders,” senior quarterback Jacob Hudson said. “We had some slip-ups in the second half here and there, but still everyone fought hard.”
Despite having good field position for much of the second half, the Eagles’ first score covered 80 yards, capped off by a 36-yard reverse pass that concluded with a remarkable grab around an Athens Academy defender as they fell across the goal line.
Mount Paran scored less than three minutes later to take a 14-10 lead, then added a 41-yard field goal with 8:07 to play.
The Eagles tried a 51-yard field goal to seal the game with 3:20 remaining, but it sailed just wide, giving Athens Academy one more chance from its own 20-yard line.
The Spartans pulled out a hook and lateral to move to midfield, Bowles had a couple nice runs, and they got the ball down to the 24-yard line.
The Spartans tried to pass on fourth and three, but Hudson couldn’t find an open receiver, leaving his pass to land harmlessly in the middle of the field.
Mount Paran knelt three times to run out the clock.
“They played their tails off,” Alexander said. “I’m proud of them; proud to be their coach. Our kids are not intimidated by anybody, that’s just the kids we get to coach.”
Mount Paran, which won the state title in 2014, advances to the quarterfinals where it faces Fellowship Christian (11-0), which handed the Eagles their only loss of the season in Week 2.
The Spartans walked off disappointed yet proud of what they have accomplished in two seasons under Alexander; especially in 2016.
Hudson, who will have surgery Tuesday, went down in the third week with a knee injury. He came back to lead the Spartans in Week 8, and they were able to win the first playoff game for Alexander last week at home against Savannah Country Day.
“We won 18 games in two years, so our kids are winners,” Alexander said. “You coach because you love football and it becomes your identity. But when you get a chance to coach great kids and be around good people and good parents, you’re blessed.”
NOTES — Bowles finished with 84 yards rushing on 20 carries. He entered halftime with 60 yards on 16 tries. He also caught five passes for 41 yards.
*Hudson finished 17 of 31 for 193 yards through the air while rushing five times for a loss of five yards. He did all that on a torn ACL.
*Ed Ferguson finished with four receptions for 52 yards. He also caught the pass that he lateraled to Henry Trapnell for a 23-yard gain on the Spartans’ final drive.
*Owen Roberts made a diving catch for 36 yards in the first quarter but landed on his hand during the tackle. He rolled over and told the trainer that he was certain the hand was broken. It was never officially deemed a break, and he returned to the game in the second half.
