Talent was always a given. What really intrigued Nick Luhm was the degree of leadership his senior class would bring into the 2019 season.
On both counts, Christ School’s first-year head football coach couldn’t be any happier.
Coach Luhm and the Greenies (0-0) kick things off Friday at home against University Christian (1-0) out of Jacksonville, Fla. For those who cannot make it to Fayssoux Field, the 7 p.m. game will be streamed live on the Christ School Broadcast Network.
Luhm was promoted from defensive coordinator in July, inheriting a team that went 10-2 last year and lost in the NCISAA Division I state-championship game.
“I’ve been asked about 2018, the way it ended, and how that affected us,” Coach Luhm said. “All it did was shape the way we went into the offseason. Once (preseason) camp began, you could feel that this was a new year, a new team, a new direction. It’s such a cohesive group to work with. The seniors are doing such a great job being leaders. And the team as a whole has come together in a really short amount of time.”
Seniors are some of the brightest stars back from last year – Navy Shuler ’20 has committed to Appalachian State University after throwing for a school record 4,112 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2018. No doubt, he will keep directing his share of passes to N.C. State recruit Aydan White ’20 (60 receptions for 1,049 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018), who is even more coveted as a defensive back at the college level. Lineman Will Buchanan ’20 committed to Liberty earlier this month. All three players have received preseason recognition of some sort through various all-state or all-area teams, as has linebacker/tight end Read Sunn ’20 and wide receiver/defensive back Cade Mintz ‘21.
Linebacker Jasper Thomas ‘20 made 128 tackles last fall, a total which was second only to Read (140). Kade Chapman ‘20, Ian Adams ’21, and Kiki Alcime '20 are key returning linemen. Henry Duggins ’20 is back after handling kicking duties for much of last season.
Some of the newcomers who are expected to contribute right away are wide receiver/defensive back Lex Long ’21, wide receiver/defensive back Painter Richards-Baker ’21, running back/linebacker Pierce Hammonds ’22, and tight end/defensive lineman Charlie Browder ‘21. Charlie caught a touchdown pass in Christ School’s preseason scrimmage with Hendersonville.
This is the second consecutive year that the Greenies have started a football season at home against an out-of-state opponent. Christ School lost 28-21 to Episcopal (Texas) in 2018. Despite leading 21-0 at halftime, injuries caught up to the Greenies in the second half.
MaxPreps currently has this year’s Christ School team ranked 22nd among all private and public-schools.
University Christian defeated Bolles (Fla.), 21-14, last Friday for its first win. The Christians have won nine state championships in Florida, with their last title run occurring in 2016. The offense is run-oriented and led by senior Max McClendon, who rushed for 842 yards and 10 touchdowns during last year’s regular season. Linebacker Cody Kopp has committed to Northern Illinois. University Christian is ranked 92nd in Florida by MaxPreps.
Coach David Penland and his team arrived in Asheville on Thursday after a light practice at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.