For Christ School, the road to a high seed and homefield advantage in the NCISAA football playoffs runs through Charlotte.
The next four opponents for the Greenies (3-0) are all from the Queen City, starting with Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Charlotte Latin (4-0) and continuing with Providence Day (4-0), Charlotte Christian (2-1), and Charlotte Country Day (4-1).
The only home game for varsity football in that stretch is an Oct. 11 tilt with defending NCISAA Division I champion Christian. The game will be televised by WMYA (40) and is a rematch of last year’s state-championship game, which the Knights won, 43-14.
Christ School is coming off an open week and last played on Sept. 13 – a 27-7 win at Murphy. Pierce Hammonds ’22 rushed for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns that night.
Navy Shuler ’20 (546 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception) has spread the ball around this season to a host of receivers including Aydan White ’20 (seven receptions for 196 yards and five touchdowns), Charlie Browder ’21 (seven receptions for 73 yards), Cade Mintz ’21 (six receptions for 120 yards), and Lex Long ’21 (four receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns).
Tackling leaders for the Greenies are Read Sunn ’20 (16.3 per game), Jasper Thomas ’20 (9.3), and Kiki Alcime ’20 (7.7). Read has made seven tackles for a loss and Kiki has six sacks.
Christ School beat Charlotte Latin, 28-13, in 2018 with all of Latin’s points coming in the fourth quarter. This year’s Hawks have outscored opponents, 163-19. Starting quarterback Jake Helfrich fractured his right leg last month, meaning that receiver Charles Watson had to take over the offense. Watson passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns in his first game (a 27-7 win over Catawba Ridge on Sept. 6) and Latin won 49-6 at North Raleigh Christian last week.
Updates from Friday’s game will be posted to Twitter (@greeniesports).