Some Greenie was industrious enough to calculate how many days the Fayssoux-Arbogast Trophy has been in Christ School’s possession. Naturally, the next step was to write the number (4,018) on a banner hanging from the Young House dorm for all to see Saturday.
Tack on another 365 days.
Energized by a huge home crowd, the Greenies rallied for 11 unanswered fourth-quarter points – with 11 being the magic number – to keep the trophy for a series record 11th straight year with their 18-9 comeback win over Asheville School.
Tray Mauney ’23 ran for the go-ahead touchdown from 2 yards out with 11:30 to play. Five minutes later, fellow senior Matthew Hammel ’23 got just enough leg into a career-high 41-yard field goal.
The defense had its back against the wall all afternoon in terms of field position. But the group held the Blues (6-3) scoreless for the game’s final 17 minutes, aided by interceptions from Ashton Parker ’24 and JoVaughn Hudson ‘23. Up until then, a banged-up Christ School (5-5) team which has lost multiple starters to injuries in recent weeks was in real danger of losing to Asheville School for the first time since 2011.
“The next man up philosophy is something we’ve talked about all year, and it wasn’t something we’ve had to put into fruition until late in the season and again this week,” Coach Chad Walker said.
“This is a resilient group that can bounce back. We talk about them playing for each other and they showed it today. I’m proud of the seniors that they could go out as winners in their final home game and just happy overall for our young men.”
Asheville School scored first, aided by a Greenie miscue – a high snap sailed over the head of punter Seth Shuler ’23 in the first quarter – and the fumble was recovered on the Greenie 2-yard line. Later on, the Blues took a 9-7 lead into the fourth quarter after getting a 25-yard field goal with 6:49 to go in the third.
Tray and the offense drove 72 yards on the ensuing drive, spread out over the third and fourth quarters. Sophomore Jackson Cancel ’25 gave the Greenies some valuable rushing yards and Calvin Williams ’24 ran in the 2-point conversion after Tray’s quarterback keeper.
Christ School’s first touchdown was a 13-yard pass from Tray to Brewer Nitcher ’25 with 5:20 to go in the first quarter.
“I didn’t want to lose my senior year. To be that team, the captain and leader of this team, and lose this game,” Tray said. “So, I knew we were going to do everything we could to win this game and we did.”
Matthew made his only extra-point attempt without a problem Saturday. The field goal was another story. The senior from Clyde, N.C., thought he might have come up short when the ball left his right foot, out of an excellent hold by Jakob Iwanek ‘24. But the kick managed to just sneak over the crossbar of the goalpost that sits in front of Pingree Auditorium.
“This win means a lot. We came into this game knowing this was the last home game for the seniors. We had a lot of players step up and put their bodies on the line,” Matthew said.
“(Asheville School) came in with a good record and a lot of momentum. Our defense was able step up and shut it down.”
Saturday was the 96th meeting between the two oldest high school football rivals in the Carolinas. Asheville School now leads the all-time series, 50-42-4, but Christ School has a 30-20-2 edge in games played since 1971. That was the year the Fayssoux-Arbogast Trophy was introduced as the prize that goes annually to the winning team.
The Christ School Broadcast Network livestream of Saturday's game included regular announcer Henry Stuart '24 as well as color commentary from Blues student Paul Russell.