For something that hadn’t happened in 17 years, it makes sense that it took a little extra time Friday night.

The Charlotte Christian defense had kept Bryce Sain ’22 bottled-up for much of the evening. Christ School’s primary rusher and his blockers kept plugging away on Senior Night. Needing a touchdown to win in overtime, the Greenies handed off the ball twice to Bryce – the second being a 2-yard carry that propelled them to a long-awaited 34-31 victory.

If the old saying “home sweet home” is true, then this week couldn’t be any sweeter for Christ School fall sports.

Soccer, cross country, and football are all scheduled to host competitions with big stakes in the coming days.

Win or lose, every game this season had been a slugfest for Christ School varsity football.

Friday night was the polar opposite.

No complaints from the Greenies, who needed less than two hours to dismantle Charlotte Country Day on the road, 45-0.

No one in N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association football had played a tougher schedule through three games. Christ School paid the price with a bevy of injuries, meaning that new and familiar faces alike needed to step up Friday.

And step up, the Greenies did.

Football player Brady Ionannidis '22 became the fifth Christ School student-athlete in three years to commit to an Ivy League college program during Friday's Senior Speech in Pingree Auditorium. 

The urgency is real.

Christ School football and soccer players hit the practice field Thursday morning with the knowledge that they have days, not weeks to prepare for their respective season openers.

Across the board, Christ School does not play many games of any kind in Kentucky.

Yet the Bluegrass state is where the defending NCISAA Division II state champions will begin their football season on August 20.

Five student-athletes and teams from Christ School are among the finalists for this year’s Western North Carolina Sports Award Banquet presented by Ingles.

Coming off the first state championship in the program’s history, the present and future is looking bright for Christ School football.

Freshman defensive backs/wide receivers Cayden Jones ’24 (Charlotte) and Zack Myers ’24 (Duke and Tennessee) picked up their first Division I college scholarship offers on Tuesday.

Christ School football experienced a seismic breakthrough in 2020 with the program’s first-ever state title. The challenge of building on that success now lies with new Head Varsity Football Coach Chad Walker.  

Coach Walker was introduced to the school community Thursday, May 13, during Assembly in Pingree Auditorium on campus. 

Seniors for the Christ School football team will forever relish the feeling of walking off Fayssoux Field as state champions. The glow has not faded much since November 20.

National Signing Day is another welcome addition to the memory bank as five Greenies make their college choices official.

As of Wednesday, defensive back/wide receiver Cade Mintz ’21 (Charlotte), defensive lineman/tight end Charlie Browder ’21 (Central Florida), lineman Ian Adams ’21 (The Citadel), linebacker/wide receiver Lex Long ’21 (Virginia), and defensive back/wide receiver Painter Richards-Baker ’21 (Dartmouth) will represent the reigning NCISAA Division II state champions at the next level.

Rising up to become the first football state champion in Christ School’s 120-year history was a collective, team effort.

It could not have happened without a wealth of individual talent either, a fact being reflected in postseason awards.  

Christ School football defied the odds all season long, playing a contact sport week-to-week during one of the worst health crises America has seen in more than a century.

Friday was a just dessert for the Greenies.

Before they can join everyone else on Thanksgiving Break, Christ School football players have something big to clear off their plate.

Something history-making perhaps.  

Mickey Meguiar ’21 hyped up the rest of the Christ School football team Friday, shouting excitedly at the top of his lungs as the Greenies huddled for their usual pregame routine.

Nothing changed after kickoff, Mickey and the defense were still taking charge.

Big hits, three forced turnovers, a safety, and countless punts out of visiting Trinity Christian Academy all added up to Christ School’s first shutout of the season – a 38-0 blowout win in the semifinals of the NCISAA Division II state playoffs.

Win or lose, not many football teams get to end a season on their home field.

Christ School does.

Even with a depleted roster, Christ School varsity football had more than enough Friday at High Point Christian Academy.

Cade Mintz ’21 had just snaked his way 72 yards down the field for one of Christ School’s nine touchdowns when he spiked the football in the end zone closest to Noland House and Young House.

The touchdown celebration was a metaphor for the 94th installment of “The Game.”

Christ School has now beaten Asheville School 40 times in the history of the oldest high school rivalry in the Carolinas, but never as emphatically as Saturday. The Greenies set school records for points and margin of victory over the Blues in a 63-7 home win that had a running clock for the entirety of the second half.

Christ School coach Nick Luhm’s worst fears were realized when a string of lackluster practices carried over into Friday’s football game at Metrolina Christian.

To their credit, the Greenies made enough big plays to make up for three touchdowns negated by penalties and other miscues in a 28-21 road win.

Fernando Machuca ’22 wasn’t feeling any nerves Saturday afternoon, the first or the second time.

The Rabun Gap (Ga.) coaching staff tried to ice Christ School’s kicker on the final play of the game by calling a timeout, even after he’d successfully made a 31-yard field goal.

Following the break in play, Fernando lined up and simply did it again to give Greenie varsity football its first win of the season as time expired, 38-35.