Looking around the state, only about a dozen football programs in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association have committed to anything resembling a full schedule this fall. And all public-school games are on hold until February.

So when the lights come on Friday at Fayssoux Field, Christ School really will be in some rarefied air for one of the most talked-about season openers in its history.

Just about every Ivy League football program was swooning over Painter Richards-Baker ’21.

In the end, it was about finding the one which best suited the Christ School senior with a trusty set of hands and weighted 4.6 grade-point average. Painter gave Dartmouth College a verbal commitment on Monday.

Kaedin Robinson ’19 had laser-like focus when it came to eventually playing NCAA Division I football. The Christ School alumnus succeeded where many have failed by going to junior college first.

Robinson announced his verbal commitment to the University of Central Florida on Thursday.

Christ School has risen to be one of the premier football programs in western North Carolina in recent years, and that spot looks to be secure for 2020.

The Asheville Citizen-Times covers more than 30 high schools in the region. The newspaper selected its top-10 college recruits for the upcoming season on Thursday and half the list is comprised of Greenies.

Christ School is well-represented on the list of finalists for the 2020 Western North Carolina Sports Awards presented by Ingles.

Andrew Hammel ’20, Aydan White ’20, and Davis Lindsey ’20 are in the running for awards as are a pair of Greenie state-championship teams from 2019 – Lacrosse and Track & Field.

Christ School football players will have a lot to talk about when they reunite in person.

Greenie lineman Ian Adams ‘21 verbally committed to The Citadel on Wednesday, exactly one month after defensive back/wide receiver Lex Long ’21 chose the University of Virginia.

Recruiting is one of the few aspects of college sports that has not come to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You do not have to tell Charlie Browder '21, who could be as in demand as any Christ School football player has ever been.

Even as Christ School turns the page to a new year, athletes and coaches are receiving more postseason accolades for their work in 2019.

The Asheville Citizen-Times has published its All-Western North Carolina fall sports teams with honors going to nine different Greenies in cross country, football, or soccer.  

Four student-athletes enjoyed the ultimate send-off Wednesday as Christ School dismissed classes for Christmas Break.

Aydan White ’20 (N.C. State University), Kade Chapman ’20 (University of Virginia-Wise), Navy Shuler ’20 (Appalachian State University), and Will Buchanan ’20 (Liberty University) made their dream of playing college football a reality on National Signing Day. The Greenies put pen to paper during a ceremony in Pingree Auditorium attended by family, friends, and other members of the Christ School community.

Christ School athletics has announced its annual end-of-season awards for the fall sports season. Each winner will have his name added to plaques which hang in the Beaver Student Center.

Christ School fall sports athletes achieved at a high, and at times unprecedented level in recent months. Now it is being reflected with postseason awards.

Even an impartial observer could argue that Christ School let Charlotte Christian off the hook not once, but twice in their last meeting.

Nonetheless, the biggest prize of them all is now waiting to be reeled in – the first state football title in school history. The Greenies (6-3) and Knights (7-2) are the combatants for Friday’s NCISAA Division I championship game.

Like it or not, destiny has a sense of humor sometimes.

The path to reach this point has taken some unforeseen twists and turns for Christ School football. However, the special things that always looked like they were meant for this talent-rich Greenie team have come to fruition all the same.

Christ School once again gets to test itself against the best football teams in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association as the No. 4 seed in the Division I state playoffs.

Historically speaking, Christ School football may still be playing catch-up when it comes to the oldest high school rivalry in the Carolinas. But also let it be said that the Greenies have turned the tide in a record way.

Christ School JV football coach Duncan Barnes was beaming with pride Wednesday night, standing under the glow of Fayssoux Field’s scoreboard. His players had the same expression on their faces.

Asheville School Week began in earnest Monday morning at Christ School.

The boys wore as much green as possible on "Green Day" and inspected one another’s wardrobes for any hint of the forbidden color – blue. Before classes ever started, the Class of 2020 had deftly pulled off its first prank in Wetmore Hall. 

Many Greenies will agree that Asheville School Week is the most wonderful time of the year.  

Local television station WMYA (40) rewarded the academics and citizenship of Max Field ’20 and Kiki Alcime ’20 during Friday’s broadcast of the varsity football game between Christ School and Charlotte Christian.

Senior Night carries with it a lot of emotion.

Multiply that exponentially for the Christ School varsity football team with Charlotte Christian coming to campus for a televised game.

If last week was the wake-up call for Christ School varsity football, then Friday was a chance to sound a few alarms, too