RTCA Finishes 2nd In State
The Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders were in Macon last Thursday at Mercer University to play for the GIAA State A Football Championship. RTCA faced off with the Jaguars of Thomas Jefferson Academy. Earlier in the season RTCA had defeated TJ, 35-34, but on this day it was all Jaguars as they took the State Championship over the Crusaders.
RTCA had the ball to start the game but were not able to get anything going and turned the ball over deep in their own territory on downs. TJ started at the RTCA 23-yard line, but the Crusader defense held them out and took the ball back at the 14-yard line with just over nine minutes to go in the first quarter.
RTCA quarterback TJ Stanley found Tripp Durden for 15 yards and then found him again for a decent gain. A big run by Justin Powell got RTCA to the 47-yard line with just under eight minutes on the clock. But RTCA stalled there and TJ took the ball back over.
The Jaguars moved down the field and capped off their drive with a 12yard touchdown pass. They missed the extra point, but with 4:20 to play in the first they led 6-0.
RTCA started at the 35-yard line after the ensuing kickoff. A nice pass from Stanley to a diving Jashaun Powell out past the 46, and then he hit Powell again across midfield to the 34 of the Jaguars. Stanley hit Durden all the way to the 7-yard line. Stanley connected with Powell for a diving catch in the corner of the endzone with 2:08 left in the first. Elijah Baker went in for the two-point conversion to give RTCA their only lead of the game, 8-6. continued from page
Thomas Jefferson was moving the ball as the first quarter came to an end. Early in the second they punched it in with 10:38 left in the half. They added the two-point conversion to take a 14-8 lead over RTCA.
RTCA started at their 29-yard line for their next drive. A big pass to Justin Powell moved RTCA across midfield. But two penalties against the Crusaders moved them well back into a first-and-25. RTCA worked it to a fourthand- 15, but came up just a yard short on a completion to Baker.
Thomas Jefferson took over with just over seven minutes left in the first half. Two big runs moved them to the 39yard line, and then just two plays later they went for 32 yard with 2:39 left in the first half. The twopoint try was good to give the Jaguars a 22-8 lead.
Justin Powell returned the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the TJ 32-yard line to set up RTCA with great field position. RTCA couldn't get the offense going, and the Crusaders turned the ball over on downs at the Jaguar's 23-yard line.
Thomas Jefferson took a knee to run out the rest of the first half to head to the locker room with a 22-8 lead over RTCA.
In the second half late in the third quarter Thomas Jefferson broke a 48-yard touchdown run. They added the twopoint try to take a 30-8 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
Thomas Jefferson added one more score in the game as they won 38-8 over RTCA to claim the State Championship.
RTCA finished the season with a record of 7-6 as the State Runnersup.
TJ Stanley fires down field as RTCA tries to get the offense going late in the first half of the State Championship.Photo by Mike Branch
