Crusaders Battle Hard, But Fall to Patriots

The Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusaders football team opened their 2025 campaign with a hard-fought battle against the Pinewood Christian Academy Patriots, showcasing a potent offensive burst in the first half before ultimately falling 24-14 at home.

Pinewood had good field position to begin their first drive of the game at the RTCA 32-yard line. They took advantage as they worked the ball down the field and capped it off with a 2-yard run for a touchdown with 1:28 left in the first quarter. They tacked on the extra point to take a 7-0 lead.

After Pinewood Christian opened the scoring, the Crusaders' offense found its rhythm in the second quarter. Quarterback Drew Edwards connected with Anthony Cook on a 40-yard strike, with Cook out-jumping two defenders for the ball. That cut Pinewood's lead to 7-6 with 10:48 left in the first half. The successful PAT by Hayden Meeks tied the game at 7 apiece, igniting the Crusader sideline.

The momentum continued to swing in RTCA's favor when their defense forced a crucial turnover on downs, giving the offense the ball at the Pinewood 22-yard line. Edwards, showcasing his dual-threat abilities, broke free for a 22-yard rushing touchdown to put RTCA ahead 13-7. The successful PAT gave the Crusaders a 14-7 lead with eight minutes to go in the half.

Pinewood Christian, however, refused to back down. After a series of long plays, including a significant run and a deep pass, the Patriots worked their way down the field. With a minute left in the half, they punched in a 10-yard rushing touchdown and converted the PAT, knotting the score at 14-14. RTCA had one last chance to score before the break, with Edwards leading a quick drive and connecting with Cook and Brittan Tabor to move the ball deep into Pinewood territory. The promising drive ended with a Pinewood interception, sending the teams to the locker room deadlocked.

The third quarter began as a defensive stalemate. Both teams exchanged punts and turnovers on downs, with neither side able to gain a clear advantage. Pinewood’s offense, however, broke through late in the quarter. A 35-yard rushing touchdown gave the visitors the lead, and the successful PAT put them ahead 21-14 with just two minutes left in the third.

The fourth quarter was a testament to the toughness of both defenses. The Crusaders’ offense, which had shown so much life in the first half, was unable to sustain a scoring drive against a stout Pinewood defense. After a turnover on downs, the Patriots took possession and began to grind down the clock. A long run helped Pinewood set up a 35-yard field goal, which they converted to extend their lead to 24-14 with just over a minute remaining.

Despite the loss, the Crusaders showed flashes of brilliance and resilience in their first outing. The passing and rushing touchdowns by Drew Edwards and the strong connection he showed with Cook and Tabor provide a solid foundation for the offense to build on. While the outcome wasn’t what they had hoped for, the Crusaders will learn from this contest and look to bounce back in their next game. The season is still young, and the home crowd can be optimistic about the potential of this squad.

This Friday RTCA will get a rematch with Edmund Burke, who beat the Crusaders for the State Championship last season. The game will be in Waynesboro at 7:30 p.m.