By JOSH VARDAMAN
Page returns to the gridiron Friday with a rematch of last year’s thrilling bout against Lipscomb Academy. Grace Christian Academy looks to open 1-0 for the second straight season with a home contest against McEwen.
See below for a closer look at these matchups:
Lipscomb Academy (0-0) at Page (0-1), 7 p.m. Friday
It could be difficult to find a way to lose that is more heartbreaking than what the Page Patriots had to endure in Week 1, but they will be looking to show resiliency come Friday in their home opener.
After losing 13-10 to rival Fairview in the “Battle of 840” on a 48-yard field goal at the final buzzer, the Patriots (0-1) this week welcome Lipscomb Academy (0-0) to PHS in the Mustangs’ season opener.
In last year’s meeting between the two schools, Lipscomb Academy edged the Patriots 21-20 in a thriller that ended on a failed two-point conversion by the Patriots. The Mustangs went on to have an 8-4 record on the season, losing to Pearl Cohn in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
While the first week’s loss was tough to take, Page got the benefit of seeing new quarterback Jacob Van Landingham in game action, and he played an overall solid game.
He connected on 12-of-23 passes for 151 yards. Wide receiver Will Pierce accounted for 94 of those yards on six catches.
Van Landingham and the passing attack may have looked good at Fairview, but against Lipscomb Academy the offense could benefit by having a more effective rushing game. The Patriots were held to just 47 yards rushing by the Fairview defense on 19 attempts, and they lost two fumbles that proved very costly in the low-scoring affair.
While the Page offense has some obvious areas to fine-tune, its defense looked very stout in the first game of the season.
The Patriots held Fairview to just 122 yards passing and 116 rushing, and they caused four fumbles. Though, Page recovered just one of the Yellowjackets’ blunders.
If Page is going to come out with its first win of the season on Friday, it will have to clean up its play and hope its stout defense carries over from Week 1.
The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m.
McEwen (0-0) at Grace Christian Academy (0-0), 7 p.m. Friday
After a bye in Week 1, Grace Christian Academy starts its second year as a TSSAA-sanctioned football program Friday in a home matchup against McEwen.
In their matchup last season, the GCA Lions got their first win ever as a member of TSSAA 28-21.
Quarterback Austin Amor, who threw for 105 yards and rushed for another 42 against McEwen last season, is back as a junior this year. He will be aided by running back Jordan Whitson, who torched the Warriors in 2015 to the tune of 80 yards and three TDs on just 11 rushing attempts.
The Lions will again look to take advantage of a McEwen defense that gave up an average of 30.7 points per game to opponents last season.
While the GCA offense may be looking for big numbers against the Warriors, their defense is hoping to improve after struggling at times a season ago.
The Lions allowed McEwen to score 21 and then ended the season giving up an average of 38 points per game to opponents.
If it can show an improved defense and Amor and Whitson can again lead the offense, GCA could have a good shot at starting 1-0 for the second season in a row.
