By ZACH HARMUTH
The Grace Christian Academy Lions played their first TSSAA football game ever just over one year ago.
Coached by former Titans quarterback Rusty Smith, it was an historic night for the Lions, who won their first football game after being inducted into the TSSAA in the summer of 2015.
They traveled to take on the McEwen Warriors and pulled out a 28-21 victory.
“Very proud of our boys who played hard together and as one until the end of the game,” Smith said.
Quarterback Austin Amor finished the historic night 5-of-11 for 105 yards passing and added 14 rushes for 42 yards. Jordan Whitson led the running game with 11 rushes for 80 yards and three TDs, while Dylan Woods added eight rushes 30 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Lions were led by seven tackles from Jordan Whitson, six from Noah Bright, five from Dylan Woods and three tackles and an interception from Calvin Berger.
GCA had been playing 8-on-8 football in the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference since 2013, and as part of its ongoing expansion it moved up to TSSAA, Division I Class A for the 2015-2016 school year.
The Lions also won their first-ever TSSAA home game, in a 15-8 grinder against Summertown. Here is an interview of Coach Smith after the game:
The game was tied 8-8 in the fourth quarter, when Lion Cole Chapman recovered a Summertown fumble in the end zone and gave Grace Christian a 15-8 lead.
In their first-ever 11-man season the Lions ended up with a 3-7 record.
So far in 2016, GCA is struggling a little bit. The Lions are 1-5 through six weeks of play.
They hope to get back on track this Friday when they play at Mt. Pleasant.
