Fellowship Christian Upsets Mount Pisgah in Come-From-Behind Victory

Submitted by John Heid, sports information director with Fellowship Christian School

It was pretty fitting that on a night when Fellowship Christian School celebrated its first 10 years of varsity football that the Paladins posted arguably one of the most-exciting wins ever in school history.

Junior defensive back Bo Wynn intercepted a desperation pass in the end zone on the game’s last play on Friday, Oct. 10 to seal the come-from-behind 33-28 victory over one of FCS’ biggest rivals. Mount Pisgah Christian School quarterback Aaron Winchester threw a pass on an untimed final play due to Paladin pass interference call on the previous play as the clock ran out. It was the Paladins’ second straight victory.

The Paladins (2-0 in Region games and 3-3 overall) ended the Patriots’ four-game win streak on a night when Paladin Field was renamed Bob Lord Field in honor of the school’s legendary first football coach. During his career, Lord coached football for more than 50 years at the NFL, college and scholastic levels.

“What a game, and what a play,” FCS head coach Al Morrell said. “Bo made an incredible play to save the game for us. It was a great win for us. That quarterback is an amazing football player, but our defense never gave up.”

On Friday, FCS trailed 14-0 early in the game as Mount Pisgah scored on its first two possessions before rattling off 33 unanswered points.

After the Paladins took a 33-14 lead on sophomore Andrew Minkert’s 79-yard touchdown run and senior Cole Myszka’s extra-point kick with 6:17 to go, Winchester tried to single-handedly get Mount Pisgah (1-1 in Region and 4-2 overall) back in the game.

The senior all-state quarterback scrambled his way around the field on the next drive and finally connected with Chase Greene on 34-yard TD pass with 4:19 to go. Following the extra point by Chase Clark it was 33-21. The Patriots took over four plays later following a FCS punt, and Winchester hit Connor Richey on a 14-yard TD pass to cap an 80-yard scoring drive. It was 33-28 following the extra point.

Mount Pisgah recovered the onside kick and drove to the FCS 36-yard line with 7.8 seconds left. The FCS defense batted down the ball as time ran out, but a Paladin defender was called for pass interference to set up the last play from the 21.

But Wynn was the hero for the Paladins. It was his second fourth-quarter interception.

Sophomore Jack Hardin led the Paladins with 12 tackles, including four solo stops. Junior Clay Buchweitz and senior Dalton Depew recorded three solo tackles and seven total stops apiece.

“Our team settled down after the first quarter, and we never panicked,” Morrell said. “We told them to keep their heads up high because we would get back into the game.”

The Paladins did just that.

FCS’ comeback started with a safety at 9:52 of the second quarter. The points came as a snap to the Patriot punter sailed to the back of the end zone before four Paladin defenders tackled him as he picked up the ball.

Junior Tyler Matthesen scored his sixth touchdown in a two-game span from 3 yards out at 4:04 of the second quarter. Jake Williamson booted the extra-point kick to get the Paladins to within five points. Matthesen’s score capped a 49-yard drive.

The FCS defense forced a punt six plays later. That sequence of plays featured junior Jackson Pryor’s sack of Winchester that lost 14 yards for the Patriots following a 22-yard scramble by the quarterback. Pryor finished with two sacks.

Following a short punt, the Paladins took over. Six plays later Jake Williamson’s 39-yard field made the score 14-12 with 57.9 seconds left in the half.

The team’s traded punts to begin the third quarter before the Paladins caught a big break as junior Nick Thompson tackled the Pisgah punter following another bad snap.

On the next play from scrimmage, FCS senior quarterback Shane Young connected on a TD pass play with Jake Williamson from 31 yards out with 6:23 left in the third quarter to give the Paladins their first lead. Myszka kicked the extra point to give FCS a 19-14 lead.

The Patriots were knocking on the door for a go-ahead score when Thompson came up huge with a fumble recovery at the Paladin 4-yard-line. Before that play, Mount Pisgah had driven 75 yards down the field.

“That was a big momentum builder for us,” Morrell said.

The Paladins answered with a 96-yard scoring drive that featured 21 plays and five first downs over 6:36 and a 30-yard scoring toss from Young to Depew with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter. Jake Williamson’s extra-point kick gave FCS a 26-14 lead.

Morrell was very proud of his quarterback.

“He threw two perfect fades,” Morrell said. “There was a third one which was dropped in the end zone, but that happens sometimes. He had a great night.”

Wynn’s first interception at 7:47 set up another score for the Paladins as Minkert’s run came on the Paladins’ next play from scrimmage. FCS gained 230 yards on the ground, led by Minkert with 129 yards on 15 attempts. Matthesen collected 56 yards on 19 carries, while Young gained 45 yards on 12 attempts.

Young completed 10 passes for 69 yards. Jake Williamson had 38 yards on two catches. Depew led FCS with three catches that went for 31 yards.

The game against the Patriots was the second of five consecutive games against Region 6A opponents for the Paladins.

“We hope that this game will be plenty of momentum as we face more tough Region foes,” Morrell said. “I am very happy to be 3-3, but we need to build on these wins.”

FCS travels to Mableton to face Whitefield Academy on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The Paladins host Pinecrest Academy on Senior Night on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

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