Charlotte Christian runs past Country Day, sets up Providence Day rematch.
Charlotte Christian was going to play for the Big South 4A playoff championship. Henry Rutledge was determined to help make that happen.
So Rutledge broke loose on a pair of long touchdown runs and rushed for 295 yards Friday night as the Knights subdued Charlotte Country Day 31-21 in a conference playoff semifinal.
Charlotte Christian (3-1) will travel to unbeaten Providence Day (4-0) for the Big South championship next Friday.
It will be a rematch of the thriller earlier this month that Providence Day won 32-28.
“We wanted another chance to prove we can win the conference,” Rutledge, a senior tailback said.
They’ll get it, thanks to Rutledge and a defense that held Country Day (1-3) in check for most of the second half.
Rutledge’s first touchdown reversed the game’s momentum.
The visiting Buccaneers pinned the Knights deep in their territory late in the second quarter and appeared ready to take a 14-7 lead to the locker room at halftime. But on second-and-5 from the 15, Rutledge got the ball, swept around right end, and broke into the open. He outran four Bucs’ defenders and dashed 85 yards for a touchdown.
Then in the final minute of the third quarter, Rutledge got the ball on a draw play from the Charlotte Christian 40, broke a tackle, and emerged into the Charlotte Country Day secondary, where he again outran several defenders for a 60-yard score.
That gave the Knights a 28-14 lead, and the Bucs never got close than the final 10-point margin after that.
“He is our guy,” Knights’ head coach Jason Estep said of Rutledge, a three-time N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state track champion. “He makes the big plays and really gives us a spark.”
“It was the blocking,” Rutledge said. “That’s what made it happen.”
Three who mattered
Henry Rutledge, Charlotte Christian: Rutledge carried 24 times for 295 yards, and he caught three passes for another 25 yards. He scored in the final minute of the second and third quarters.
Russell Tabor, Charlotte Country Day: The Bucs’ senior quarterback completed 19-of-36 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
Grant Tucker, Charlotte Christian: A sophomore, Tucker led a defense that held the Buccaneers to less than 100 yards total offense in the second half. He had two tackles for lost yardage, two pass break-ups, and an interception.
Worth mentioning
▪ Charlotte Christian quarterback Matthew Tuomala played an efficient game, completing 13-of-17 passes for 134 yards.
▪ Tabor was sharp in the fourth quarter, completing 11-of-16 passes in the closing six minutes and leading his team on its final scoring drive.
▪ Charlotte Country Day has mastered the art of the onside kick. The Buccaneers converted three of those earlier this season against Providence Day and were successful again Friday night in the final minutes after scoring to close the gap to 31-21.
▪ Spencer Merman had a big game for the Buccaneers. He had two tackles for lost yardage and a pair of sacks.
▪ Charlotte Christian is the defending N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 champion. The winner of next week’s Big South title game is likely to get the No. 1 seed in the state playoffs, scheduled to begin Nov. 13.
What’s next?
Charlotte Christian travels to Providence Day next Friday in the Big South 4A playoff championship. Charlotte Country Day hosts Charlotte Latin in the third-place game next Friday.
Country Day 7 7 0 7 — 21
Charlotte Christian 0 14 14 3 — 31
CD: Reid Simmons 1 run (Tyler Swinehart kick)
CC: Matthew Tuomala 4 run (Ben Shropshire kick)
CD: Jordan Erwin 5 pass from Russell Tabor (Swinehart kick)
CC: Henry Rutledge 85 run (Shropshire kick)
CC: Gage Reale 6 pass from Tuomala (Shropshire kick)
CC: Henry Rutledge 60 run (Shropshire kick)
CC: FG Shropshire 18
CD: Erwin 4 pass from Tabor (Swinehart kick)
This story was originally published October 30, 2020 at 9:41 PM.
