Providence Day holds off Charlotte Christian, heads to state final rematch at Rabun Gap
It’s rare for a three-time defending state champion to enter a state title game as the underdog.
But that’s exactly where Providence Day finds itself heading into next week’s N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I football state championship game at Rabun Gap, Georgia, following Friday’s 28-20 win over visiting Charlotte Christian.
And Chargers head coach Chad Grier wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Being the underdog is a role I like for us,” said Grier, whose team improved to 9-2. “We’re confident we can win.”
It’ll mark the second straight season a No. 2-seeded Providence Day visits No. 1-seeded Rabun Gap in the NCISAA state championship game. Last year, after dropping a 42-27 home regular-season game, the Chargers won 34-27 on the road for their third straight state championship.
This season, Rabun Gap had a huge fourth quarter for a 46-13 home victory that earned it the No. 1 seed for a second straight season.
“The score looks bad,” Grier said. “But we were winning 13-12 entering the fourth quarter. We just had an avalanche of mistakes and they took advantage of them.”
Providence Day won its third straight game since that defeat on Friday by playing keepaway for much of the contest.
In the first half, the Chargers controlled possession for 33 of the 48 offensive snaps highlighted by a game-opening 14-play, 70-yard, 7 minute-37-second drive that ended with a field goal.
By the end of the opening half, Providence Day had built a 14-7 lead.
In the second half, the visiting Knights flipped the script with a 12-play, 80-yard, 5-minute, 28-second drive that cut the advantage to 14-13.
“They did a great job of keeping us off the field in the second half,” Grier said of Charlotte Christian, which finished its season at 6-4.
Providence Day senior quarterback Zaid Lott led the Chargers with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns and 56 yards rushing and another TD.
After the Chargers stopped Charlotte Christian on downs with 6:06 to play, Lott’s 10-yard scramble for a touchdown with 2:51 left accounted for the game’s final margin.
Providence Day finished with advantages in total offense (367 to 290) and offensive plays (59 to 50).
Three who made a difference
Zaid Lott, Providence Day: Completed 21 of 29 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown and rushed 13 times for 56 yards and one touchdown.
Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian: Rushed 29 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns.
Gordon Sellars, Providence Day: Caught seven passes for 117 yards and one touchdown and blocked an extra point that could’ve tied the score at 14 in the third quarter.
Notable
▪ The state’s top college recruit, Providence Day’s 6-foot-6, 290-pound David Sanders, played left offensive tackle and defensive end. Sanders committed to play at Tennessee earlier this year.
▪ Providence Day’s win was its series-record fifth straight in the series that began in 1991. Christian has the all-time winning streak with 14 straight wins in the series from 2014 to 2020 and holds a 25-21 all-time series lead. Friday’s result means the teams have won six times apiece in their 12 postseason meetings.
▪ Charlotte teams have dominated NCISAA state titles and title game appearances over the years. Entering next week’s title game, Charlotte Country Day (13 titles, nine runner-up finishes), Charlotte Latin (12 titles, eight runner-up finishes), Charlotte Christian (nine titles, five runner-up finishes) and Providence Day (seven titles, five runner-up finishes) are four of the top five teams in state history in championships won and title game appearances.
They said it
“I’m pleased with the kids and how hard they competed. They’re a really well-coached team and they have great players. It was tough to beat them twice this season.” — Providence Day coach Chad Grier, whose team beat Charlotte Christian 28-14 in the regular-season meeting between the two teams.
GAME SUMMARY
Charlotte Christian 0 7 6 7 - 20
Providence Day 3 11 8 6 - 28
FIRST QUARTER
PD: Davis Dudley 28 FG
SECOND QUARTER
CC: Jamal Rule 73 run (Elijah Boythe kick)
PD: Dudley 31 FG
PD: Steele Fletcher 12 pass from Zaid Lott (Quintin McCray run)
THIRD QUARTER
CC: Rule 2 run (Kick blocked)
PD: Gordon Sellars 44 pass from Lott (Lott run)
FOURTH QUARTER
CC: Owen Farrell 3 run (Boythe kick)
PD: Lott 10 run (Kick failed)