Revenge was sweet for Rabun Gap in win over Providence Day in NCISAA state title game

Providence Day’s three-year reign as N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 football champion ended Friday night with a 42-39 loss at Rabun Gap School.

The Georgia hosts, who had lost to Providence Day in the title game a year ago, scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, then held off a Charger comeback.

“I can’t say enough about the grit that we showed,” Providence Day coach Chad Grier said. “Our guys came back several times. They never quit.”

The game wasn’t decided until Providence Day’s onside kick attempt with 37 seconds remaining bounced out of bounds. Kicker Davis Dudley got the ball to bounce in the air twice, but his teammates were unable to grab it before the ball went out of play.

Rabun Gap (11-2) then ran out the clock, celebrating its first NCISAA championship in football.

The Eagles had taken a 42-31 lead with 2:47 remaining, when Gavin Owens connected with Alabama commit Marshall Pritchett on a 33-yard touchdown pass.

But the Chargers (9-3) weren’t finished.

They moved from their 29, driving the 71 yards in a little more than two minutes. The Chargers scored on a 16-yard pass from Zaid Lott to Gordon Sellars. That made it 42-39 with 37.8 seconds remaining, and it set up the closing onside kick try.

Providence Day had to battle back several times Friday evening.

The Chargers fell behind 21-14 when Rabun Gap scored on a 34-yard run by Georgia commit Bo Walker with 44 seconds left in the half. But Providence Day moved 80 yards in 38 seconds, scoring on a 10-yard pass from Lott to Himes.

As could be expected in a three-point game, there were numerous plays that could have changed the game. The Chargers missed a field goal in the first half, and there were a number of plays when Providence Day defenders nearly stopped a Rabun Gap running back or receiver, only to have the Eagle player break loose.

Walker, the thorn in Providence Day’s side when Rabun Gap beat the Chargers 46-13 last month, was a problem again. He carried 21 times for 162 yards.

“Walker is going to Georgia for a reason,” Grier said. “He’s a really good player.”

The Chargers were forced to run a mostly one-dimensional offense Friday, as their leading rusher this season, Ian Cline, was mostly sidelined with an ankle injury. He got into the game for a few plays but never carried the ball.

That forced Providence Day to rely mostly on Lott’s passing to stay in the game.

“It was a lot to ask him to do,” Grier said of Lott, a junior who has committed to North Carolina. “He stood in the pocket and took some hits. But he really played well.”

Lott completed only 6 of his first 17 passes, but he connected on 14 of the next 20 and finished with 308 passing yards for the game. His favorite target was junior Gordon Sellars, who had nine catches for 174 yards.

With Lott and Sellars returning next season, Grier said the Chargers should be strong again.

“There were only eight seniors on this team,” he said. “We’ll be back.”

Providence Day 7 14 10 8 — 39

Rabun Gap 7 14 7 14 — 42

PD — Zaid Lott 2 run (Davis Dudley kick)

RG — Marshall Pritchett 8 pass from Gavin Owens (Nozumo Mikkaichi kick)

PD — Gordon Sellars 54 pass from Lott (Dudley kick)

RG — Bo Walker 38 run (Mikkaichi kick)

RG — Walker 34 run (Mikkaichi kick)

PD — Jaylen Himes 10 pass from Lott (Dudley kick)

PD — FG Dudley 39

RG — Joshua Buckhalter 55 pass from Owens (Mikkaichi kick)

PD — Himes 1 pass from Lott (Dudley kick)

RG — Anthony Quinn Jr. 3 run (Mikkaichi kick)

RG — Pritchett 33 pass from Owens (Mikkaichi kick)

PD — Sellars 16 pass from Lott (Sellars pass from Lott)

This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 10:29 PM.