High school football playoff preview: Christian Heritage School hosts Wesleyan

Published 11:15 am Thursday, November 21, 2024

After receiving a bye in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Private State Football Championship last week, Christian Heritage School returns to playoff competition for the seventh consecutive year on Friday.

Christian Heritage (8-2) will host the Wesleyan Wolves (9-2) at 7:30 p.m. at the Lions’ Den.

Ranked second in Region 7-A DI and entering the playoffs as a seventh-seed, the Lions finished the regular season with their most wins since 2020, including definitive victories over Cherokee Christian, Pepperell, Dade County, Gordon Lee, Coosa, Gordon Central and Chattooga.

Christian Heritage’s final game of the 2024 season, a 45-26 win against Armuchee in Rome on Nov. 1, featured a strong Lions offense making several explosive plays. Lions quarterback Carter Triplett, who finished 17-for-34 with 266 passing yards and 18 rushing yards on eight carries, ran in a pair of touchdowns, while Thailan Christopher accumulated 168 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Bronx Stallion’s three receptions against Armuchee totaled 47 yards and a touchdown, while senior Henry Stanley returned an interception for a 20-yard pick-six, and kicker Sam Bishop connected on a 25-yard field goal.

During the regular season Triplett threw for 2,320 yards and was 140-for-255 with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He ran for 804 yards on 139 carries with 12 touchdowns.

Friday’s game will mark the third time the Lions will have played Wesleyan, but the first time under the coaching of Frank Barden. The previous matchups between the teams, with coach Jay Poag at the helm, came during the 2019 and 2021 playoffs and resulted in eliminations for the Lions.

Wesleyan, which finished second in Region 5-A DI, also suffered only two losses during the regular season, to Elbert County and region champion Fellowship Christian. The Wolves, who entered the playoffs as the 10th seed, made it to the second round after toppling Mount Pisgah Christian 41-21.

Wesleyan quarterback Ben Brown ended the regular season 165-for-265 with 2,638 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and running for 546 yards on 101 carries with four touchdowns.

Last year, Christian Heritage entered the postseason with a 5-6 record and lost 30-7 in the first round of the playoffs to third-ranked Macon County.

“Our team has worked extremely hard and we have great senior leadership this year,” said Barden. “We are excited to be playing Wesleyan this week in the second round of state playoffs. Our goal is to put our best product on the field as a team and strive to … be our best individually.”

The winner of Friday’s game will go on to face either Fellowship Christian or King’s Ridge Christian in a game currently scheduled for Friday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at a location to be announced.