Week #11 Griffin Christian Season Comes To An End

November 19, 2010

By Alan Richards of Griffin, Georgia High School Football


Season comes to an end for Griffin Christian, 38-14

Griffin Christian's Anthony Lewis (1) rushes for yardage Friday night at Deerfield-Windsor in the opening round of the GISA Class AAA state playoffs. (Joe Bellacomo/Albany Herald)

ALBANY, Ga. - Touchdowns by Anthony Lewis and Josh Lee were not enough to turn back No. 1-state ranked Deerfield-Windsor as Griffin Christian's season came to an end, 38-14, Friday night in opening-round GISA Class AAA playoff action at Webb Memorial Stadium.

"We got down 14-0 early because of a few miscues, but we never quit," said Griffin Christian head coach Kerry Phillips. "It could have been uglier."

The Crusaders (6-5) scored on an 80-yard touchdown run by Lewis, who ended the night with a team-high 100 yards rushing, in the second quarter to make it 14-7. Deerfield-Windsor (11-0), however, scored two more times to take a 24-7 lead into the half.

"We tried an on-side kick that didn't work and they went up 31-7," Phillips said of third-quarter action.

Lee responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a TD as Griffin Christian cut into the Knights' lead, 31-14.

The Crusaders, however, could make no more headway against the Knights, which advanced to the semifinals of the eight-team playoff bracket to sit a win away from reaching the state finals for the third year in a row.

"The kids played well and I'm real pleased with the effort they gave all year in the games and practice," said Phillips.

It was the second time Griffin Christian's football team, in its fifth year of existence, reached the state playoffs.

The Crusaders, which reached the state playoffs in GISA Class AA last year, reached it again after moving up to GISA Class AAA this year.