SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Grace Christian Academy’s defense executed a masterful game plan Friday night, shutting down Northpoint Christian’s high-powered offense to secure a 17-7 victory in the first round of the TSSAA Division II-AA football playoffs.
The Lions’ primary focus was clear: stop Justin Henderson. The strategy proved successful, as GCA’s physical defensive front throttled the star running back, holding the 1,400-yard rusher in check and neutralizing the Trojans’ ground game.
Northpoint’s offense, which had been potent throughout a seven-game winning streak earlier in the season, struggled to find any rhythm.
“They’re a really good football team. We just couldn’t really get our offense going tonight,” said Northpoint Christian coach Tyler Gold. “I just feel like we were a little bit out of sync, and then they played a super physical game. [They] kind of stopped us on some big third and fourth downs… They were more physical than us.”
Gold also credited the GCA quarterback, Knox Lambert, for making critical plays. “The hardest part was he made some big plays with his legs on third downs, third and longs,” Gold noted.
The Trojans’ only points came from a brilliant defensive play in the second quarter. Senior Cooper Mansell, a running back and defensive back, jumped a Knox Lambert pass and returned the interception 78 yards for a touchdown. Mansell also kicked the extra point to cut the lead, and later recovered a fumble to halt a GCA drive.
“Cooper Mansell has been a huge leader for us on this team. It’s really kind of, as Cooper goes, we go,” Gold said. “It was good to see him get rewarded with a good pick six.”
Grace Christian built its lead methodically. Jedidiah Fish found the end zone on a four-yard run with just four seconds left in the first quarter. Placekicker Maddox Stevenson extended the lead to 10-0 with a 23-yard field goal before halftime.
Following Mansell’s pick-six, Fish provided the insurance score with 3:16 left in the third quarter, punching it in to complete the 17-7 final.
With the victory, Grace Christian Academy (8-3) advances to the second round of the playoffs. The Franklin school will travel to face Boyd Buchanan, which also advanced in its first-round game Friday night. Northpoint Christian’s season comes to an end with an 7-4 record.
Photos from the game credit to Mary Scott, Oak River Media.
SCOREBOARD
Friday, Nov. 7
Prep football playoffs
TSSAA Division II-AA first round
Grace Christian Academy (Franklin, Tenn.) 17, Northpoint Christian 7
Prep boys basketball
Clarksdale 63, Lake Cormorant 59
Holly Springs 65, Center Hill 56
South Panola 62, Lewisburg 55 (overtime)
Horn Lake 56, Gentry 47
Prep girls basketball
Lake Cormorant 50, Clarksdale 34
Holly Springs 53, Center Hill 35
South Panola 73, Lewisburg 39
Gentry at Horn Lake
Prep boys soccer
Center Hill 3, Horn Lake 0
Lake Cormorant 8, Senatobia 1
Gulfport 1, Lewisburg 0
Pontotoc 2, Southaven 1
Prep girls soccer
Center Hill 2, Horn Lake 0
Lewisburg 2, Gulfport 0
Southaven 4, Pontotoc 3
NOTABLES: With Callaway’s victory over Neshoba Central Friday, the MHSAA 6A playoffs are now complete. Callaway (6-5) will play at Lake Cormorant on Friday, Nov. 14, while Center Hill will travel to Warren Central.
Click the following links here for the MHSAA playoff brackets.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
