Community Christian rolls to homecoming win

October 16

08:39 2023

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By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

WEATHERFORD – After a week in which everything went wrong to a week when everything went right, Community Christian School celebrated homecoming with a bounce back 57-6 win over Grace Christian Academy.

The Warriors improved to 5-2 following the non-district private school contest played at Weatherford Christian School. The game ended at halftime via the six man football 45-point rule. Playing their first year of varsity-level football, the Colts dropped to 1-5.

CCS sophomore running back Hayden Yelverton shakes a would-be tackler and heads for the end zone to score the Warriors’ first touchdown in what would become a 57-6 win over Grace Christian Academy on Homecoming Night.

It was a game CCS, which suited up just eight players, needed after being blanked 42-0 the previous week at Arlington St. Paul’s Prep.

“We did,” said CCS head coach Gary Rushing. “Last week just wasn’t a great game for us.”

The Warriors had five turnovers in that game. The past week was additionally difficult for Rushing. He was sick and missed three days of practice.

“They wanted to respond, and they did,” Rushing said of Friday’s performance. “The big thing about tonight is that everybody got to touch the ball it seemed like. Everybody got to do something. That’s important. Everybody wants to do something with the ball and tonight they got a chance to.”

It was a big night for Jace Little, the transfer from Albany where he played 11-man football. Little had three touchdown receptions and 117 yards on three catches to help lead the Warriors. After the game he was crowned the school’s 2023 homecoming prince.

***Young Warriors present the American flag at midfield for the pre-game playing of the National Anthem, performed by the CCS choir.***

Senior quarterback Price Horton threw two of the Warriors touchdowns and sophomore running back Hayden Yelverton ran for two more. Yelverton, Little and Horton led the team in tackles with six, five and four stops, respectively. Little also had a fumble recovery. Horton and eighth grader Parker Dehls each had an interception – Dehls took his second-quarter pick 30 yards in for a touchdown.

Yelverton had the first CCS touchdown on a pitch and 5-yard run. Little’s PAT was good for an early 8-0 lead.

A high punt snap into the end zone resulted in a safety against GCA to make it 10-0 midway through the first quarter.

Horton found Little streaking wide open between the hashes for a 30-yard touchdown pass to put CCS up 16-0.

Starting at GCA’s 35, Little pitched to Horton who raced 27 yards to the Colts’ 8. Yelverton then had his second rushing touchdown of the night for a 24-0 lead in the first.

Little’s fumble recovery on the Colts’ next possession have the Warriors the ball at GCA’s 14. Facing fourth-and-goal at the 8, Horton pitched to Yelverton, who then found Little in the end zone for a touchdown and a 32-0 lead early in the second.

Community Christian School celebrated homecoming Friday. Crowned the 2023 Homecoming queen and king were, left, Amira Anderson and Braden Maness. Crowned princess and prince were Miranda Belding Jace Little.

The Colts turned the ball over on downs to set up freshman Kade Etier throwing a touchdown to Little for a 20-yard scoring play to put CCA up 38-0.

Another GCA fumble was recovered by Etier at the Colts’ 1 yard line. Braden Maness snared a short toss from Horton for a score and a 45-0 CCS advantage. Like Little, Maness had more to celebrate than the win. He was crowned the school’s 2023 homecoming king.

Dehls’ interception return for a score made it 51-0.

The Colts were backed up to their 4 yard line when junior running back Austin Williams exploded for a 75-yard run down the 80-yard field’s sideline. He then ran into the end zone from the 1 to put GCA on the scoreboard.

CCS took over at the Colts’ 39 when Etier reeled off a score on the first play to produce the final 57-6 margin. Horton’s interception ended the contest.

Next up for the Warriors is a district home game Friday against Waco Methodist Children’s Home. Rushing said the Bulldogs (6-1, 2-0) are either the best, or tied for the best, among Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship schools. Maxpreps ranks them second in TCAF.

CCS is sitting in third place District 1 with a 1-1 record, behind Methodist Children’s Home (2-0) and St. Paul’s Prep (3-0, 5-3 overall).

“Waco Methodist is loaded,” Rushing said. “They have played a lot of public schools throughout the year and have done really good against them. We have our hands full. They are really fast and well-coached, so we will find out next Friday what we have.”