Harrells Christian Academy protected their home field in a dominant way Friday night, securing a 27-7 quarterfinal playoff victory over Hickory Grove Christian in Division II postseason play.
This marked the Crusaders’ first home playoff contest since 2021, and they made sure to fully capitalize on the moment in front of their home crowd.
Harrells head Coach Clayton Hall said being back at home made a massive impact.
“We haven’t had a home playoff game here since 2021. This group had never had a home playoff game. It was really special for them,” Hall said. “When you do not have to travel like we have to travel, that home-field advantage means a lot in the playoffs, especially when you are playing Hickory Grove and they have to drive all the way from Charlotte to play you.”
Harrells leaned heavily on its ground game, and two young standouts delivered in a major way. Junior Jeremiah Davis rushed for 167 yards on 14 carries, including a 74-yard breaker. Sophomore Gerard Miller added 185 yards on 18 carries with a long run of 62. The duo combined for six total touchdowns and controlled every phase of the offensive flow.
“I am super excited for those kids. They are very talented,” Hall said. “Jeremiah is very tough to tackle in space. With Gerard, you do not have to guess where he is going. He is going right at you. He is a north-to-south guy all the way. They complement each other.”
Even after their starting center went down early, Harrells’ offense adjusted, reshaped blocking assignments, and never lost momentum.
“When your back is against the wall like it was at times Friday night and you can still come out with a win like that, it only grows your confidence,” Hall noted. “Gerard picked up the slack, and we went right at them for four to five yards a pop. I am really excited about those kids, and both of them have very bright futures in this sport.”
Defensively, Harrells kept Hickory Grove off balance.
Now Harrells shifts immediately into preparation mode for this week’s semifinal trip to High Point Christian.
“We expect to win,” Hall said. “If you are not expecting to win every game, you already lost before you even step on the field. We showed we can compete with them. Our expectations are nothing less than going up there and winning a football game.”