APA keeps undefeated streak intact against Grace Christian

Arendell Parrott Academy’s football team prays after defeating Grace Christian Friday. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

RALEIGH — Status quo remained the same, but it wasn’t as easy this time around.

Arendell Parrott’s offense was clicking on all cylinders in a 51-36 victory over Grace Christian Friday. The Patriots (4-2) have never lost to the Eagles (4-2) and won the first four meetings by a combined score of 221-58, but a late touchdown was needed to seal Friday’s contest.

APA benefitted from 545 yards of offense, as Trey McLawhorn contributed to a great deal of the attack. The senior running back totaled 307 yards, including 243 on the ground.

“There were big holes out there and I felt like we were stronger than this team — the weight room really helped us during the summer,” McLawhorn said.

While McLawhorn posted 187 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, freshman quarterback Wilkes Thomas made his impact felt through the air. Thomas also had three touchdowns, including a 15-yard loft to Jonah Beaman in the waning seconds of the first half to give the Patriots a 35-21 lead heading into the break.

“I kind of scrambled around, and depended on Trey and the rest of my receivers to go up and catch a pass,” Thomas said. “I’m pretty well coached by Coach Beaman and our starting quarterback (Reynolds Barringer, who was lost to a season-ending injury) taught me everything I know.”

Grace Christian dominated the time of possession in the third quarter, limiting APA to just one play offensively. The Patriots made the most of it after forcing a fumble on the Eagles’ opening drive and getting a short touchdown run from Blake Smith, but Grace Christian struck back with a 12-play, 66-yard drive. Britton Kilby found Isaiah Anderson for a 24-yard touchdown and after the Eagles recovered an onside kick, the duo had another scoring connection to get within 43-36 heading into the fourth.

The Patriots responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive, including a pair of fourth-down conversions and ending with McLawhorn’s third touchdown of the game. Grace Christian got a 35-yard connection form Kilby to Jacob Hukins to put the ball on the APA 12, but the Patriots’ defense forced four incompletions to get the ball back with 3:46 to play.

From there, the Patriots ran the clock out.

“I thought we came out and executed really well,” APA coach Matt Beaman said. “Offensively, we controlled the line of scrimmage (and) the defense did a great job playing their assignments. (Grace Christian) made some plays, but they have some great athletes.”

The Patriots host Faith Christian Oct. 11 for their Homecoming game.

Arendell Parrott 51, Grace Christian 36

APA       14           21           8              8 — 51 

GC          7              14           15           0 — 36

First Quarter

APA — Nick Harrison 16 pass from Wilkes Thomas (Harrison kick), 5:29

GC — Jacob Hukins 45 pass from Britton Kilby (Landon Lauffer kick), 4:26

APA — Trey McLawhorn 58 run (Harrison kick), 3:08

Second Quarter

APA — Harrison 26 pass from Thomas (Harrison kick), 10:16

GC — Drew Fields 38 pass from Kilby (Lauffer kick), 9:15

APA — McLawhorn 18 run (kick blocked), 4:22

GC — Isaiah Anderson 9 run (Lauffer kick), 1:59

APA — Jonah Beaman 15 pass from Thomas (Blake Smith run), :19

Third Quarter

APA — Smith 4 run (Smith run), 9:54

GC — Anderson 24 pass from Kilby (Anderson from Kirby), 1:59

GC — Anderson 20 pass from Kilby (Lauffer kick), :00    

Fourth Quarter

APA — McLawhorn 7 run (Smith run), 4:38

                                APA       GC

First Downs        29           16

Rushes-yards     49-329   18-79

Passing                 11-15-0 15-22-0

Passing yards     216         316

Total yards          545         395

Punts-avg.          0-0          0-0

Penalties             7-52       18-121

Fumbles-lost      0-0          2-2 

Individual statistics

RUSHING—Arendell Parrott: Trey McLawhorn 32-243, Blake Smith 14-73, Wilkes Thomas 3-13. Grace Christian: Isaiah Anderson 9-37, Torrey Brown 5-34, Jacob Hukins 3-17, TEAM 1-minus 9.

PASSING—Arendell Parrott: Thomas 11-15-0, 216. Grace Christian: Britton Kilby 12-19-0, 238; Hukins 3-3-0, 78

RECEIVING—Arendell Parrott: Nick Harrison 3-77, Jonah Beaman 3-65, McLawhorn 5-64. Grace Christian: Hukins 7-139, Anderson 5-99, Drew Fields 1-38, Kasey Gower 1-36, Robbie Hartsfield 1-4