Calvary Day was hosting its first game of the season Friday night, but Landmark Christian made itself right at home once again at M.C. Anderson Field — knocking off the Cavaliers for the third consecutive time at the venue in a 30-22 non-region victory.
Landmark of Fairburn beat host Calvary Day to eliminate the Cavaliers from the GHSA state playoffs in the last two seasons.
Landmark struck on its first possession on a 47-yard run around the left end by Darius Smith, who ran a tightrope down the sideline at a full sprint.
Calvary’s offense seemed up for the challenge.
The Cavaliers countered quickly as Michael Peterson hit Milan Richard for a 38-yard gain that set up a 12-yard scoring run by A.J. Keene.
Calvary scored again at the end of the first quarter when Robert Heyward (99 yards on five carries) broke loose for a 70-yard run, setting up a 5-yard scoring run by Derek Kirkland as the Cavaliers took a 14-7 lead.
But that was the last time the Cavaliers found the end zone until the final seconds of the game.
“They are a well-coached team and they do this every time to us on our field,” said Calvary quarterback Peterson, who was 19 of 33 for 312 yards and a touchdown.
“They seem to know how to stop us. But we didn’t play to the best of our ability tonight. We still have a goal of going to state, and this won’t diminish that. We know exactly what we need to do to get better.”
Calvary had a hard time hanging on to the ball in the second half as Cavalier receivers dropped five passes that were right on the money. In the second quarter, the Cavaliers had a pair of touchdowns called back on one drive because of holding penalties.
“The biggest thing is we looked really fatigued out there, and that’s my responsibility,” Cavaliers coach Mark Stroud said. “We need to get stronger and tougher and finish well. Landmark took advantage of our mistakes and converted a lot on third down. We just couldn’t get a stop out there.”
Landmark Christian surged back into the lead after an impressive second quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Stockton McGuire scored on a 4-yard run and Smith added a 5-yard touchdown run (the extra point was missed) with 21 seconds left in the half to give Landmark a 20-14 lead.
McGuire was 15 of 22 passing for 143 yards. His favorite target was Sam Dobbs, who caught eight passes for 87 yards. Smith rushed for 94 yards and three scores on 13 carries.
The backbreaker came with 5:13 left in the game. Smith had touchdown run of 32 yards called back on a holding penalty, then he broke loose on what looked like the exact same play call for a 40-yard touchdown that put the War Eagles up 30-14.
Calvary never gave up, marching 80 yards to score with 22 seconds left in the game. Peterson passed for nearly all those yards. He hit tight end Richard from 5 yards out, and then found Marc Elton for a two-point conversion to cut Landmark’s lead to 30-22.
But Landmark recovered the ensuing onside kick and that was the game.
Richard had five catches for 79 yards, and Jordan Walker had five catches for 80 yards before being hurt and leaving the game at the start of the fourth quarter.
Landmark Christian coach Wayne Brantley praised his team’s effort, noting that four freshmen started on defense. Joey Blount and D.J. Brown were at cornerback for the War Eagles with Lofton Tidwell at free safety.
“That was incredible to play the way we did tonight with four freshmen in there,” Brantley said. “We beat one of the best teams in the state. If we keep working, the sky is the limit. I think this bunch will win a state title in the next three years, maybe even this year.”
LC 7 13 0 10 — 30
CD 14 0 0 8 — 22
LC—Darius Smith 47 run (Stockton McGuire kick)
CD—A.J. Keene 12 run (Dan Hatch kick)
CD—Derek Kirkland 5 run (Hatch kick)
LC—McGuire 4 run (McGuire kick)
LC—Smith 5 run (kick failed)
LC—McGuire 33 FG
LC—Smith 40 (McGuire kick)
CD—Milan Richard 5 pass from Peterson (Marc Elton pass from Peterson)