One order of business remained before the Chattanooga Christian football team could finish tying a ribbon on a dominating, 39-0 road victory over a young Silverdale Baptist Academy squad Friday night.
The Chargers, with a relentless ground game that amassed 303 yards and set the contest's tone from the outset, huddled around CCS coach Rob Spence. They did their best to stay in harmony on the sideline while singing a heart-felt version of "Happy Birthday" to the first-year coach who has his team making positive strides.
"This was absolutely a great birthday present," Spence said. "Tonight was a reflection of the team's hard work throughout the year. We have been progressing all year on rushing and passing the ball. We enjoy running the ball when we have the opportunity."
Those opportunities came early and often Friday as Chattanooga Christian (4-3) took control from the team's first possession. The Chargers marched 68 yards on their opening drive with Brandon Mason scoring the first of his four touchdowns.
Two consecutive fumbles (the second one lost) by the Seahawks (3-4) on the next possession set up the Class AA Chargers at the SBA 14-yard line. Mason powered into the end zone on the next play and CCS had tight control of the game.
The sophomore-dominated Class A Seahawks did not have answers for a powerful front line that dominated both sides of the ball and created plenty of space for Mason and quarterback Zach Mercer.
Mercer and Mason accounted for all of the 53 yards on the ground for the Chargers' third TD, a 6-yard run by Mason just seconds into the second quarter. Mason, who rushed 23 times for 160 yards in the game, closed out his impressive first half with a 4-yard TD, capping off a 76-yard drive scoring drive that stayed exclusively on the ground.
Nick Wilson spelled Mason for a good portion of the second half, closed out the scoring for CCS with TD runs of 4 and 15 yards. Mercer, meanwhile, collected 107 yards on 12 carriers.
"Everything came together for us tonight," Mason said. "Coach told us to concentrate on every play on putting in a full effort tonight on every single play, and that's what we did. It was nice to be able to give him that for his birthday."
"He is a skilled athlete and a warrior. You love to have guys like that on your team," Spence said of Mason.
Spence also was pleased by the play of Mercer and the defense, which held the Seahawks to 143 yards.
"[Mercer] has come a long way. He is an excellent high school quarterback," said Spence, who came to CCS this season after serving as the quarterbacks coach at Rutgers University. "Our entire defensive did a good job tonight. Our front line did a great job because they kept them from rushing the ball, and our secondary did a great job of containing an excellent passer and the good receivers that they have."
"CCS is a good team and we are young," said Seahawks coach Al Rogers, whose team was led by Alex Burkes with nine tackles. "We are going to keep working, and we are going to be all right. Adversity happens to make you better and not bitter."
Contact Greg Thompson at sports@timesfreepress.com.