Grace Academy Runs Away with 78-38 Semifinal Victory Over Grace Classical

In a wild, high-scoring affair Grace Academy punched its ticket to the championship game with a commanding 78-38 win over Grace Classical Christian Academy on Friday night. The final score alone tells only part of the story. The two teams combined for 116 points, 785 total yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns — all without a single punt or field-goal attempt the entire night.

Junior running back Elijah Heilig was the unstoppable force for Grace Academy, carrying the ball 27 times for 151 yards and an eye-popping five touchdowns. Heilig scored from 8, 1, 7, 7, and 30 yards,“Elijah ran tough tonight,” Grace Academy head coach Brent Golemon said afterward. “He just kept lowering his shoulder and fighting for extra yards. The line also did a great job of opening the running lanes for him.”

Quarterback Bridger Maxwell was efficient through the air, completing 6 of 10 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns — both on deep shots to freshman wideout Will Yassa (44 yards) and Senior Brendin Tomlin (5 yards). Maxwell also showed off his mobility with a 32-yard scramble.

Grace Classical stayed within striking distance for much of the night thanks to an explosive ground attack of its own. The Knights racked up 312 rushing yards on 35 carries and scored five rushing touchdowns, including two 60-yard house calls. But three turnovers — two lost fumbles and an interception returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Grace Academy’s Maxwell in the fourth quarter — ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The game was tied 30-30 late in the third quarter after another long Grace Classical run, but The Griffins responded with five unanswered touchdowns in the final period to turn a close contest into a rout.

Defensively, Moore led Grace Academy with 11 total tackles (8 solo), a sack, two tackles for loss, and the back-breaking forced fumble and recovery that started the rout. Brendin Tomlin added eight tackles and a fumble recovery of his own.

Final Stats HighlightsGrace Academy (78)

• Total offense: 390 yards (256 rush, 134 pass)

• Elijah Heilig: 27 carries, 151 yards, 5 TD

• Bridger Maxwell: 6-10, 134 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

• Will Yassa: 2 receptions, 70 yards, 1 TD

• Turnovers forced: 3

Grace Classical (38)

• Total offense: 395 yards (312 rush, 83 pass)

• Team rushing: 35 carries, 312 yards, 5 TD (two 80-yard TD runs)

• Passing: 7-18, 83 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

• Turnovers: 3

With the win, Grace Academy advances to face the winner of the other semifinal and will carry momentum — and a very tired but very happy Elijah Heilig — into the title game. In a night full of big plays and bigger scores, one thing was clear: when Grace Academy needed yards, they simply handed the ball to No. 6 and got out of the way.

Final score: Grace Academy 78, Grace Classical Christian Academy 38.