(PHOENIX) The Gilbert Christian football team suffered a setback against Arizona Lutheran Academy on the road Friday. The Knights found the endzone often, but could not prevent the Coyotes from doing the same, and fell 56-34. Senior Colby Johnston and junior Sam Webb were fantastic for GCHS, finishing the game with two touchdowns apiece.
"After last week's game we knew we needed to come out strong so I showed up to play hard," Johnston said. "We were down a few players which got us off to a slow start, but once we gained some momentum we were able to score. We stepped up on offense with Tyler's passes and some great downfield blocking and play-making from Andrew McGuigan and Kamari Stanbury. Our defense had grit and never gave up. We are only getting started. When our team is dialed in we are a force to be reckoned with."
Johnston was the first to light up the Knights' scoreboard, crossing over the goal line with 3:49 left in the first quarter. His score was set up by a solid punt return from sophomore Kamari Stanbury and a Webb charge up the field. Kicking the extra point was senior Nate Dickinson, who added to the Knights' tally with his successful attempt.
Down 28-7 heading into the second quarter, Johnston responded with another athletic touchdown to cut the Coyotes' lead to 14. Arizona Lutheran answered with a score of its own and a two-point conversion to stretch its advantage to 36-14 with 5:53 to play in the half.
The rest of the second was a sight to behold for Knights' fans. Junior quarterback Tyler Burr came out confident and refused to back down, attacking the Arizona Lutheran defense over the next two minutes with a great pass to Johnston, a hand off to Webb, a superb connection with senior Andrew McGuigan, and another to Johnston, before Webb powered in at the 3:53 mark to narrow the 36-21 margin.
The Knights weren't done yet, and found themselves within reach at the half following a drive that featured a couple of explosive Webb dashes, a Stanbury grab, a high-flying Johnston reception, and a Burr QB scramble for the GCHS touchdown.
Gilbert Christian's defense, led by senior Jesse Morales, was aggressive throughout the second, and appeared to have recovered a bobbled punt return to give the Knights one more shot at evening the score, but the call went in favor of the Coyotes, who took a 36-28 advantage into the locker room at the break.
The third was a different story as Arizona Lutheran began to gradually pull away, extending its lead to 50-28 over the next 12 minutes.
Freshman Malachi Ahlman, who represented for the underclassmen, opened the fourth with a notable grab for the Knights, setting up Webb's second rushing touchdown of the evening, GCHS' final score of the night.
"I think that we managed to pull it together and become a team and family right before the half," Webb said. "We had the momentum, and all of our boys gave everything they had. That is what is special about us. We need to fix some little mistakes and get healthy and I think we can be still be dangerous."
STAT LEADERS:
With the loss, the Knights drop to 0-2 on the year. The team returns to Gilbert to play on its home turf next Friday, September 1st (7:00pm), when it will take on American Leadership Academy – Ironwood.
-GO KNIGHTS-
