Christian Academy of Louisville 42 Union County 21 (3A State Championship)

[theguru]

Christian Academy of Louisville received the opening kickoff and went three and out.   Jarren Johnson ran for 42 yards on the first play for Union County but the drive stalled on downs at the CAL 29.  CAL drove the length of the field on runs and throws by Connor Hodge and Hodge ran it in from 8 yards out to give CAL a 6-0 lead with 354 left in the first quarter.  Union County drove down the field on the legs of Jarren Johnson but was stopped on downs at the CAL 30.  On the next play Connor Hodge hit Darwin Cotton on a 70 yard td pass and Hodge connected with Stone Perkins on the two point conversion to make it CAL 14 Union County 0 at the end of the 1st quarter.

CAL forced Union County to punt on the first possession of the second quarter and CAL took over on their own 20 yard line.  9 plays and 80 yards later Connor Hodge hit a wide open Bryce Wilson for a 38 yard TD reception making the score 21-0 CAL with 327 left in the half.  On Union County's next possession a bad punt gave CAL the ball on the Union County 24.  Two players later Connor Hodge ran it in from 20 yards out to put CAL up 28-0 with 144 left in the half. 

Union County opened the second half on their 37 yard line and drove down to the CAL 22 yard line before being stopped on downs.  CAL moved the ball down the field but Jarren Johnson picked off a tipped, Connor Hodge pass and took the ball 72 yards to the house to make it 28-7 CAL with 503 left in the 3rd.  Union County lined up and perfectly executed an onside kick to get the ball again at the CAL 47.  Union County converted some crucial plays and Jarren Johnson ran it in from 11 yards out to make it 28-14 CAL with 117 left in the 3rd quarter.

CAL opened the scoring in the 4th quarter with a 22 yard TD run by Connor Hodge to make it 35 to 14 CAL with 1034 left in the game.  Union County went right back down the field and scored on a 4 yard td pass from Jarren Johnson to Luke Thomas with 655 left in the game to make it 35-21, Christian Academy of Louisville.  Connor Hodge scored again on a 12 yard run with 208 left in the game.  CAL 42 Union County 21.  Christian Academy of Louisville is your 2024 Class 3A State Champions. 

Congrats CAL!  Congrats Coach Cantwell!

[TilghmanPride]

Lot of fight from Union when they were down big, I love it. Congrats to CAL, kinda hard not to root for their coach when he is a big piece of Tilghman history. They are on a heck of a run. 

[Tigerpride94]

Congrats to CAL on being state champions and Union County on being state runner up! 🎉

[Purple88]

Congratulations CAL - State Champs! 
Great Team and such talented guys WOW!
Isn’t it true CAL has never lost a State Championship game before?  I don’t see them losing in 3A for awhile. Enjoy another championship!

For Union County, really gritty effort!

Got outplayed whole first half then came out and outplayed CAL in 3Q and battled to the end.  Great season too!

[Unrivaled97]

Unfortunately for the rest of 3A, I believe the gap is only going to widen between them & CAL the next few years.  Congrats to UC on a nice season.  A lot of fight in those young men & in Jarren Johnson in particular.  He is going to make a D2, D3 or NAIA school very happy.

[Statsdontlie]

Those Ex College Qbs know how to coach. Haddix (Boyle) Evinston (Covington Catholic) Cantwell (CAL) Smith (South Warren) have all won multiple State Championships. I might be missing some but those are the ones that come to mind.

[ATLCat]

Too many dudes!

CAL is a powerhouse.

Johnson played his heart out, 239 all-purpose yards, 2 TD's plus a 72 yard Pick 6.

Union needed about three Johnson's to beat CAL though.

 

[Bac2369]

If only Union could of capalized on those first two drives in the 1st.. I’m glad they never quit. 
Congrats CAL on another title.

[Wildcat1993]

49 minutes ago, Unrivaled97 said:

Unfortunately for the rest of 3A, I believe the gap is only going to widen between them & CAL the next few years.  Congrats to UC on a nice season.  A lot of fight in those young men & in Jarren Johnson in particular.  He is going to make a D2, D3 or NAIA school very happy.

Could we see  more star or talented players in the City coming to CAL these next few years? Know already a lot coming back but wonder if guys would want come there now to have a shot winning championships instead staying in the 6a

[Unrivaled97]

35 minutes ago, Wildcat1993 said:

Could we see  more star or talented players in the City coming to CAL these next few years? Know already a lot coming back but wonder if guys would want come there now to have a shot winning championships instead staying in the 6a

Absolutely.  In fact, I wasn’t at the game today because I’m in Indy at FBU regionals with Team Kentucky, getting ready to play MoKan (Missouri/Kansas).  It’s considered the best MS players in the state and there are 2 on this team at CAL MS (LB/FB & DL/OL).  There are a few more kids on this team that are on the waitlist at CAL, hoping for a spot.  A certain 6A catholic school in Louisville is actually their backup plan if they don’t get in😮 , so yes, CAL is young with more coming.

IMO, 6A ball is not what it used to be.  Outside of district, you can play who you want anyway, so CAL could schedule some of those other state powerhouses or even tough out of state competition, which I would love to see.

[hrcarrier]

Congratulations to CAL on the three peat, very impressive accomplishment and not easy to do. Congratulations to Union County on an excellent season too. CAL is just on a different level and with Union’s challenges with being able to pass and defend the pass was just too much. Union County has nothing whatsoever to hang their heads about, they definitely got me attention in the late part of the regular season and the playoffs. I think Union County has plenty of the state’s attention now. 

 

[theguru]

Class 3A | Christian Academy-Louisville 42, Union County 21

• Final Stats (PDF)
• Most Valuable Player presented by Morgan & Morgan: Connor Hodge, Christian Academy-Louisville
• Class 3A Bracket (KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard)

[Wildcat1993]

16 hours ago, Unrivaled97 said:

Absolutely.  In fact, I wasn’t at the game today because I’m in Indy at FBU regionals with Team Kentucky, getting ready to play MoKan (Missouri/Kansas).  It’s considered the best MS players in the state and there are 2 on this team at CAL MS (LB/FB & DL/OL).  There are a few more kids on this team that are on the waitlist at CAL, hoping for a spot.  A certain 6A catholic school in Louisville is actually their backup plan if they don’t get in😮 , so yes, CAL is young with more coming.

IMO, 6A ball is not what it used to be.  Outside of district, you can play who you want anyway, so CAL could schedule some of those other state powerhouses or even tough out of state competition, which I would love to see.

Would like see it. The style on offense looks too much fun to be apart of. Looking forward to that sophomore rising JR class Yal have. 

[theguru]

Photos from the KHSAA and they have more for sale.