The latest version of Savannah’s best rivalry was advertised Friday, October 15, at Specialty Sports Complex on the campus of Calvary Day. In front of a packed stadium on a gorgeous fall night, No. 2 Calvary withstood a stiff early test from Savannah Christian to put away the Raiders by a score of 21-0 in the Region 3-A Private opener for both.
It was sweet revenge for Calvary over its longtime rival, as SCPS had knocked off the Cavs in four consecutive meetings before a 2021 series shifter. With two road region games left in the regular season, Calvary is the unquestioned favorite to win the region’s crown, and if all goes well, perhaps the Cavs are in line for much loftier titles down the road.
Calvary (8-0, 1-0 Region 3-A Private) was forced to punt on its opening two drives versus a tough Raider defense, but unfortunately for the visitors, Calvary’s dominant defense also forced consecutive three-and-outs from its counterpart early in the proceedings.
Savannah Christian (4-4, 0-1) started David Bucey at quarterback just as it did last week versus Screven County in place of regular junior starter Paulus Zittrauer (injured two weeks ago). But with SCPS deep in its own territory and facing another likely punt situation, Zittrauer was inserted into the game for one play from the Raider 13-yard-line.
Dayyan O’Neal intercepted Zittrauer’s would-be middle-screen pass and took it the short distance into the endzone to give No. 2 Calvary a 7-0 lead that it would never relinquish.
An 80-yard touchdown drive (three minutes, nine seconds in duration) was capped by Antonio Butts’ five-yard rushing score for the host Cavs, and their lead was boosted to 14-0 late in the second. It would remain at 14-0 through halftime and deep into the third until freshman running back Donovan Johnson rumbled in from 10-yards out to make it 21-0 Calvary with 3:37 left in the third.
For Johnson, the rushing touchdown was his seventh of the season. He rushed for more than 100 yards in the win after coming into the contest averaging 101.3 rushing yards per game.
While Savannah Christian was unable to do much offensively thanks to stellar play from Calvary defenders Terry Simmons, Troy Ford, JuWuan Johnson, O’Neal and others, senior Raider receiver George Futch did all he could do to keep his squad in the contest.
Futch hauled in four catches for 77 yards (all from Bucey) in the first half alone. At one point, Calvary was using three defenders to swarm the preseason first-team All-State selection.
The Cavs are allowing opponents to score an average of just 10.2 points per game, good for fourth-best in the state. Calvary set the tone early in the game, allowing SCPS to rush for less than 20 yards in the first half.
Savannah Christian, who leads the all-time series 26-17, never lost to Calvary under head coach Baker Woodward (a Calvary graduate). The Raiders had won four straight over Mark Stroud’s Cavs, including twice in 2019. In 43 meetings dating back to 1979, neither side has won more than four consecutive games over the other, a testament to the ability to maintain a solid program for half-a-century.
After Friday night’s win, Calvary will look to start a rivalry-winning streak of its own beginning the next time the two private schools do battle (playoffs or in 2022).
Next week, Calvary gets back in action with another rivalry game, this time on the road as the Cavs play at Savannah Country Day (2-5, 0-1) on October 22.
The Raiders will host Aquinas (6-2, 1-0) out of Augusta in another 3-A Private contest at Pooler Stadium.
SC — 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 — 0
CD — 7 - 7 - 7 - 0 — 21
HALFTIME — CD 14-0.
RECORDS — SC 4-4 (0-1 Region 3-A Private); CD 8-0 (1-0 Region 3-A Private).
NEXT — SC vs. Aquinas (Oct. 22); CD at SCD (Oct. 22).
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo Credit - Calvary Athletics Instagram
