CFCA defeats Windsor 14-8 in gritty rivalry showdown to take home South Bibb County Trophy

Central Fellowship Christian Academy captured the South Bibb County Trophy in a thrilling 14-8 victory over the Windsor Academy Knights on Friday night, capping off their homecoming celebration with a defensive win to over an old rival.

The game marked the first meeting between the two teams since 2013. Both teams entered the game with 2-6 records and the rivalry was immediately rekindled with intense, physical play on both sides.

CFCA leaned heavily on their mobile quarterback Judson Walls to control the game. Known for his hard-nosed, north-and-south running style, Walls used his legs to dominate the clock and grind out tough yards. His ability to extend plays with his mobility allowed the Lancers to keep Windsor Academy’s offense off the field for much of the night.

“Offensively, I felt like we got a lot of first downs and kind of controlled the clock that way,” CFCA head coach Jake Walls said. “They have explosive skill players, and they can score fast as you saw in the last drive. By keeping the ball on offense with a lot of first downs, we were able to keep the pace that we needed to control the game.”

The Lancers struck first late in the first quarter when Judson Walls capped off a methodical drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. CFCA led 7-0 after the extra point, and its defense took over from there. Windsor Academy’s offense struggled to find its rhythm, as CFCA’s defensive unit, led by linebacker Levi Pierce and defensive lineman Maddox Railey, shut down the Knights’ running game and applied pressure to Windsor’s quarterback, Dawson Sims.

A pivotal moment in the second quarter came when Central Fellowship’s Brandon Hubbard recovered a fumble, stalling a promising Windsor drive and maintaining the Lancers’ momentum going into halftime.

“Defensively, they have so many good skill players, and we tried to prepare for that,” Coach Walls explained. “We weren’t sure where number seven (Jay Singleton) would be since he had been injured, and his return made it tough for us to defend both the run and pass. But I think our defensive ends and outside linebackers did a good job of helping in both areas.”

The third quarter saw the game’s intensity reach a boiling point. Both teams fought hard for every yard, and tempers flared midway through the quarter resulting in a scuffle that led to multiple ejections on both sides. Coach Walls acknowledged the incident but chose to focus on the importance of keeping emotions in check.

“It’s hard to see in the melee, but we were told by our players that number 11 had his helmet ripped off, and that started it. Unfortunately, young men don’t always show great self-control in those moments,” he said.

CFCA remained focused, with Judson Walls continuing to use his mobility to extend drives and wear down Windsor’s defense. Early in the fourth quarter, Walls broke free for his second touchdown of the night, a 13-yard run that pushed CFCA’s lead to 14-0 with just under five minutes to play.

Windsor refused to go down without a fight. Dawson Sims connected with wide receiver Chris Lamar for a 14-yard touchdown with 2:42 left on the clock. A successful two-point conversion brought the score to 14-8, giving Windsor a chance to rally.

The Knights’ onside kick attempt was recovered by Central Fellowship, however, and Walls once again came through with crucial first-down runs, allowing the Lancers to run out the clock and secure the victory.

After the game, Windsor Academy’s head coach Dylan Bass reflected on the game’s outcome, acknowledging the offensive struggles and the tough decision to make a quarterback change at halftime:

 “I thought the defense played great,” Bass said. “Offense, we just never really could get going until the end. You know, we made a change at halftime at quarterback, and looking back, it probably wasn’t the right move, but things weren’t moving well, so we thought it would be good to make a change.”

Central Fellowship Christian Academy will prepare for next week’s matchup against Cherokee Christian, while Windsor Academy hopes to regroup against Heritage. 

“It helps a good bit because Cherokee throws it a lot,” Walls said of the upcoming game. “But with two guys being ejected and another injured, we’re running on fumes in terms of personnel.”

CFCA’s disciplined defense and the mobile playmaking of Judson Walls proved to be the difference in the physical, emotional rivalry’s first edition in more than a decade. The Windsor Academy Knights fought hard, but Central Fellowship’s control of the clock and key defensive stops ensured that the trophy would reside with the Lancers for the time being.