The Indians dropped a hard-fought Quarterfinals, top-5 matchup against visiting Savannah Christian on Black Friday, ending the magical run with a 42-21 loss.

The #4-ranked Raiders (11-2), led by the top junior recruit in the nation in 5-star DE Elijah Griffin, held one of the state’s top offenses largely in check, though Lumpkin was always in the game. The #5 Indians (12-1) were turned away multiple times, and produced only a pair of first half field goals before a big third quarter got them back into it.

Savannah Christian pulled out some early tricks, converting a fake punt on the opening drive, which was capped with a Zo Smalls 1-yd plunge for the first score. Lumpkin was turned away near midfield on a 4^th-down try, but regained some momentum with an interception by #10.

The Indians had a lengthy drive that featured big runs by Mason Sullens and Cal Faulkner, but they settled for a 29-yd FG by Will Staples. The Raiders retaliated a couple minutes later when Kenry Wall had a stellar 10-yd TD run, shedding multiple tackles on his way in. Savannah Cristian didn’t stop there, as it turned away Lumpkin on a quick 3-and-out, and Wall scored from 2-yards out on the next drive to make it a 21-3 game. Lumpkin had a big play from Faulkner to Walker Scott to get deep in the red zone, but again the drive stalled and ended with a 30-yd Staples field goal. That made it 21-6 at the break.

The Indians came out firing to open the second half, taking the ball on a lengthy drive that ended with a 5-yd TD pass from Faulkner to Nolan Matthews. Playing the numbers, the Indians went for two and converted on a pass from Faulkner to Sullens, making it a 21-14 game with 7:18 left in the third. Just more than a minute later, the Raiders responded with an 11-yd TD by Smalls, his second score of the game to push the lead back up to 28-14. Unwilling to give in, Faulkner and Sullens led another big drive, and Faulkner’s jump ball from 20 yards out was hauled in by Luke Evans to pull the deficit down to 28-21.

Lumpkin actually recovered a fumble and was in position to tie the contest, but a failed 4^th-down try in the red zone gave momentum back to Savannah Christian. Jaden Miles had a 32-yd TD with 6:22 to go, and Wall added his third TD of the night on a 41-yd run to put the game on ice.