Situation is familiar for Lions camp

If the road to a possible trip to the SCISA Class AAA state championship looks familiar to Augusta Christian fans, it's because the Lions have been here before.

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Augusta Christian's football team won the state championship two years ago as a No. 2 seed. The team won its first-round state playoff game easily, then had to travel to Wilson Hall for a state semifinals match-up.

Fast-forward two years, and the 2007 Lions find themselves in the same situation.

"We just have to prepare ourselves to do what we have to do to get back to Orangeburg," said Bruce Lane, Augusta Christian football coach.

As always, the SCISA Class AAA state championship game will be played in Orangeburg at South Carolina State. The road to that title game once again goes through Sumter, S.C., where Wilson Hall and its 11-0 record await the Lions.

Augusta Christian beat up on Pinewood Prep 39-7 on Friday to advance to that big state semifinals match-up.

Lions senior quarterback Tyler Bourdo threw two touchdown passes and ran in another from 32 yards out. Senior Jay Harmon, fresh off an ankle injury, scored on a 55-yard touchdown run on the game's first play from scrimmage, and teammate Corey Critell punched in another score from four yards out.

While Augusta Christian had no trouble with Pinewood Prep (6-5), the Panthers took Wilson Hall into overtime the week before in a 13-10 loss.

Pinewood Prep football coach Pinckney Guerard didn't hesitate when asked about the upcoming game.

"We made some mistakes, but that was a good football team," he said of Augusta Christian. "I believe they'll win it all."

The Lions (9-2) have faced Wilson Hall only one other time. Augusta Christian traveled to Wilson Hall for a 2005 state semifinals game that ended with a 14-7 Lions win. Augusta Christian blocked a punt late in the second half and returned it all the way for the game-winning touchdown.

Bourdo said he remembers that game well.

"That was my 10th grade year. It was a fun game because it was so close," he said.

The winner of the Augusta Christian at Wilson Hall game will face the winner of the Heathwood Hall at Hammond game for the state title.