Tabernacle Falls to South Haven in Promising Season Opener

August 17, 2024

By Jackson Hillis

Springfield, Tenn. – The Tabernacle Torches traveled out of state on Friday to face the Patriots of South Haven Christian School in a season-opening game for both teams. After an eventful offseason, the Torches were looking forward to the early-August matchup, one that marked the first historical meeting between the two programs.

Tabernacle struggled to find a consistent flow throughout the game, but had no shortage of impactful plays in the 36-0 loss, especially in the passing game. The senior offensive duo of quarterback Aaron Peters and receiver Kyle Gillis connected 5 times on the night, making up 127 of the former’s 137 passing yards. Peters’ only other completion came on a strike delivered to junior newcomer Colin Nix, who showed good potential on both sides of play throughout the match. Overall, Tabernacle’s offense showed flashes of exceptional ability, although they were hampered at times by penalties and unforced errors.

Tabernacle senior lineman Alex Tank (Brant Berry | PrepsNet)

Defensively, the Torches posted a similar performance, with a plethora of players making high-level plays at different times. Alex Tank, a veteran presence in Tabernacle’s trenches, led the team with 5 tackles, contributing to Tabernacle’s strong defensive front along with junior Braden Odom, who racked up four stops on the night. Despite this, they were unable to stop some of the explosive, long-yardage plays of the Patriots, a factor that Head Coach Josiah Davis credited as one of the main reasons for the loss.

Davis, who was promoted from his Offensive Coordinator position following the ’23-’24 season, remained optimistic about the situation, especially considering the circumstances surrounding it. His program has undergone a significant amount of retooling in a relatively short offseason, with only 4 players returning to their positions, and some major coaching changes towards the end of last school year.

Tabernacle quarterback Aaron Peters (Brant Berry | PrepsNet)

Regardless, fans can look towards an exciting month ahead after their upcoming bye week. The Torches will take to the road once again to face powerhouse Jacksonville Christian Academy at the end of August, followed by their home opener against the Eagles of Cornerstone Christian Academy on September 9th.

Featured Image: Tabernacle Christian School senior Kyle Gillis (Brant Berry | PrepsNet)