Matt Hamilton/Daily Citizen-NewsChristian Heritage School's Navy Gazaway blocks a field goal Friday night in Dalton.

After a magical season that saw a multitude of program firsts, the Christian Heritage Lions saw everything come to a crashing halt on a cold and drizzly Friday night.

Playing in the program’s first home playoff game, Christian Heritage (7-4) was unable to find any answers against the machine-like Wing-T offense of Brookstone (7-4) and fell by a final score of 28-7 in the first round of the Class A private school playoffs.

Brookstone controlled the game from start to finish, outgaining Christian Heritage 388-128 in total yards.

“This one hurts, but what a good year,” Christian Heritage coach Jay Poag said. “We knew we were going to struggle to run the ball against those guys, and we didn’t throw it and catch it as well as we have this season. Our defense hung in there but they were out there all night. That’s a pretty good team we played tonight.”

The Cougars controlled the time of possession with a methodical ground attack throughout the game with six different players carrying the ball on the night. Running back Jeremiah Burgess led Brookstone with 20 carries for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and Clark Smith added 12 carries for 72 yards and one touchdown.

“We’ve played a heck of a schedule,” Brookstone head coach Blair Harrison said. “When you matchup in the playoffs against teams you’ve never faced sometimes you don’t know how good a team really is, and I think we proved tonight what kind of gauntlet we’ve been through.”

Christian Heritage did have positive moments throughout the game. The Lions blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt on Brookstone’s opening possession, but Christian Heritage went three-and-out on its first offensive possession. Brookstone also fumbled for times, but the Lions failed to recover any of the loose balls. The first quarter ended with Brookstone running 22 offensive snaps to Christian Heritage’s four.

Brookstone opened the scoring late in the second quarter after a 12-play, 81-yard drive when Burgess scored on a 2-yard run off the left tackle. After another three-and-out by the Lions, Brookstone quarterback connected with wide receiver Chris Edmonds for a 60-yard touchdown down the left sideline. The score and ensuing extra point gave the Cougars a 14-0 halftime lead.

Christian Heritage had another moment where it looked like the momentum may swing its way when quarterback Matthew Neff hit a streaking Zach Gentry for 65-yard touchdown on the Lions’ first offensive snap of the second half. Gentry beat his man off the line and caught the ball down the right sideline before making the Brookstone safety miss in the open field. The Christian Heritage crowd was back into the game, but Brookstone’s methodical running game proved to be too much. Burgess scored his second touchdown of the game with three minutes left in the third quarter and after the ensuing kickoff was fumbled by Christian Heritage, Brookstone marched 33 yards in three plays for another score when Smith scored on a 10-yard scamper. The score was then 28-7.

The Lions struggled all game to find their offensive rhythm as they went three-and-out five times in their eight possessions. After the game, fans and student waited outside the Christian Heritage locker room to congratulate and console the Lions’ players. Duane Jones, one of the team’s defensive leaders was injured late in the game and came out on crutches.

“I’m just wondering if I’m ever going to be able to play another snap of ball,” Jones said. “We definitely set the cornerstone for this program. It was different in that locker room tonight before the game and after the game.”

Emotions were palpable for players, parents and fans alike.

“If you had told me at the beginning of the year that we would go 7-4 and host a playoff game I think everybody on this team would have taken it,” Neff said. “We wanted to do a little bit better, but I think after all the sting goes away we’ll be able to look back and have good memories.”

Brookstone will advance to take on North Cobb Christian in the second round of the state playoffs next week.

For the players of Christian Heritage several said next season starts tomorrow. As for the seniors, several of them were able to appreciate the season through Friday night’s pain.

“The one thing I’ll take away from this is that it was the best decision I’ve ever made coming to Christian Heritage,” Gentry said. “We set the foundation and this program is going to continue to go up. I’m proud to be a Lion.”