ACA hosts inaugural home football game

Lions fall, 14-8, in Swannanoa

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 3, 2021

The first home football game in the 63-year history of Asheville Christian Academy was played in Swannanoa, April 3.

The Lions, who opened their inaugural season in February on the road in Johnson City, Tennessee, was scheduled to host its first game March 27, but severe weather forced the school to cancel the contest. Head coach Dr. Rick Spurling and his 1-2 team hosted the 3-4 S.C. Spartans of the Pioneer Football League in the first game on Swannanoa River Road.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and led, 8-6, until the final minutes of the fourth.

The Spartans intercepted an ACA pass in the end zone late in the final quarter and returned the ball deep into Lions territory. The visiting team capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown and 2-point conversion and took a 14-8 lead with 1:04 left in the game.

The Lions recognized three seniors, Jack Jones (12), Griffen Bielama (79) and Cole Blevins (57) before the game.

ACA established a football and cheerleading program this season after a partnership with the Asheville Saints. The Swannanoa private school absorbed the Saints organization into its program after a 10-1 season in 2019. Spurling, who led the Saints program before becoming the first head football coach in the history of ACA, was the head coach at Mitchell in the 1990s and retired as the superintendent of Mitchell County Schools.