Calvary Day entered the 2026 football season full of confidence after a run to the Class A-3A Private School state title game where the Cavs lost to Hebron Christian by a touchdown.
The Cavs prepared for their opener at Glynn Academy Thursday nightwith 19 starters returning and carrying the No. 1 ranking among Class 2A-4A Private Schools by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
But Glynn Academy is a respected program under veteran coach Rocky Hidalgo, and the Terrors came out strong taking an eight-point lead into the half at Glynn County Stadium.
The Cavaliers never panicked and turned things around with a dominating second half as Calvary rolled to a 49-22 victory in a non-region season opener.
In his second year leading the Calvary program, coach
Jason Cameron was proud of how his team performed after facing some first-half adversity.
"I didn't say anything really to them at halftime," Cameron said. "We knew we had some self-inflicted wounds in the first half, but our guys came into the locker room ready to be coached up and make adjustments. I thought we played a little selfish in the second quarter, but we fixed it in the second half.
"I was impressed with how they were relentless in the second half against a really good, well-coached Glynn Academy team. I tell the guys we practice hard so we can be a strong second half team, just like we were in the state finals last year."
Glynn Academy took a 22-13 lead in the first half running the Wing-T as the Terrors got rushing touchdowns from Caiden Robinson, Ja'Kori Roman and quarterback Max Noonan.
Calvary stayed in it with with its explosive passing game as senior James Mobley IV hit Marlon Knight Jr. with a 35-yard scoring strike and then found a wide-open Jalen Hicks for a 45-yard touchdown with 1:18 left in the half.
The Cavalier defense pitched a second-half shutout and Mobley found Knight Jr. for a 27-yard score, while rushing for a two-yard score himself.
Ty Pinckey added to the second-half fireworks with a 75-yard punt return for a score, crossing from the right side of the field to the left sideline to find a wide open seam.
Senior running back Zay Middleton started out the fourth quarter with a series where be broke loose for a 61-yard run, followed by a 21-yard scamper to the one-yard line, where he plunged in on the next play.
Mobley IV has a strong connection with Knight Jr., who has committed to Georgia Southern, Hicks, who holds and offer from App State, and Pinkney who holds 17 offers. Knight Jr. had seven receptions for 134 yards and two scores and Hicks had six for 83 yards and the touchdown.
"It's great playing with the receivers we have," said Mobley IV, who was 16 of 25 passing for 272 yards and the three scores. "We're really close and I know I can put it in a spot where I know they will be the one to go up and get it. I didn't have my best game tonight, but our offensive line, our receivers and our defense picked me up and helped lead us to the win."
Next up for Calvary Day is a home game on Friday, Aug. 28, against Jenkins.Last season Jenkins beat the Cavs 41-33 and Calvary will be looking to avenge the loss in the non-region matchup.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: How the Calvary Day football battled back to win opener at Glynn Academy
