ATLANTA - The Hebron Christian Academy football team has won its second-straight state championship. The Lions defended their 3A-A Private title, defeating Calvary Day School 28-21 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

"It's unbelievable … Jesus is king, all glory to God, all things were created by Him and for Him … these players, these coaches, back to back," Head coach Kenny Dallas said during the trophy presentation. "Something like this isn't because you've got one guy coaching, it's because you've got a community behind you, administrators behind you, a great coaching staff, great players. You don't get to this point, especially two years in a row, without it being way more than one guy. 'I'm just sitting on the shoulders of giants', and that's what it feels like at Hebron." 

Hebron's championship win today caps the Lions' season with a 12-1 record, is the program's second title overall, and the 14th in athletic program history. For Dallas, it is his second state championship as a head coach. 

The Lions started fast against the Cavaliers, scoring on their first offensive play, a one-yard carry for senior running back Devon Caldwell. 

HCA notched the next two scores, both in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 21-0 lead with seven minutes left in the first half. One of the scores went to senior wide receiver Jarvis Mathurin, who scored on a 58-yard touchdown run. Other scores went to senior Max Steve and freshman wide receiver Austen Kitchings.

Mathurin was named the MVP of the title game, after scoring on the long scamper, and intercepting two passes. His second pick sealed the win for Hebron.

"Great players make big plays in big moments … that just speaks volumes to him," Dallas said of Mathurin. "When your best players give the best effort day-in-day-out, you've got an opportunity to have a special team."

Calvary Day answered the early scoring, one touchdown to end the half, and another halfway through the third quarter. However, senior quarterback Gray Costello connected with freshman Kitchings for a 27-yard touchdown reception, giving the Lions a 28-14 lead just two minutes into the final quarter. 

The Cavaliers rallied after that, scoring on a pass in the corner of the end zone to make it a seven-point game with four minutes left. Hebron was forced to punt the following drive, but Mathurin ended the comeback with the game-winning turnover. 

Hebron got a great effort from its senior class, a class that has three already signed to collegiate programs and more to come. Dallas credited his seniors, saying that a team's season "rises and falls on its senior leadership."

"I'm super proud of this senior group, every team rises and falls on its senior leadership, and there's only 11 of those boys … it feels like there's 25 or 30 of them because of their leadership," Dallas said. "What a special group, and to be honest, a game like that was perfect, because they needed every ounce of their leadership to gut that out, to win a tough, tough ball game."

Now with back-to-back championships to their name, a 2-0 record in such games, the Lions have stated their claim as a program that's been on the rise and hungry to continue to do that. 

"We went into this year saying 'yeah, everybody is going to circle you on their schedules', but all you can control is what you control. You draw a circle around the things that you are able to control and then you just go attack that with every bit of effort you possibly can. It's hard for me to think of a practice that (the players) did not show up and give great effort, and so I think a big definition of success is the piece of mind of knowing that 'I've given everything I could.'"