Lions Receive Championship Rings Commemorating Special 2023 Season

The Unity Christian football team may have officially started preparation for the 2024 season with its first spring practice Monday, but they had to honor those that contributed to the special 2023 season as well.

Unity Christian held a special ceremony after practice as players and coaches received their state championship rings to commemorate the team’s memorable run to the GAPPS state crown last fall, finishing a 7-4 record with a 52-24 win over previously unbeaten Sherwood Christian Academy in the finals in November.

“You know, you really think about it and not everyone gets the chance to win a championship at whatever level it is, so it’s always special to get that championship ring,” Unity Christian head coach David Humphreys said. “I’ve coached at all different levels for 37 years and, before this last year, I had coached in three championship games and lost all of them, and you’re always thinking if you’ll ever get back to one again, so to win it last year with this group is special.

“To me, the ring itself doesn’t represent winning the championship game specifically. It represents every single one of the players and coaches that worked hard to make it happen. This group spent a lot of time together and overcame adversity. I mean, heck, we started 0-3 (in 2023) because of injuries and different things that we had to overcome, and then the team came together and kind of found itself. It was a lot of fun to be a part of this group and see what they did on the field and off the field.”

The middle school team was also part of Monday’s ceremony as its players received championship rings after their run to a GAPPS state championship by going 9-1 and defeating Central Christian in the finals in early November.

Following those rings being handed out, Humphreys brought up the three seniors from the 2023 championship team to receive their rings first. The group consisted of Jay Davis, Ben Rooke and Landon Pope, who served as leaders for the group of Lions that will go down in the program’s history.

“You really think about how important each person that got a ring today was to what we were able to do last season,” said Rooke, a defensive lineman and tight end. “It’s a reminder of how hard we worked and makes me think of all the friendships we made through this team. It’s something we will remember forever because it’s not something everyone gets an opportunity to do. I know that being a part of this team has influenced my life because it has shown me that being determined and working hard for something pays off. That’s what I’ll think about when I look at this ring.”

After starting 0-3 due to a tough non-region schedule, along with injuries an illnesses to key players, Humphreys’ Lions bounced back to win four straight and eventually claim a region title. After receiving a bye in the first round of the GAPPS state playoffs, they went on to defeat Central Christian 58-20 in the semifinals before taking down powerhouse Sherwood Christian in the championship game to avenge a tough loss in the finals the previous season.

“Most people think about the championship game, but I think about plays in games all throughout the season that our kids made that got us there,” Humphreys said. “This was really a special bunch, and we had so many kids step up and do some incredible things on the field, and the way they practiced and prepared was what allowed them to do that.”

The Lions will return a lot of experience for the 2024 team that will continue spring practice through next week before the summer conditioning program and the official start of fall practice in late July or early August. They are scheduled to open the regular season Aug. 23 at Trinity Christian School in Griffin.

It will be a bit of a different challenge this coming season if Unity Christian wants to repeat as state champs as the GAPPS will shift from eight-man to nine-man football.