By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

DAYTON, Tenn. – The Hope Christian Eagles secured a spot in the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Eight-man Division 1 championship game with a 42-20 win over Macon Road Christian (Tenn.) on Nov. 7.

“That was the most complete game we’ve played all year,” said Eagles’ head coach Tony Nafe. “We had to reevaluate after the loss to Evangel and this was a chance for redemption.”

The Eagles (10-1) will take on Community Christian in the NACA championship game on Nov. 9.

The Eagles trailed 8-0 after the first period, but quickly responded in the second quarter. Charles Streets started the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown run and Reid Allen added a 10-yard run for a score for a 14-12 Macon Road lead at the half.

Streets scored his second touchdown of the game in the third quarter on a 14-yard run. Jacob Evans added the two-point conversion for the Eagles’ first lead of the game, 20-14.

Eagles’ junior quarterback Dillon Thompson led Hope on three consecutive scoring drives. Thompson completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Streets, then scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass for a 34-14 Hope lead.

Thompson threw his second touchdown pass of the night to Josh Clevenger on an 18-yard completion for a 42-14 Eagles’ lead in the fourth.

Macon Road added a big play for a score, but it wasn’t enough as they fell to the Eagles, 42-20.

The Eagles handed Macon Road their first loss of the season and avenged a 22-6 loss to Macon Road in the first round of the 2011 NACA tournament.

Thompson threw for 73 yards and three touchdowns along with 144 yards on the ground. Streets finished the game with six catches for 169 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 88 yards and two scores. Evans finished with 129 yards rushing.

Senior Andrew Whitson led the Eagles’ defense with nine tackles including a sack.