Victory Beyond the End Zone: Georgia College Football Team Pursues Eternal Glory
“God is good! WOW!”
As the nation’s college football season swings into full action, teams across the country are gearing up with a shared focus: victory on the gridiron. But for one team in Georgia, the real victory isn’t found in championship titles or coveted trophies. At Shorter University, a private Baptist institution nestled in the hills of Rome, Georgia, the pursuit of glory has taken on a much deeper meaning—one with eternal consequences.
Just before the kickoff to their football season, nearly 50 players from Shorter University’s team made a profound, life-altering decision: they committed their lives to Christ. In an awe-inspiring show of faith, 17 of these young men stepped forward to be baptized right on their football field, turning the sacred turf into holy ground.
“This is more than just football,” declared Head Coach Zach Morrison, whose passion for both the game and his players shines brightly. “It’s about the lives that are being transformed on and off the field. Seeing these young men take such bold steps in their faith is a testament to God’s power and presence in this program.”
The spiritual journey of the team began in August, just before preseason training and conditioning. All 150 players on the roster attended Life Church in Rome, Georgia, for a Sunday service, where they heard a message from Pastor Jason Stockton. It was during this service that the Holy Spirit moved powerfully through the congregation. Team Chaplain Topher Stockton recounted that 48 players, deeply convicted, stood and declared, “I need this.” In that sacred moment, chains were broken, and lives were forever changed.
“God is good! WOW!” Morrison exclaimed, his heart overflowing with gratitude and awe at what transpired that day. “I was crying tears of joy trying to hold it together! So proud to lead this team!”
Just one week later, these spiritual breakthroughs culminated in a water baptism ceremony held on the very practice field where blood, sweat, and tears are shed for the game. This time, the tears were tears of joy and redemption. Junior running back Brent Brown, one of the players baptized, shared his testimony: “I had always struggled with knowing if I was truly saved. At Life Church, I felt, ‘This is it,’ and made a decision that changed my life.”
Junior linebacker Kobe Butts echoed this experience, saying that God had been drawing him closer for some time. “That morning, I felt chills and knew it was time. God showed up in my life and the lives of my football brothers,” Butts reflected, his voice full of gratitude.
For Shorter University’s coaching staff, these moments are worth far more than any win-loss record. Defensive Coordinator Harlen Jacobs expressed the overwhelming pride and joy he felt, declaring, “We are incredibly proud of these student-athletes. This is the best decision they will ever make.”
Indeed, while most teams have their sights set on temporal victories, Shorter University’s football team is focused on a higher calling—one that transcends the boundaries of time and space. The baptisms on the football field serve as a powerful reminder that in God’s kingdom, the greatest triumphs are not measured by touchdowns but by transformed lives.
As these young men continue their season, they do so not only as teammates but as brothers in Christ, strengthened by a deeper, eternal purpose. Their story is one of hope, faith, and the undeniable truth that when God takes the field, the only victory that matters is the one that lasts forever.
