ATLANTA — When Fellowship Christian took a 24-21 lead over Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy with two minutes to play in the Class-A Private state championship game Friday at the Georgia Dome, the Chargers’ hopes of a second straight state title looked dim.

But those hopes weren’t yet dead. The Chargers marched down the field to kick a game-tying field goal with six seconds left before claiming a 34-27 victory in double-overtime to win their 22nd straight game and repeat as state champs.

Brayden Rush, who threw two interceptions in the first half, led a game-tying drive after Jack Hardin marched the Paladins down the field to take a 24-21 lead. A 28-yard pass to Tre Douglas put ELCA inside the Fellowship 15-yard line. After a completion made up yardage from an intentional grounding penalty, senior Alex Usry nailed a 34-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

“Our kids have so much resolve, it just is,” said ELCA head coach Jonathan Gess. “They fight and they work and they don’t quit. They never accept defeat. This junior class and this senior class is a group of guys in 2014 that started off 0-6. But that same group, started off 0-6 and made it to the state championship game. I think they learned something, probably something you can never pay enough money for in life.”

ELCA didn’t look like the team with big-game experience in the early going. The Chargers went three-and-out after receiving the opening kickoff, committing three penalties in the process. ELCA moved the chains for the first time on its next drive, but a false start penalty forced a long pass attempt by Rush on third down. The pass was intercepted by Fellowship’s Ryan Reid.

The Chargers forced a three-and-out on the ensuing possession and after a nice return by Jelan Pearson, proceeded to march 43 yards in five plays to open the scoring. It was Trevor Gear who found the end zone on a 21-yard run, following behind key blocks on the right side of his offensive line.

Trailing 7-0, Fellowship responded on its next drive early in the second quarter. The Paladins executed a trap play to full back Andrew Johnson, who rumbled 46 yards to the ELCA 2-yard line. Hardin capped off the 68-yard, seven-play drive with a 2-yard run to tie the game at 7-all.

The tie held for only 13 seconds. Justin Menard returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to put ELCA back in front. Menard rounded several Fellowship defenders on a winding, elusive run for the score.

“The kickoff return felt great,” Menard said. “We practiced it every day for hours and hours and it paid off in the end. I love my guys I really do.”

Fellowship nearly scored on the next drive, but George Shockley came up with a shoestring tackle on Reid after a 28-yard completion. ELCA stuffed runs on second and third down of the next series, and Tre Douglas broke up a pass on fourth down to get the ball back for his team.

Rush underthrew another receiver on the next drive and was intercepted by Trey Robinson. Caleb Dallas sacked Hardin on first down, but the Paladins converted on a third down with a completion from Hardin to Reid. Fellowship eventually faced another fourth down, and Caleb Hudgins intercepted Hardin on fourth down.

“The defensive stops, man, the defense, coach Dallas does such a great job and they never stopped,” said Gess.

The Paladins made the most of their first drive in the second half, moving the ball 80 yards on 11 plays in just over four minutes. Fellowship converted on several third downs, including a 19-yard run by Hardin for the touchdown when he appeared to be bottled up at the line of scrimmage.

Tied at 14-all, ELCA moved the ball effectively on the ground until Gear fumbled following a 10-yard gain. Reid recovered the loose ball for the Paladins, who took over at their own 43-yard line following the turnover.

Fellowship moved the ball methodically into the red zone on a series of runs before converting on a fourth-and-7. The drive carried into the fourth quarter, where the Paladins were forced to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Garrett Depew. The 16-play, 50-yard scoring drive gave the Paladins a 17-14 lead with 11:23 to play.

On the next drive, ELCA converted on a third down with its first passing yards of the day and crossed midfield on consecutive running plays. The Chargers finally recorded an explosive play, as Pearson found the end zone on a 45-yard touchdown scamper to give his team a 21-17 lead with 8:38 remaining.

The Chargers appeared to have forced a three-and-out on the next drive, but a roughing the passer penalty gave the Paladins a first down. Fellowship was aided again by a horse collar penalty two plays later. Merrick Haigler eventually gave the Paladins a 24-21 lead with a 2-yard run with 2:08 to play.

But ELCA’s championship dreams were not to die. Douglas’ 28-yard catch and run gave the Chargers life, although Rush’s spike to stop the clock, which was deemed intentional grounding, backed ELCA back to the 24-yard line on the next play. After a short completion gained a few yards back, Usry was able to convert the 34-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.

Fellowship went three-and-out in the first overtime and had to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Depew. The Paladins held ELCA out of the end zone as well, and Usry tied the game at 27-all with a 27-yard field goal. In the second overtime, Mays capped off a three-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 34-27 lead. Fellowship gained just five yards on three straight keepers by Hardin on the next drive, setting up a decisive fourth-and-5 play from the 10-yard line.

On the final play of the game, pressure forced Hardin to throw at the feet of his receiver, giving ELCA its second straight title.

Gear rushed for 102 yards to lead the Chargers. Pearson added 62 yards rushing, while Douglas caught six passes for 69 yards. Shockley led the defense with 13 tackles. Hardin accounted for more than 250 yards of total offense for Fellowship, while Johnson rushed for 101 yards.

After the game, Gess reflected on the victory and what it meant for his program.

“When I sit down two days, three days from now, it’ll probably be one of the best games we’ve ever had,” Gess said. “I really thought Fellowship was a really good team. People weren’t talking about them enough, they were 13-0 and had beaten good teams…It’s a great win for our program and our kids. The way they fought and had to struggle, I think that’s what I’m really going to enjoy.”