The South Haven Christian School Patriots brought a state football championship home to Springfield on Saturday, November 7, 2026, defeating the Freedom Cowboys of Huntsville, Alabama, 40-34 in the Southeastern Extreme (SEEC) State Championship game at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

In a hard-fought championship matchup, the Patriots, under the leadership of Springfield native Michael Crawley, delivered an impressive offensive performance to secure the victory in front of their hometown crowd, finishing the season with a 10-1 record.

Senior Kade Atkinson led South Haven's rushing attack with 188 yards and four touchdowns, while fellow senior Caius Schroeder added 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Their performances helped propel the Patriots past a talented Freedom team that entered the championship game riding a six-game winning streak.

South Haven's championship run included a 54-22 playoff victory over Lancaster Christian Academy, followed by a dominant 62-32 semifinal win over Christian Community School.

The Patriots capped off their impressive postseason with Saturday night's six-point victory, securing the 2026 SEEC State Football Championship and bringing another championship trophy home to South Haven Christian School and the City of Springfield.