MERIDIAN —
Russell Christian Academy further cemented its status as a premier MAIS 8-man contender, as the Warriors pummeled North Sunflower Academy 55-8 Friday night.
“I thought we finally clicked on all cylinders,” Russell Christian head coach Nate Ballard said. “I just thought it was a really good offensive performance for us.”
The Warriors wasted no time, as John Epps returned the opening kickoff to the North Sunflower 33-yard line. On the next play he would pick up where he left off, as Epps carried the ball down the sidelines for 33 yards and a touchdown to make the score 7-0.
After the Rebels went three-and-out on offense, Ben McGraw blocked a punt to set the Warriors up on the 14-yard line. The next play, RCA quarterback Jacob Howse found receiver Kyle Russell in the corner of the end zone for another score to put the Warriors up 14-0.
“He is a machine,” Howse said of his receiver. “You just throw it up to him and he'll catch it.”
Howse would not stop there. On RCA's next possession Howse found Ashton Temple from 16 yards out to make the score 21-0. Later in the quarter, he connected with McGraw who would break a Rebel tackle and dash 70 yards to the end zone to make the score 28-0. Running back Arik Washington also found a hole and break a 44-yard touchdown run before the end of the first quarter to give the Warriors a 35-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second, Epps ran in a 37-yard touchdown before Washington punched in another 3-yard touchdown of his own to give the Warriors a 49-0 lead heading into the half.
Washington finished the night with six carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
“It was just great blocking by the line,” Washington said. “I followed my blocks and it was just there. We have been working all summer, and we have been just getting better and better.”
The Warriors had their third string in midway through the second quarter. Ballard said Friday night's game allowed him to get a good look at his reserves.
“They are not half bad,” Ballard said. “They worked all summer with the rest of us. They go up against our first team, and it only makes them better.
"Iron sharpens iron, and that's how we do it here.”
Russell Christian would increase the lead to 55-0 before the Rebels would answer back late in the fourth quarter to make the score 55-8. The score marked the first time in 13 straight quarters the Warriors let their opponents on the scoreboard.
Despite the broken record, Russell Christian was lights out on defense, frustrating the Rebel offense all night.
“We came out hitting hard,” linebacker Dylan Joles said. “We set a goal to see how long we could go without allowing a touchdown. We are not satisfied, we want to get better and better every day.”
With the win Russell Christian moves to 5-0 (2-0) and will travel to Calvary Christian next week.
“It's a city rivalry,” Ballard said. “They will be ready to play, and so will we. It will be a lot of fun for the fans, and we will be ready for a battle.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Russell Christian Academy's Ben McGraw hustles down the field for a big gain on a kickoff return Friday night against North Sunflower Academy. Paula Merritt
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Russell Christian Academy's Ashton Temple shrugs off a North Sunflower Academy defender after a pass reception to pick up extra yardage. Paula Merritt
Discussion
Warriors run roughshod over Rebels
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