DEKALB — Area high school history was made Thursday night at Kemper, as the Russell Christian Academy Warriors took the field for their first-ever varsity football game against the Eagles of Ben’s Ford Christian School from Bogalusa, La.

Taking part in the first game for each school, players on both sides fought understandable jitters for the first 24 minutes, as the two teams battled to a 14-14 tie through one half of play.

Unfortunately for Russell, the positive memories of the historic night end there.

Ben’s Ford’s defense, along with junior Josh Rodgers, stole the show in the second half, holding Russell to less than 50 yards of total offense in the second half en route to a 36-20 victory.

Playing at Kemper while construction continues on their home field, the homestanding Warriors mustered just six points after halftime, courtesy of an 85-yard kickoff return by senior Adam Rippie.

“We came down with some injury problems there in the second half,” remarked Russell head coach Mike Cain. “Our quarterback went down with an ankle, a couple of running backs went down. Once that happened, we struggled up front.”

Until injuries and heat-related cramps began to take its toll, Russell and Ben’s Ford battled to a standstill.

After Ben’s Ford opened the scoring on the first drive of the game with a 28-yard scoring strike from QB Devin Castleberry to wideout Micah Simmons, Russell scored its first touchdown in varsity history.

Junior quarterback Ross Moore, who threw for 183 yards and a pair of scores, found junior Preston Meadows from five yards away to put the Warriors on the board. The duo hooked up again to add the two-point conversion, giving Russell an 8-6 cushion.

Turnovers played a key role, as Rodgers recovered a pair of Russell fumbles inside the Ben’s Ford 20-yard line, including a goal line fumble on the last play of the first half to snuff out a Russell drive.

“I thought we were a little tight there in the first half, maybe too excited,” Cain added. “We just blew up and let them get the best of us.”

Rodgers turned out to be a difference maker for BFCS, scoring on an 80-yard kick return in the first half before hauling in a pair of touchdown passes in the second half.

Rodgers’ scoring strikes came from 29 and 37 yards out, the second of which giving Ben’s Ford a 28-20 lead. In all, Rodgers accounted for 165 yards, three touchdowns, nine tackles, and two fumble recoveries.

“That kid is all heart. He’s not the biggest kid, but he fights for everything,” said Ben’s Ford head coach Aaron Thomas, who watched his team moved to 1-0 on the season.

Fullback Casey Mayo added a 30-yard scoring scamper to put the game away in the fourth for BFCS.

For Russell, Moore and Rippie connected for the other touchdown, a 19-yard pass in the second quarter. Junior wideout Chad Carter led Russell with 105 total yards offensively.

Ben’s Ford tallied 249 total yards, while Russell managed 188.

“We will come back from this. We are a young team, this was our first time out,” Cain said. “The unique thing about this 8-man schedule is that we get to play this team again.”

Russell falls to 0-1 on the season and will return to Kemper next week to host Rebul.