Russell Christian Academy’s Drew Taylor runs a keeper up the middle against New Life Christian for a big gain Friday night.

On one hand, Russell Christian Academy punched its ticket to the Alabama Christian Education Association’s eight-man championship game next week in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

On the other hand, the Warriors yielded more points than they had all season in a 69-40 win against New Life Christian Friday night in the state semifinals. While head coach Chad Eaves was pleased to get the win, he said his team has to play a lot better next week if it has any hopes of winning a championship.

“We came out pretty flat and not mentally prepared,” Eaves said. “I had to get them straightened out during halftime, and they came out and played better in the second half. We’re going to have to have a good week of practice and get ready for East Memorial.”

Eaves said the defensive struggles were mostly mental and could likely be chalked up to human nature after the Warriors faced the same team last week and won 52-0.

“We beat them so well last week I think (our players) came out and took them lightly, and they punched us in the mouth,” Eaves explained. “They got some deep passes on us, so we have to get that corrected next week in practice.”

RCA and New Life scored one touchdown apiece in the first quarter, with New Life scoring first on a 3-yard carry by Eric Remiger and RCA responding with a 46-yard touchdown carry by quarterback Drew Taylor.

In the second quarter, the Warriors allowed three more touchdowns, all on passes, but RCA was able to keep pace with an 18-yard touchdown catch by Austin Gibson, a 25-yard touchdown reception by Jared McMullen, a 5-yard run by Taylor and a 26-yard catch by McMullen. RCA led at the half, 35-26.

In the third quarter, the Warriors padded their lead by scoring three straight touchdowns, the first coming on a 16-yard pass from Taylor to Gibson. On the ensuing New Life series, Vincent Reynolds got an interception at the New Life 30 and ran it all the way back to the 4-yard line, and Taylor punched it in on the next play from 4 yards out. 

The Warriors got a stop again on defense, then Taylor found Taylor Wood on an 81-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing RCA possession. New Life finally got on the board with 49 seconds left in the third to cut RCA’s lead to 56-34 after three.

RCA scored twice more in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard run by Destin Lea and a 39-yard carry by Brayden Price. New Life scored one more touchdown in the final period.

Taylor had 155 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries, and he finished 6 of 12 in passing for 207 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception. Price had seven carries for 140 yards and a touchdown. Taylor had 14 tackles and one sack on defense.

RCA (10-0) will face East Memorial Academy out of Prattville, Ala., next Friday at Tuscaloosa Christian for the eight-man championship. The Warriors beat East Memorial earlier this season 34-18.