STEENS — The Columbus Christian Academy football team’s defense did everything it could to keep the squad in the game against Lee Academy (Ark.) on Friday night.
Unfortunately, all of the Rams’ defensive players also play offense, so it was a matter of time before fatigue became an issue against the bigger team.
CCA recorded two turnovers and three sacks and trailed 12-0 at halftime, but it mustered only 47 yards and turned the ball over three times in the second half en route to a 32-0 loss.
The Rams lost yards on 13 runs and had three first downs in the second half. Two of those negative runs came after a Nate Parker interception set the Rams up at midfield. The defense followed with a three-and-out that gave CCA possession at its 47-yard line, but it lost yards on three-straight plays.
“We had a good game plan going in with defense, but we thought, on offense, that it would be a give and take,” CCA coach Greg Watkins said. “In the first half, we had two big opportunities inside the red zone. Then we had the intentional grounding that backed us up 25 yards. Then we had the chop-block penalty that forced us into a field goal.”
The Rams (1-6, 1-1 Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A, District 2) had their best momentum on offense after Parker threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown just before the end of the first quarter. CCA started at its own 38 and mounted a 13-play drive that ended with a missed field goal.
“We could have easily gone into the half up 14-12 or down 14-6,” Watkins said. “I think we’ve got to make sure those mistakes don’t happen. That’s big on momentum going into the second half.”
Parker led the Rams with 22 yards on 10 carries. He also was 6-for-17 for 29 yards.
Lee Academy (4-2), which is from Marianna, Arkansas, and plays in District 1 in MAIS Class A, had more than 100 penalty yards that killed some of its successful drives, but the Cougars found their footing in the second half by running jumbo sets, which helped spring runs of 63, 24, and 44 yards.
“We just kind of wore down, and they did what we kind of feared — lining up the big guys in the backfield and run behind that big line,” Watkins said. “They were big and physical, and we let them get loose a couple of time.
“Tonight, and I told the guys this, we played more physical than we’ve played all year. At the beginning of the year, we faced the big programs and were a little intimidated. This is probably the biggest team we’ve faced, and I’m proud of the guys for lowering their ears back and getting after it.”
Lee Academy coach Ryan Laster said the second-half turnaround was “how we play football — fast, physical and hitting.”
Watkins said he considered pushing the ball downfield in the passing game once the running game dried up in the second half, but the Cougars started to blitz through the middle of the pocket.
“We’ve got to work better on our pass protection,” Watkins said. “We had some opportunities to throw deep, but we didn’t have the time. We have to correct some of that over the next couple of games. It will loosen them up throwing the ball downfield.”
CCA will return to district play next week when it travels to Arcola to face Deer Creek School. CCA beat Delta Streets Academy on Oct. 6, and at 1-0 in the district controls its playoff destiny.
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