By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Editor

Kingwood Christian came into the Sept. 25 matchup with Evangel-Montgomery looking to put together a complete performance on all sides of the ball. When the final horn sounded, the Lions did so with style, scoring at will in a 49-12 route of the fellow Lions.

The defense and special teams took center stage for Kingwood on the first drive of the game, as the Lions forced Evangel to a three-and-out. On the ensuing punt attempt, Kingwood pounced on a botched Evangel snap to recover the ball at the 1. On the next play, Yasil Gant kept the ball for a one-yard touchdown run. The two point attempt was good, and the Lions led 8-0.

The teams traded punts, and Evangel again went three-and-out. The Lions lines up to punt again, and again the snap went over the head of  Evangel punter EDIX, this time with Kingwood’s Gage Sumrall knocking the ball loose and Charles White scooping up the ball for a score. Sumrall ran for the two point conversion, and the Lions took a 16-0 lead.

Kingwood scored again on a 58-yard pass from Gage Sumrall to Charles White. The point after was no good, and the Lions led 22-0 with 1:58 left in the first.

The Lions jumped out to a 28-0 lead on a Yatil Gant pass to Sumrall. Again the point after was no good, and with 10:54 left in the half, Kingwood held a four-score lead.

Evangel finally got on the board with a 1-yard run with 8:37 left in the quarter. The two-point try was unsuccessful.

Kingwood’s Adam Dowdell took the ensuing kickoff to the house for the Lions’ next score. The two-point play was on the money, and Kingwood took a 36-6 lead.

Evangel scored again at the 2:41 mark on a 1-yard run by #10, but the conversion came up short, bringing ECA to 36-14.

After the half, White broke a 30-yard run for a score. The two-point try was no good, and the Lions extended their lead to 42-14 with 6:14 left in the third.

E.J. Gant added another Kingwood touchdown with 8:46 left in the game, scoring on a 2-yard run. The point after was good, and the Lions led, 49-12.

Neither team scored again, and the Lions took home the 49-12 win.

Head coach Steve Birmingham said he was proud of the team’s effort.

“We needed this,” he said. “We had a rough start this year. The guys played tough. We’ve still got some details that we’ve got to pay attention to ad work on, but we seem to be getting a little better every week. We’ll get after it on Monday and continue to get better every week.”

The Lions move on to face Cornerstone Christian Oct. 3 for homecoming.