By JOSEPH ANTONIO / For the Reporter

Harpersville – The visiting Evangel Christian Lions wasted little time Friday night, when Dez Livingston reeled off a 62-yard punt return for the game’s first score with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Coosa Valley committed its first of eight turnovers. The fumble resulted in a second touchdown for Evangel in just ten-seconds when Kolby Durham recovered the loose ball in the end zone.

Coosa Valley would immediately respond on its next possession. The drive was capped off when the Rebel’s Blake Harden ran it into the end zone. Third-string quarterback Easton Hopkins added the two-point conversion and the Lions lead was now cut 14-8. The score would hold for the remainder of the quarter.

Late in the second quarter, Coosa Valley would recover a bad snap at the Evangel two-yard line. Blake Harden added his second score of the night on a one yard touchdown run. Easton Hopkins again added the two-point conversion on a quarterback draw. The Rebels lead 16-14 with 4:48 left until halftime.

From that moment on, it was all Evangel. After recovering a failed onside kick, the Lions marched down the field and Dez Livingston scored his second touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the score read 20-16, with 3:57 left in the half.

The next Coosa Valley drive ended yet again in a turnover when Caleb Rigsby recovered a fumble that set up another Dez Livingston touchdown for the Lions. At the half, the Lions lead 26-16.

The second half was back and forth turnover battle. In the end, Evangel made the least mistakes. Late in the fourth quarter, the Lions would add ten more points after two more costly turnovers by the Rebels, putting the final tally at 36-16.

Coach Steve McCoord of Coosa Valley conceded after the game that his team will have to work on not turning the ball over. “We just did a bad job on that. We were not fundamentally sound and that really hurt us,” McCord stated.

Coosa Valley will travel to Eufaula next week to take on Lakeside Academy.