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Evangel bounced back from back-to-back losses with a shutout win at rival Ezekiel to start conference play. (For the Reporter/Reagan Hopper)

Thanks to Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union for supporting our football coverage this season.

By CHRIS MEGGINSON | Special to the Reporter

WETUMPKA – Evangel Christian snapped a two-game losing skid with a 38-0 shutout over Ezekiel Academy Friday night in its 8-man football Alabama Christian Sports Conference opener.

“We’re starting a lot of young kids this year,” Evangel head coach Tim Smith said. “We had a tough week of practice and really got after it hard this week. They responded well, and I think tonight our physicality finally paid off for us.”

The Lightning took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.

Trey Hope scored twice and set up another score for Evangel. Hope blocked a punt on Ezekiel’s first possession, which was scooped up by Ben Davis for a 53-yard touchdown in the first two minutes of the game.

Three minutes later, Eli Black hit Hope for a 43-yard touchdown. Issac Griffith’s 38-yard run with 4:15 to play and a 2-point pass to Davis made it 20-0. Griffith rushed for 50 yards in the win.

Early in the second quarter, Hope scored on a 30-yard touchdown reception from Black. Black also ran in a 62-yard touchdown with 6:16 left in the first half to send Evangel into halftime with a 32-0 lead.

Black was 5-for-7 passing for 154 yards and rushed for 53 yards to return from injury with a 200-yard game. Hope was his largest target with 83 yards on two receptions, both touchdowns.

“It was good to have Eli back,” Smith said. “It hurts when we don’t have No. 9 on the field, because he’s a leader, and he proved that tonight. He threw the ball real well tonight.”

Sophomore quarterback Sawyer Welch capped the scoring with 4:17 to play on a 6-yard TD pass to Max Watson in the third quarter.

Watson led the Lighting with six tackles, while David Johnson had five tackles and a fumble recovery. Davis had two interceptions on defense, and Jack Nivens also had a fumble recovery.

Evangel (2-3) will return home Sept. 26 to host Lighthouse HomeSchool for a conference game at 7 p.m.

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