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Evangel racked up more than 400 yards of total offense and hit the 50-point mark for the first time this season in a dominant conference win over Lighthouse to put the Lightning at 2-0 in the ACSC. (For the Reporter/Reagan Hopper)

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By CHRIS MEGGINSON | Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER ­– Evangel cruised to a 50-14 victory over Lighthouse Home School on Sept. 26 to improve to 2-0 in the Alabama Christian Sports Conference. It was the Lightning’s highest-scoring game of the season. It was the first 50-point performance of the season.

“We had a really tough early season schedule and got beat up a little bit. We told them last week we are 0-0 entering our conference games, and now we’re 2-0,” Evangel head coach Tim Smith said. “We had a really good week. We were intense with a purpose and a reason … They came out tonight hitting and scored fast. I’m really proud of this group. We’re getting better.”

Evangel racked up more than 400 yards of total offense in the game, with 249 on the ground behind a strong offensive line. Ten ECS players touched the ball on offense.

Issac Griffith led the attack with his first 100-yard rushing performance, carrying the ball 18 times for exactly 100 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore opened Evangel’s scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. A 2-point pass to Ben Davis gave the Lightning an early 8-0 lead.

Lighthouse answered quickly when Jaden Cosper broke tackles up the middle and took off for a 22-yard touchdown run with 6:44 to play in the first quarter. A high snap on the 2-point try kept ECS in front, 8-6.

Evangel marched down the field again to close the first quarter. Eli Black, who compiled 241 yards of total offense, threw his first of two touchdown passes on a 6-yard pass to Trey Hope at the front left pylon. A mishandled pitch zapped the Lightning’s 2-point attempt, leaving the score at 14-6.

Black opened the second quarter with a 9-yard catch to tight end Max Watson, who hauled in the catch despite being held in the end zone with 8:09 to play in the half. Black then used his legs for a long 2-point run after being backed up on a penalty. Black found the end zone again on a 13-yard run and tossed a 2-point pass to Hope to extend Evangel’s lead, 30-6, moments before halftime.

Griffith scored his second TD of the night from one yard out with 5:23 to play in the third quarter. Hope moved under center and handed the 2-point try off to Jack Nivens, who plowed into the end zone behind Watson’s blocking.

Leading 38-6, Black weaved through traffic for a 25-yard touchdown run to stretch the lead to 44-6 with 3:37 to play. He finished the night with 82 yards rushing, and completed 9-of-17 passes for 159 yards.

Both teams added a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Hope rolled out to his left for a 19-yard QB keeper to the pylon for a 50-6 lead. He finished the night with 89 total yards, including 64 yards on three catches.

Watson had eight tackles to lead the ECS defense, followed by seven tackles each from Caleb Woods and Cruz Romano, who also recovered a fumble. Davis also had an interception and fumble recovery on defense to go with his five catches for 86 yards.

Evangel now moves even on the season at 3-3 entering a bye week. It will return to action Friday, Oct. 10 when it hosts ACSC front-runner Southern Christian (6-0, 3-0 ACSC).

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