STEENS — Everything that could have gone wrong for the Columbus Christian Academy football team in its season opener did Friday night.
Big hits, cramps, turnovers, and confusion boiled over into sideline frustration against Porter’s Chapel Academy, a program that had won just one game in the last two years.
The Eagles matched that win total and scored more points than they did last season in a 48-0 victory.
PCA (1-0) converted two fourth downs on their first two drives and turned both into scores. The Eagles held the Rams to four first downs and turned three of CCA’s four turnovers into touchdowns.
“We’re a young team,” Columbus Christian coach Greg Watkins said. “Numbers are low, and we’re playing someone with 38 players, going back and forth. As the season goes on, we know we’re going to improve. You take a game like this, starting at 7 o’clock, the first quarter with the heat and sun shining like it was, it takes a little bit out of you. We missed a few tackles earlier in the game that would have kept us in it in the first half.”
There was an omen for the Rams’ struggles Friday: two fumbles on their first two touches. The Rams recovered both, but they went four-and-out on their first two drives and lost a fumble one play after earning their only first down of the first half.
The Rams lost 6 yards on 18 carries.
“(The running game) is about as simple as we could get it,” Watkins said. “When we’re running a speed play and they’re hitting my quarterback before he hands it off, we’re just not doing our job right there, not putting a helmet on somebody and letting them come through. They were better up front than we were.”
CCA’s defense hung tough in the first half, forcing a punt after the Eagles scored on their first two drives and intercepting an underthrown flea-flicker play. But Rams quarterback Nate Parker threw an interception two plays later, and the Eagles made it a 20-0 lead one play later. It was the first of Parker’s two interceptions that were thrown after the defense forced a turnover.
The Eagles led 34-0 at halftime.
“It was challenging,” Parker said, “probably one of the toughest games I’ve every played in, especially since I’m the leader now. I have to keep our guys pumped up. I still trust my guys to get better.”
Watkins and Parker felt good about the Rams’ defense. Parker and Lawson Studdard intercepted passes, and the Rams recovered two fumbles.
“The first two touchdowns, they were on a fourth-and-4, we have two missed tackles and would have had the ball at the 45,” Watkins said. “Linebackers were kind of going backwards a couple of times, and we have to get better up front. We have a lot of things to work on. I’m proud of the guys. I know they’re going to get better. They have a lot of heart and pride.”
Parker went 5-for-11 in the second half and picked up two first downs. The passing game — 48 yards — was the lone source of offense for the Rams.
“I think we settled down a little bit once it was out of hand and started having a little bit more fun,” Parker said. “I think we’re going to be all right.”
PCA’s Glenn Alan Kittrell had 111 rushing yards. Carter White and Brayden Ray had two touchdown runs.
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