STEENS — For nearly a half Friday night, Columbus Christian matched Tallulah Academy punch for punch in a game filled with long runs, big swings, and quick answers. The Rams kept pace early behind the playmaking of Matthew Benge, but Tallulah’s depth and downhill run game eventually wore them down in a 56-32 loss that ended CCA’s playoff run.
The Rams opened the scoring after starting near midfield. Christian Yates and Benge moved the chains before a holding penalty slowed the drive. On the very next snap, Benge broke free for a 50-yard touchdown. The conversion was no good and CCA led 6-0 with 8:05 left in the first quarter.
Tallulah responded immediately. A strong return set the Trojans up near the CCA 48, and quarterback JT McDaniel leaned on Aiden Harris and Cooper Ellerbee to move inside the five. McDaniel punched it in moments later and added the conversion for an 8-6 lead.
Both teams traded punts to close the first quarter. Early in the second, Tallulah faced a 4th-and-four and chose to stay aggressive. Ellerbee found space and raced 45 yards to extend the lead to 14-6.
CCA answered with one of its best sequences of the night. A muffed kickoff return that Tallulah briefly took back for a score was erased by penalty, and the Rams took advantage of the second chance. Benge ripped off a 29-yard run to put the ball inside the 10, and on third down he scrambled into the end zone. His conversion tied the game at 14 with 3:52 left in the half.
Tallulah moved ahead again on a drive powered by Harris and Ellerbee. Harris finished the series with a tough 20-yard run to give the Trojans a 20-14 lead. CCA responded immediately when Yates moved the chains and Benge followed with a 45-yard touchdown that tied the game at 20 with 36 seconds left.
Tallulah needed only one play to reclaim the lead before halftime. McDaniel found Bentlee Lee down the sideline for a 37-yard score. CCA answered right away when Benge fielded the kickoff at the Tallulah 48 and sprinted into the end zone as time expired, sending the game to halftime tied at 26.
The second half shifted in Tallulah’s favor. The Rams recovered the opening kickoff but were stopped on 4th-and-long, and the Trojans capitalized. A long run from Ellerbee set up Courtland Collins for a 12-yard touchdown that put Tallulah ahead 34-26.
Another onside attempt bounced off a CCA player and Tallulah recovered again. Harris and Collins continued to find space, and Harris scored from 15 yards out to extend the lead to 42-26.
The Rams pushed into the red zone early in the fourth but Harris intercepted a pass and returned it to the 4-yard line before scoring on the next play. CCA fought back when Benge hit Imonn Hill for a short touchdown to cut the deficit to 48-32 with 3:51 remaining, but Harris delivered the final blow with a 56-yard touchdown run.
CCA reached the red zone once more behind Hill, Yates, and Gavin Denton, but Tallulah held on fourth down and ran out the clock.
After the game, head coach Marcus Davidson praised his team’s character and resolve.
“This group has a never-quit attitude. I have tried to instill that in them since I have been here, and we always try to fight and stay tough physically and mentally. They kept showing heart, and I can credit them for that and for not giving up,” Davidson said.
With the season ending in the MAIS 1A Division II semifinals, Davidson reminded his players of what matters beyond the scoreboard.
“Life does not always treat us fairly. There always has to be a winner and a loser, and we do not always get what we want. But as long as we have the good Lord in the end, that is all that matters, (because) championships come and go,” Davidson said.
Tallulah Academy 56, Columbus Christian 32
Tallulah Academy (8-5) 8 18 16 14 — 56
Columbus Christian (9-1) 6 20 0 6 — 32
First Quarter
CCA — Benge 50-yard run (conversion failed)
TA — McDaniel 5-yard run (conversion good)
Second Quarter
TA — Ellerbee 45-yard run (conversion failed)
CCA — Benge 10-yard run (conversion good)
TA — Harris 20-yard run (conversion failed)
CCA — Benge 45-yard run (conversion failed)
TA — Lee 37-yard pass from McDaniel (conversion failed)
CCA — Benge 48-yard kickoff return (conversion failed)
Third Quarter
TA — Collins 12-yard run (conversion good)
TA — Harris 15-yard run (conversion good)
Fourth Quarter
TA — Harris 4-yard run (conversion failed)
CCA — Hill 4-yard pass from Benge (conversion failed)
TA — Harris 56-yard run (conversion failed)
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