Evangel run game, defense power Lightning to come-from-behind win at Franklin Christian

Published 12:44 am Saturday, September 7, 2024

By Andrew Simonson

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By CHRIS MEGGINSON | Special to the Reporter

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Trailing 14-7 at the half, Evangel Christian School shut out Franklin Christian Academy in the second half to pull out a 20-14 road victory in 11-man action and return to the win column.

“We got in the old double wing in the second half and just ran it,” Evangel head coach Tim Smith said. “For the second week in a row, the defense pitched a shutout in the second half and gave us a chance to win. I’m proud of our kids. They never quit and never gave up.”

Running the ball was the focus all night. The Lightning gave the ball to Nick Cloud and let him work. Cloud thundered downfield 27 times for 214 yards, including nine times for 111 yards in the first half.

A 15-yard touchdown run by Cloud and Nick Sanders extra point evened the score, 14-14, in the third quarter. He scored the game-winner from six yards out with 1:30 left in the game.

“Nick was a lineman last year. He didn’t want to be a lineman, so he lost a lot of weight and turned himself into a running back, and he’s turned out to be a good one,” Smith said. “We probably don’t win tonight if he didn’t have the night he did. The offensive line blocked so well. He had some big holes to run in during the second half.”

Kemp Swords completed 12-of-13 passes for 51 yards. His lone touchdown pass was five yards to Will Welch to answer Franklin’s early score and tie the game, 7-7.

On defense, Eli Black led all Evangel players with 10 tackles, while Reed Castleberry, Swords and Cloud each had six tackles.

Evangel (3-1) will return home next Friday, Sept. 13 to host the Freedom Cowboys in 8-man football. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

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