By GRAHAM CARR / Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA– Evangel Christian School outscored Tuscaloosa Christian School 42-37 on Oct. 5 at Tuscaloosa Christian.

The Lightning were led by sophomore quarterback Andrew Thompson who was 8-of-17 passing for 245 yards and four touchdowns.  Senior running back David Baggett had five carries for 78 yards and a touchdown.  Junior receiver Josh Letson had four catches for 195 yards and four touchdowns.  Junior defensive lineman Sam Stockton added four tackles, an assist, and three sacks.

“We threw the ball very well,” Evangel coach Del Clayton said.

Evangel struck first when  Baggett  raced for a 72-yard touchdown run and junior kicker Dru Bell added the extra point to give the Lightning a 7-0 lead with 10:39 in the opening quarter. Thompson hit Letson for a 37-yard touchdown with 8:57 left to extend the lead to 14-0.

After Tuscaloosa had a long touchdown run to close the gap to 14-7, Thompson found Letson again on a 66-yard touchdown pass, to stretch the lead to 21-7 with 9:49 left in the game.

The Lightning defense got in on the action when junior linebacker Pete Sullivan tackled the Tuscaloosa ball-carrier in the end zone for a safety.  Clay O’Neal had a 6-yard touchdown run and Tuscaloosa added another touchdown pass.  Tuscaloosa added a safety to end the scoring for the half with Evangel leading 30-15.

There was no scoring in the third quarter as both defenses tightened up.

In the fourth quarter, Thompson found Letson for a 43-yard touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes left in the game.  Bell’s extra point was blocked leaving the score at 36-15.

Tuscaloosa scored on the ensuing kickoff to close the gap to 36-23 after the two-point conversion

Fourteen seconds later, Thompson found Letson again for a 49-yard touchdown pass, but Bell’s extra point was blocked again.

Tuscaloosa added two touchdowns in the final 6:16, but Evangel was able to hold on to win 42-37.