By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter

DAYTON, Tenn. – The Evangel Christian Lightning was unable to recover from a large, early deficit to fall to the Christian Community School (Tenn.) Colts to fall 51-14 in the first round of the National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Eight-man Division 1 tournament on Nov. 7.

The Lightning will take on Macon Road Christian of Memphis, Tenn. in the third place game on Nov. 9.

Christian Community outgained the Lightning 331-220 in total offense and forced 6 Evangel turnovers.

Christian Community took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and extended their lead in the second period. The Colts added four touchowns before the half for a 45-0 lead.

The Colts took a 51-0 lead in the third quarter, but Andrew Thompson led Evangel on a scoring drive to break up the shutout. Thompson connected with Josh Letson for a 65-yard touchdown pass to put the Lightning on the board, 51-6.

Evangel’s Brandon Montgomery had the only touchdown of the fourth period for the second Lightning score of the game. Montgomery punched the ball in from 2-yards out and Pete Sullivan added the two-point conversion for the 51-14 final score.

Thompson led Evangel with 122 yards on 4-of-21 passing with a touchdown along with a team-high 38 yards on the ground. Letson led the Lightning with 99 yards on a pair of receptions with a touchdown.