By JORDON SEMIEN/For the Reporter

COLUMBIANA—The Cornerstone Christian Chargers played host the Wildcats of East Memorial Christian for senior night, but couldn’t end the season on a high note, losing 42-20.

The evening began with a brief honoring of their senior class, including four members of the varsity football team: Trevor Howell, Heath Garett, Tim Warren, and Dalton Fortner.

The Chargers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive to start the first half of play. Starting at his own 36 yard line, Junior quarterback Ian Briggs led his team down field, ending the drive with a tipped pass brought in by Tim Warren for a 33-yard touchdown reception, giving Cornerstone an early 6-0 lead.

EMCA would takeover at their own 40, but didn’t last long as a pass was picked off by Jeffrey Odgers at the Chargers 27 yard line. However, the turnover was short lived as, after eight yards from Wooley and two from Warren, Briggs threw an interception of his own.

The Wildcats took over at their own 46, and drove down field before capping the drive with an 11-yard score and a 7-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

EMCA added another score before the end of the opening period as Briggs was intercepted and returned for a Wildcats score, pushing their lead to 14-6.

The second quarter began with Cornerstone’s drive ending with a Wooley fumble at the Wildcats’ 5-yard line, followed by a  fumble of his own at the EMCA 22. After a stalled drive, EMCA was forced to punt in the shadow of its own goal posts. A botched snap resulted in the ball being marked at the Wildcats’ 1-yard line. The Chargers made quick work of the short field with a Wooley 1-yard run to narrow the score to 15-12. The celebration was short lived as EMCA then returned the kickoff 53 yards for a touchdown and a 21-12 lead. EMCA added two more scores before the end of the half, including a 54-yard hook and ladder play to in the half with a 34-12 lead.

East Memorial added another pick six in the second half, this time from for 47 yards for a 42-12 lead. Cornerstone added one last score on a nine-yard touchdown run by Wooley, ending the game in a 42-20 loss.

Despite the loss, Coach Smith was excited for the prospects for next year.

“Those seventeen kids that played tonight, they played all year,” he said. “I know our record doesn’t show it, but that’s the hardest fighting little group I have ever coached. They never quit, and we’re not done. I know we’re done this year, but we’re going to rebuild it.”