By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Evangel Christian School football coach Del Clayton worried about entering his first game as the head coach with only four seniors on a youthful roster.

The Lightning put Clayton’s worries to ease with a 20-6 win over North River Christian School of Tuscaloosa in the opening game of the season Aug. 19.

Sophomore Nate Scott tossed two touchdown passes in his first start at quarterback to lead Evangel Christian in the opener.

“It was a good challenge for our first game,” Clayton said. “It was a great win. We really rose to the challenge.”

Following a scoreless tie in the opening half, the Lightning put the first points on the scoreboard with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Walker with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter. Scott rushed in from three yards out for the two-point conversion to give the Lightning an 8-0 lead.

Scott added Evangel Christian’s second touchdown with his 1-yard scoring run with 57 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Lightning a 14-0 lead.

North River immediately responded with a 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for its only score in the game.

Scott capped the scoring for the Lightning with his 8-yard touchdown pass to Walker in the fourth quarter.

Scott led the Lightning with 79 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Hayden Brown rushed for 56 yards in the victory.

Grant Webster led the Evangel Christian defense with 10 tackles. Pete Sullivan finished with nine tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.