Columbia Academy missed some tackles in the first half, letting the Adams County Christian School Rebels gain 288 total first-half yards in defeating the Cougars 28-7 in a district match Friday night.

More than 200 of those Rebel yards were through the air, and ACCS (5-2, 2-0) had more than 100 penalty yards in the first half, including a block in the black calling back a touchdown to open the game.

The Rebels were forced to punt on that drive but scored on the first play of their second possession. ACCS quarterback Davis Sharp hit DyKevis Ford or a 63-yard pass to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead following the extra point with 4:32 to go in the first quarter.

Following a short series rom Columbia (5-2, 1-1), the Rebels scored again at 10:25 in the second quarter. Sharp again hit Ford for a 32-yard pass, putting the Rebels up 14-0.

The Cougars got it to the Rebels 18-yard-line on the next drive, but turned the ball over on downs.

On the next drive, the Cougars recovered a fumble, only to give the ball back to the Rebels the very next play, with ACCS’s Dillon Hollingsworth scooping the ball up.
From 9-yards out, George Scott scored on a quarterback keeper for the Rebels with 2:02 to go in the half. The Rebels went up 21-0 after the extra point.

With 30 seconds to go in the half, ACCS got on the board for the last time with Scott completing an 18-yard pass to Cade Wells to put the Rebels up 28-0 in the half.
The Cougars got their only score following a fumble recovery deep in ACCS territory. From 6 yards out, quarterback Wiley Cleland got in with a keeper with 2:34 remaining in the game.

Cougars coach Randy Butler said he chose to go for an onside kick at that point, but ACCS recovered and ultimately sealed the game.

“I challenged them to play a little harder in the second half,” Butler said. “We get that onside kick and you never know.
“I’m very proud of them. I have no doubt this group will put this game behind them on Monday and they will be ready to play Friday.”

Rebels coach David King said his team was amped to play a very good team, made some mistakes and lost the second half, but he said there is plenty room to coach the Rebels up.

“They are No. 4 in the state,” King said of the AAA rankings. “We showed everyone we can hang with the big boys, but we have to put together four quarters, and that is what I am going to preach. That’s the only way I know how to coach.”