LAGRANGE – It started out great.

Facing visiting Praise Christian Academy on Friday, the Lafayette Christian School Cougars soared to an 18-0 lead in the first half of the eight-man football game.

Once momentum started going Praise Academy’s way, though, Lafayette Christian was unable to turn things around.

Praise Academy got within six at the half, and it scored a touchdown on the first possession of the second half to take the lead.

By the time the final snap had been taken, it was Praise Academy walking away with a 40-18 victory on homecoming night.

The Cougars, who started the season with three straight wins, have dropped their past two games to fall to 3-2.

The Cougars dominated the game early.

Antavious Sands had two touchdown runs in the first quarter, including one that covered about 30 yards, and the Cougars were ahead 12-0.

In the second quarter, the Cougars built that lead to 18-0 when Lane Brooks caught a touchdown pass from Sam Marshall.

From there, Praise Academy took over, scoring a pair of touchdowns to make it an 18-12 game at the half.

“We couldn’t step on their throat,” Lafayette Christian head coach Nate Shaw said.

After falling behind in the third quarter, the Cougars drove to the Praise Academy 20-yard line on the ensuing possession, but they ended up turning it over on downs.

That, Shaw said, was the way the night went.

“We’d get it close, but we couldn’t finish,” Shaw said.

Lafayette Christian will look to get back on track next Friday with a home game against Central Christian.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports