LAGRANGE – For the first time in school history, the Lafayette Christian School Cougars didn’t have to climb on a bus for a home game.

Lafayette Christian opened its season on Friday night, and the game against Solid Rock Academy was played in the school’s new on-campus stadium.

Adding to the festiveness of the occasion, it was Lafayette Christian’s first game since it beat Central Christian in November to win the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association eight-man state championship.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, they were unable to celebrate a win, with Solid Rock taking an 18-6 win.

Solid Rock hit for two passing touchdowns in the first half to take a 12-0 lead, and Lafayette Christian scored a touchdown in the third quarter to get within six.

Solid Rock added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

“We didn’t play well in the first half,” Lafayette Christian head coach Nate Shaw said. “It was a good effort in the second half. We kind of righted the ship.”

The Cougars scored their lone touchdown when sophomore quarterback Landon Whitley found senior John Parham for a 20-yard scoring pass.

Shaw said the Cougars hurt themselves with two lost fumbles on potential scoring drives.

OF NOTE: For more on Friday’s game, check out Monday’s sports section. And for photos from the game, go to facebook.com/LDNsports

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