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The LaFayette Christian School football team dominated New Creation Friday on the road 38-8 to start the season with a win. 

“I was pretty pleased with the performance considering we have eight or nine freshmen,” head coach Jared Pike said. “I was extremely pleased how they came together.”

The freshman showed out in their first game, but it was the veteran Ephraim Snyder who stole the show with 175 yards rushing and four touchdowns. 

“He’s a different breed,” Pike said. “He’s got the motor and the body and by the fourth quarter their guys were tired of tackling him.”

Snyder punched in the first touchdown of the game with a 16-yard run. The two point conversion was no good as the Cougars led 6-0 early. 

On the ensuing kickoff what was probably the most important play of the game happened, as the Cougars went for the onside kick and Alex Tusing was there to recover the ball.  That set up a big pass play before Snyder scored his second touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run. 

“I think that was toward the end of the first quarter when we were leading by six, and it allowed us to take a double digit lead,” Pike said. 

The Crusaders were able to answer with a long drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run and a two point conversion to make it 14-8 Cougars. Snyder once again answered the ball with a 5-yard touchdown run with under two minutes to go in the first half to give the Cougars a 22-8 lead. 

A massive sack by Cal Evert on the next Crusader possession snuffed out any attempt the Crusaders had at chipping into the lead. 

Snyder got his fourth and final touchdown midway through the third quarter to give the Cougars some breathing room and essentially put the game out of reach.  

Snyder got the plaudits, but the big boys on the offensive line did work too.

“The freshmen offensive line led by Gabriel Bridges did a real solid job tonight, but there is still room for improvement,” Pike said. 

Andrew Hough threw the final touchdown to junior Paul Bastini late in the third quarter. Hough had 150 yards passing in the game to go with his throwing touchdown. 

The defense of the Cougars put on a show as well. After letting the touchdown and two-point conversion in the second quarter, the defense clamped down and did not let up another point the rest of the way. The defense forced two fumbles that were recovered by Brandon Davenport and Alex Tusing.

“We got solid play from numerous freshmen on defense including Jonathan Ross and Brandon Davenport,” Pike said.

Tusing, a senior, and Junior Damani Whitfield were key figures on the defense for the Cougars in the game. 

LaFayette Christian School moves to 1-0 to start the season. The Cougars will be back in action against Holy Ground next Friday in the first home game of the season.