Evangel Christian Academy brought a deadly aerial circus to town Friday led by ringmaster Peyton Fulgham’s right arm and the Eagles soared past Minden’s Crimson Tide 48-21 in a District 1-4A contest.
Junior quarterback Fulgham finished the night completing 20 of 27 passes for 368 yards and five touchdowns including a pair of scoring tosses to his brother, Parker, who pulled in 12 catches for 132 yards on the night.
But it was senior wide receiver Brayden Curry who scorched the Tide, catching only three passes for 193 yards with all three going for scores. The speedy Curry hauled in touchdown passes of 75, 73 and 45 yards.
Minden’s offense got off to an impressive start, taking the opening kickoff and racing 75 yards in just six plays to take a 7-0 lead on a Daylen Robinson three-yard run at the 9:16 mark. Big plays in the drive were runs of 35 yards by Robinson and a 26-yard scamper by quarterback Jakobe Jackson.
Evangel tied the game at 7-all with 1:39 remaining in the quarter on a six yard Fulgham to Fulgham pass capping a 13-play drive, then pulled ahead 14-7 in the second quarter when the brothers again connected, this time on a 33-yard score with 10 minutes left in the half.
Jackson pulled the Tide even at 14 apiece just three minutes later, breaking tackles at the line of scrimmage and outrunning Eagles defenders on a 31-yard scamper. That would be the last time Minden found itself in the game.
Evangel went into halftime leading 21-14 after Curry broke open down the middle and hauled in a Fulgham toss for a 73-yard score. The duo would strike again on the first play of the third quarter when Curry again cut through the middle of the field for a 75-yard scoring catch and a 28-14 lead.
Two more scores, Curry’s 45-yard TD reception and a six-yard run by Deshawn Johnson following a blocked Tide punt, put the score at 42-14 heading into the fourth quarter. Evangel scoring in the game ended when cornerback Tyreck Robinson returned an interception 60 yards into the endzone.
Minden’s final score came with 1:51 left in the game when Jackson put the finishing touch to a 72-yard drive with a 10-yard run through the middle of the Eagles’ defense. Jackson’s score came on fourth down and was the third time the Tide converted on fourth-down during the drive.
Robinson was again the Tide’s leading rusher, picking up 119 yards and one touchdown on a workman-like 24 carries. Jackson had 14 carries for 73 yards and two scores, and added 83 yards through the air on a 7-of-17 passing night.
Cameron Mitchell gained 26 yards on four carries and also had three pass receptions for 40 yards. Jaylin Williams carried once for four yards and caught three passes for 44 yards.
Friday’s loss left the Tide at 2-6 for the season, 1-4 in district play. Minden’s next action comes next Friday when the Booker T. Washington Lions visit The Pit in another District 1-4A contest.
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