Published: September 29, 2008 09:49 am      

Russell

from staff reports

Russell Christian Academy rolled up 597 yards of total offense and drubbed visiting Ben's Ford (La.) Christian School 56-24 in area MPSA 8-man football action from late Friday night.

The homecoming win improved Russell to 3-3 on the season heading into this week's matchup at Kemper Academy.

Quarterback Courtney Cunningham accounted for 374 yards and three touchdowns for RCA, rushing 14 times for 277 yards and two TDs. He also threw for 97 yards and another score.

The visiting Eagles from Bogalusa, La., actually scored first, but Preston Meadows answered with an 11-yard touchdown run for the Warriors. Corey Burt added a two-point conversion run for an 8-6 lead, and RCA never trailed again.

Burt's 4-yard touchdown run and a kick by Phillip Wilson made it 15-6 after one quarter, but Ben's Ford returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

Cunningham then connected with Wilson on a 61-yard TD pass, with Wilson's kick making it 22-12. Meadows scored on a 38-yard run and Cunningham scrambled for a 32-yard touchdown that put Russell up 34-12 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Warriors got a 15-yard scoring run from Meadows and a two-point run from Michael Lundy — then a touchdown from Lundy.

Cunningham added his final TD when he turned a busted play into a 39-yard scoring run. Darby Kilpatrick caught a two-point conversion pass to wrap up the scoring.

Meadows finished with 111 yards rushing on just seven carries.

— Rocky Higginbotham