The Meadowview Trojans (0-4) might have played their best game of the year but suffered a tough loss at Wasden Field Friday night, 24-22.

East Montgomery Christian Academy (2-2) received the ball to begin the game and marched it down the field in nine plays and scored to jump to a 7-0 lead. After forcing Meadowview to punt on their initial possession, the Wildcats would drive the ball down deep into Trojan territory again but not before a stadium light caught fire and halted play on the field for about 20 minutes.

When play resumed, EMCA’s Drew Sheridan rushed three times for 16 yards and another Wildcat touchdown to give them a 14-0 lead with 2:33 left in the first quarter.

Before EMCA’s crowd stopped celebrating their last score, running back Brandon Smith ran 57 yards into the end zone on the first play of the Trojan drive to put them on the board and cut the lead to seven. Smith was injured on the play. He was taken off the field after medics placed a neck brace on him. He was taken to Vaughan Regional Medical Center, where he received a CAT scan, according to coach John Glasscock.

Physicians kept Smith overnight for observation.

The teams traded punts on their next possessions followed by Meadowview turnover which gave the ball to the Wildcats at their own 45 yard line. They capitalized with a 55- yard touchdown pass and increased the lead back to 14.

Meadowview’s Greg Piper made a diving catch for a gain of 42 yards on the Trojans’ next drive and set up Tyler Perry’s 4-yard touchdown run with the clock running down. The Trojans’ 2-point conversion was good and the score would be 21-15 at halftime.

The third quarter began with a block in the back penalty against Meadowview during the kick off and forced them to start from their own seven yard line. The very next play resulted in a Trojan fumble and turnover. However, the defense was able to stand their ground and hold EMCA to a field goal.

Coach John Glasscock needed something to happen and it did early in the fourth quarter. Greg Piper intercepted a Wildcat pass and ran it back 45 yards for a score, making it a 24-22 ballgame.

Meadowview got one more chance before time ran low but penalties kept them from achieving a victory. “This was a tough loss, but we’ve got some young kids and they played with a lot of heart. We’re improving and we’re going to be a good football team” said coach Glasscock.