By Nolan Imsande

The Tuscaloosa News

COTTONDALE – Tuscaloosa Christian had no trouble running the ball on Friday night agains Meadowview Christian. The Warriors ran for 440 yards in their 59-22 defeat of the Trojans. Preston Pate led the way for the Warriors with four total touchdowns. Pate threw for a touchdown, ran for two and returned a punt all the way in the game.

“I wish I could have run the ball a little bit more,” Pate said. “Our line blocked great, they gave us good holes and left it wide open in the middle.”

The Warriors went into the half with a 27-8 lead after Pate returned a punt for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Pate almost broke another punt for a touchdown later in the game but was stopped by Meadowview’s lone defender.

“He is a dynamic athlete. He has a lot of potential, he is young but has showed a lot of maturity,” Arsenault said of Pate.

In the second half, Tuscaloosa Christian running back David Hester had three rushing touchdowns and finished the game with 183 total yards on the ground.

“There were a lot of bright spots tonight,.” Tuscaloosa Christian head coach David Arsenault said. “The line of both sides of the ball played well tonight, which was a big emphasis this week so it was a very good game for us.”

Hunter Sample scored the Warriors first touchdown of the game on a 38-yard run in the first quarter. The Trojans then answered in the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Sebren to tight end Alan Stockman. The Trojans remaining touchdowns came on runs in the second half.

Meadowview will play at Tabernacle next week.