Football Recap: East Rankin Academy Starts Season with Win Against Acadiana Christian

East Rankin Academy gave their fans exactly what they wanted out of a home opener on Friday. They claimed a resounding 56-6 victory over the Acadiana Christian Defenders. The score at the end of the third wound up being the final score as the Patriots just coasted through the last quarter.

Brandon Loper

Rushing Yards

08/22/25 vs Acadiana Christian	160
10/25/24 vs Lamar	101
10/18/24 vs Oak Hill Academy	5
10/11/24 @ Leake Academy	118
10/04/24 @ Madison-Ridgeland Academy	29
+ 4 more games

Brandon Loper was nothing short of spectacular: he rushed for 160 yards and five TDs on only 14 carries. That's the most rushing yards he has posted since back in September of 2024.

Loper was just one part of a punishing run game: East Rankin Academy was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 298 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 151 rushing yards in four consecutive matches dating back to last season.

Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 14 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Aiden Carlisle, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.

Looking ahead, East Rankin Academy will square off against Canton Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Acadiana Christian, they will challenge Danbury at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.