Varnado suffered a 27-0 District 7-1A loss to Christian Life Academy at home Thursday.

Christian Life (6-1, 2-0) led 13-0 at halftime, and Varnado’s defense held the visitors scoreless in the first quarter. Both of Christian Life’s first-half touchdowns came on a short field after turnovers.

Early in the first quarter Christian Life drove into Wildcat territory, and junior quarterback Jacob Williams made it into the end zone for a touchdown, but a flag against the Crusaders prevented the score.

Christian Life went for the TD on the fourth down but couldn’t push through and turned the ball over on downs.

Varnado, 0-2 in district play and 0-7 overall, wasn’t able to take the ball far and was forced to punt.

The second quarter started with a quick pass from Williams to senior Malik Harrison, who took the ball down to the Wildcat 1-yard line, but Varnado’s defense held strong and pushed the Crusaders back. Christian Life took a chance with a fourth-and-goal but a pass to freshman David Cooper fell incomplete.

The Wildcats again couldn’t gain ground and were forced to punt, but this time Harrison blocked it, recovered it and ran it in for the game’s first touchdown. Dameion Lee hit the extra point, and the Crusaders led 7-0.

A minute later, a pass by Wildcats quarterback Delrick Abrams to Preston Spikes was fumbled and recovered by Christian Life’s Jarvis Antwine, who returned the recovery to the Wildcat 10.

On the next play, Williams ran the ball in for the second touchdown.

Lee’s PAT was no good, keeping it 13-0 at halftime.

Varnado received the second-half kickoff but was forced to punt against a tough Crusader defense.

But the Crusaders also faced a strong Varnado defense, and in the third quarter neither team was able to gain any real ground.

Varnado’s Dearius Parker had a particularly strong showing , taking down Williams four times in the third quarter.

Christian Life got into the end zone again three minutes into the fourth quarter when senior Sidney Nesom took a pass from Williams in for the third touchdown, bringing the score to 20-0 after Lee’s extra point.

In a second big play, with three minutes left, Williams handed off to Harrison at the Crusaders’ 25. Harrison cut through the Wildcats defense for a 75-yard TD run to finalize the scoring at 27-0 following Lee’s PAT.

Varnado returns to action Friday for its final home game of the regular season and steps out of district, facing Haynes Academy.