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JOPLIN, Mo. — The New Heights Christian Academy Cougars opened their 2026 campaign Friday night, falling 56–6 to the visiting Copan (Okla.) Hornets in eight-man action at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
Copan took control of the contest from the opening kickoff, relying on a fast-paced offensive attack to build an early lead. The Hornets found the end zone repeatedly in the first two quarters, putting up 36 unanswered points before halftime to establish a commanding advantage.
Despite the early deficit, the Cougars showed fight on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Garrett Keizer stepped up early to blow up a Copan two-point conversion attempt, teaming up with David Williams throughout the night to deliver several hard-hitting stops against a physical Hornets backfield.
New Heights Christian broke through in the second half, sustaining a scoring drive to punch in a touchdown and get on the board. However, Copan's high-powered offense continued to produce, sealing the 56–6 non-district decision.
The Cougars will look to bounce back and even their record next week when they return to action on Friday, September 4, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Game Summary
Final Score: Copan 56, New Heights Christian Academy 6
Venue: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (Joplin, MO)
Next Up: New Heights Christian at Watts, Oklahoma — Friday, Sept. 4, 7:00 p.m
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