The game flew away quickly from Missouri Military Academy on Friday night.

The Colonels are easing into a schedule this year to build the foundation for their program, and they will have a lot to build after a 49-0 loss at home to Russellville.

MMA fell behind 16-0 after one quarter but then trailed 36-0 at halftime in a game the Colonels were plagued by inexperience and injuries.

“Penalties really seemed to hurt us,” head coach Robert Rosenbaum said. “We played pretty good ball with them for the first quarter or first quarter and a half. Then, the injury got in on us. Inexperience is basically what it is. The kids want to play and they’re trying to give it their best, but we just can’t get it together yet.”

The inexperience manifested in penalties, including a couple that nullified long runs by running back Zeke Boyer. Other than those plays, Rosenbaum said Boyer was effective on the ground.

Rosenbaum said Luke Wolf was solid in his first appearance as a quarterback, completing two or three passes on five or six attempts and having some passes dropped. Josh McCart and AJ McCoy also played well as they make up a handful of cadets along with the aforementioned names that will be held out of a Monday junior varsity game at Russellville, which will give many needed experience.

“(Russellville) has experience of being together longer,” Rosenbaum said. “Once they got settled in, they really started putting stuff together.”

Rosenbaum said he had the chance to play his junior varsity players when the score became more lopsided and is looking forward to seeing them in action in the future.

MMA’s next varsity game is scheduled to be at 6 p.m. Sept. 21 at Confluence Prep Academy Charter with Grand Center Arts Charter.

The junior varsity won 18-14 at Russellville on Monday.