Football Loses to Catawba

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions' football team lost to SAC rival Catawba College, 38-28, Saturday afternoon at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium. Mars Hill fell to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the league. Catawba improved to 6-2 on the season and 4-1 in the league.

Jonas Randolph (Daleville, Ala.) rushed for 188 yards on 23 carries averaging 8.2 yards carry. He also scored three times for MHC. Jon Richt (Watkinsville, Ga.) threw for 245 yards completing 17-27 passes. Richt set records for most passing yards in a single season (2,125) and total offense (2,083) in a single season. The old records were held by Ashley Abernathy for passing yards in a single season (1,967 yards in 1993) and Joe Pizzo for total offense in a single season (2,080 yards in 1985). P.J. Gore (North Myrtle Beach, S.C.) caught six passes for 125 yards. Rudy Cabral (Fairview, N.C.) led the Lions' defense with 12 tackles (7 solo) and an interception. Curtis Riley (Orlando, Fla.) followed with 11 tackles (8 solo), a tackle-for-loss and an interception he returned 26 yards. MHC had five turnovers in the loss.

Josh Wright (Raeford, N.C.) rushed for 152 yards and three scores, also on 23 carries averaging 6.6 yards per rush. Patrick Dennis (Durham, N.C.) threw for 146 yards and one score completing 12-21 passes. Gerron Bryant (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was on the receiving end of two of those passes for 64 yards and one score. Damien Lee (Reidsville, N.C.) led Catawba's defense with seven tackles (5 solo), two sacks, three tackles-for-loss, two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles.

After two Lion fumbles, Catawba took a 10-0 advantage. Wright dove in from three yards out at the 9:10 mark in the first quarter and then Thomas Trexler (Wilmington, N.C.) hit a 31-yard field goal with 12:45 left in the second quarter to give Catawba a 10-0 advantage. Randolph brought MHC within three points on a 47-yard scoring run with 10:13 left in the half. Randolph then put MHC ahead 14-10 heading into the locker room at the intermission on a three-yard dive. Randolph had 147 yards rushing on 14 carries in the first half of play.

Randolph had another three-yard scamper into the endzone at the 13:44 mark in the third stanza to give MHC a 21-10 lead. Wright trimmed the deficit to 21-17 on a two-yard rush with 8:45 on the clock in the third quarter. The Lions fumbled on their next possession and Catawba capitalized on a four play, 61-yard drive to take a 24-21 advantage with 4:42 left in the third frame.

On fourth-and-four, trailing 24-21 on Catawba's 46 yard line, Mars Hill had a bad snap sail over the Lions' punter's head and the result gave Catawba the ball at the MHC 25 yard line with 7:03 left in the game. Two plays later Catawba scored to seal the win when Wright ran in from three yards out at the 6:30 mark. Catawba added an insurance touchdown with 3:26 on the clock when Rashaun Gaither (Yadkinville, N.C.) ran in from 22 yards out to make the score 38-21 in favor of the visitors. Joshua Young (Jacksonville, Fla.) caught an eight-yard pass from Richt with 1:32 left in regulation to make the final tally, 38-28.

Mars Hill will play at Wingate University next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.