Football Loses Season Opener at West Georgia

CARROLTON, Ga. – Mars Hill lost their football opener at West Georgia Saturday afternoon 38-26. Dimitri Holmes recorded 117 receiving yards and a 93-yard kickoff return for a score in the loss.

Holmes caught five passes to account for the 117 yards. Jeremy Hughes rushed for 34 yards and caught eight passes for 100 yards and one score. Trent Miller threw for 259 yards completing 20-39 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions. Raheam Buxton led MHU with seven tackles (5 solo). Elliot Polycarpe and Jasper Mason added six tackles apiece. Chris Leamon had an 88-yard fumble return for a score in the third quarter.

Brandon Lucas led WGU with 151 yards followed by Dallas Dickey with 112. Dickey also threw for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Terry was on the receiving end of two of Dickey's passes. Jamaree James and Tyrell Adams led WGU with seven tackles each. Adams added three tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks.

The Lions put the first points on the board after Tyler Stewart hit a 20-yard field goal with 11:14 on the clock in the first quarter. WGU went up 7-3 on a 5-yard rush by Seth Hinsley at the 8:18 mark of the first frame and the Wolves would never trail again.

Dickey found Terry on an 11-yard pass with 9:47 left in the second frame to extend WGU's lead to 14-3. Holmes then bolted 93-yards on the ensuing kickoff to trim the Lions' deficit to 14-10 at the 9:34 mark of the second quarter.  Dickey and Terry connected again with 4:45 left in the first half on a 21-yard touchdown strike with 4:45 left in the first half to make the score 21-10 in favor of the hosts. A Tyler Stewart 41-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in the second quarter cut the Wolves lead to 21-13 but a 48-yard touchdown pass from Dickey to Shaq Hall as time expired in in the first half of play sent WGU into the locker room with a 28-13 advantage.

Mars Hill had a strong third quarter surge out scoring WGU 13-3 to cut the deficit to 31-26. After a Hunter Heck 32-yard field goal with 11 minutes on the clock, Leamon returned his fumble recovery 88 yards for a score with 6:54 left in the period and then Miller hit Hughes for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 5:57 remaining in the frame.

The only score of the fourth quarter was a 39-yard run by Denarius Appling with 10:21 left in regulation that sealed the win for the Wolves. MHU had to punt on their next possession and WGU picked off a Lion pass in Mars Hill's final possession to stifle any comeback by the visitors.

Mars Hill will host Shorter on September 13, in the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium for their home opener. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.