Holmes Sets SAC, MHU Receiving Records in Loss to Shorter

MARS HILL, N.C. - Senior wide receiver Dimitri Holmes set the South Atlantic Conference record for career receiving yards as well as the Mars Hill school record for career receptions, but it wasn't enough to overcome seven turnovers as the Lions lost to Shorter 27-20 on Saturday at Meares Stadium and Ammons Family Athletic Center. Mars Hill drops to 0-2 following the loss, while Shorter improves to 2-0.

Holmes broke both records on a 10 play, 76-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Holmes broke the school reception record on a completion to the right sideline to get the Lions inside the red zone. Two completions later, Holmes broke the SAC record for career receiving yards on a pass along the left flat. Holmes has 234 career receptions and 3,781 career receiving yards, breaking the previous school record of 229 held by Darren Sharpe and the conference record of 3,719 held by Wingate's Chris Bowden.

Holmes led the Lion receivers with 15 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Foluke Gordon-Lamar ran for 45 yards, while Jeremy Hughes ran for 34 yards and a touchdown. Trent Miller went 23-for-41 for 264 yards with a touchdown and five interceptions. Matt Layman went two-for-six for 73 yards and a touchdown. The Lions compiled 476 total yards of offense. On the defensive side of the ball, David Green made 14 tackles with two tackles for loss, while Jasper Mason made 11 tackles.

Eric Dodson went 4-for-10 with 91 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Hawks offense. Kirk Wilson ran for 44 yards, with B.J. McCoy piling up 43 yards on the ground. Wilson, Darius Turner and Bruce Clark each caught a pass for a touchdown. On defense, Jordan Shaw had 11 tackles and 3 interceptions for 115 yards. Willy Dorcin and Luke Wilson each had an interception, with Wesley Clay and Greg Carswell each recovering a fumble.

After Shorter's first drive stalled, the Lions were marching down the field before Miller was intercepted in the endzone by Shaw, who then ran the ball 100 yards for a Hawk touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Following a Mars Hill fumble on their next drive, Shorter took advantage of good field position as Dodson found Clark in the right corner of the endzone and a 13-0 lead after a missed PAT.

A Miller interception gave Shorter a first down at the Lion 28 with just over 10 minutes to go in the first half. Dodson and Turner completed a 24-yard pitch and catch to make the score 20-0 in favor of the visitors. The Lions went three-and-out on their next drive, with the Dodson throwing his third touchdown of the half for a 27-0 halftime lead.

Mars Hill got on the scoreboard with a 12 play, 51 yard drive capped by a Holmes touchdown catch to put the Lions on the board and cut the Shorter advantage to 27-7 following a successful Tyler Stewart PAT with 10:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Mars Hill began their next scoring drive with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter, ending in Hughes' first rushing touchdown of the season to make the score 27-13 after a missed PAT with 13:42 remaining in the game.

Shorter went three-and-out on their next drive, giving the Lions the ball and Holmes the opportunity for his record-setting plays. Mars Hill chewed up nearly three minutes off of the clock and had third-and-goal at the Shorter two before a fumbled snap was recovered by Shorter's Greg Carswell with just over nine minutes to play.

The Lions kept battling as Layman led an 80-yard scoring drive capped by a 44-yard touchdown pass to Holmes, with Stewart's PAT pulling Mars Hill to within seven points with 1:55 to play. Layman found Jamel Harbison on a fourth down completion to keep the drive alive and advance into Hawk territory. Stewart and the Lions attempted the onside kick with Shorter's Luke Wilson recovering the ball. Wilson fumbled, but Willy Dorcin fell on the ball for the Hawks to secure the win.

After an off week, the Lions begin South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, September 27 against Newberry at Meares Stadium and Ammons Family Athletic Center. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.