Lions win home, SAC opener, 38-7, over Catawba
The Mars Hill football team (1-1, 1-0 SAC) won their home and South Atlantic Conference opener Saturday afternoon by a score of 38-7 over Catawba (1-2, 0-1 SAC).
MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill football team (1-1, 1-0 SAC) won their home and South Atlantic Conference opener Saturday afternoon by a score of 38-7 over Catawba (1-2, 0-1 SAC).
Jervon Newton opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, breaking off a 37-yard rush for his first touchdown of the season. With under seven minutes to play in the opening quarter, Keith Coffee was on the receiving end of a 51-yard pass from Jimmy Urzua for his first TD of the year, putting the Lions up 14-0 after 15 minutes of play.
Newton rushed for his second score of the day less than two minutes into the second off of a six yard scamper. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the half, Lon Teachey split the uprights with a 33-yard field goal to put the Lions up 24-0, a lead they'd carry into the half.
Joraye Morrison scored his first touchdown of the season with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter and Rolous Frazier, with less than seven to play in the contest, put the Lions up 38-0 off of a 15-yard rush.
With under three minutes left in the contest, Catawba broke the shutout bid as Will Sheehan caught a 53-yard pass from Ridge Jacobs.
The Lions dominated the ground game and outgained Catawba 332-65. Mars Hill put up a total of 454 yards of total offense. The Lions defense was stout, recording four sacks and picking off one pass. Jake Watson and Landon Honeycutt led the Lions defense with seven tackles apiece. Watson and Jaidyn Hicks each recorded 1.5 sacks on the day.
Urzua went 6-for-12 for 122 yards and one score. Newton ran for 141 yards on 17 carries and two scores.
Mars Hill returns to the field on Saturday, September 24 when they take to the road to take on Barton. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
